The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-16

now got up and dressed, without Speaking
to jess. Thea she opened the shutters,
made up the fire, and attended TO old Mrs.
tIlnt's various wants, while Jess stood by
the window, looking out as bird looks out
Of the cage against the bars of which its
tender breast is pressed. Jess cage had
bars too; there were iron rods fastened out
side across the window, from frame to frame
1t looked out on roof, simply-a roof and
a few chimneys. There was no chance of
attracting the attention of passers-by from
such window; and the iron bars effectuallv
prevented possibility of escape by means of
the roof. No, the door was the only exit;
and by the door, at some unguarded mo
ment, jess meant to get away.
| Alice Drew prepared breakfast for
Stephen and Dick. as we'll as for herself aud
| her companion. She carried it to the
brothers-more out of consideration for
Jess than for any other reason-and then
| besought the girl to eat and drink. But
/ Jess refused.
II don't want anything here" she said,
almost roughly. II can't eat in bedroom.
l want to go home"
This is your home, DEAR" said Alice,
gently.
''She's proud. stuck up MINK" grum-
bled the old woman from her bed; land she
wants bringing down a bit. If / lad the
use of my limos, I'd break her bones for
her. Imperent hussyp
Jess turned away impatiently.
when L get away from here, you'll
never see me again" she said with flaming
eyes. I'D have been good to you. Granny,
and brought you tea aud baccy every week,
if you and Stephen hadn't kept inc like
thlsl I'll never forgive you. neverl"
She spoke clearly, although not loudly,
and Alice Drew was not surprised to see
that the door into Stephens room opened
stealthily while she was speaking, and that
Stephen edged himself into the room and
stood listening to her with folded arms aud
gloomy countenance. His face was bag
gard, his eyes were bloodshot and sunkeG.
Looking at him, great pity filed Aics's
breast; she went up to him and put her hand
on his arm.
Don't take notice of what she SAYS Just
now,n she said. "She's put about like.
Don't you look like that, Stephen. You're
not trusting the Lord when you look like
that, Pm sure.n
But Stephen did not move or speak.
jess turned round and saw him. With
one of her beautiful, swift movements-full
of 1.-THE grace and supple strength-she
sprang forward and fell upon her knees at
the mans feet
LET me go, Steve" she said, looking up
at him. Let me go!'
He did not answer. He did not move he
hardly seemed to breathe, but he set his
teeth. Her hand touched him. she grasped
him involuntarily as if to force him to
grant her request, and the touch made him
culver from head to foot
Let me CO." repeated, pleadingly. 81
did not mean it when [ said L would not
forgive you. Pll forgive you anything, if
only you'll let me go. You are wrong about
me and George-quite wrong. He loves
me and love him, he'd never do any
thing to harm me. Pm not bad girl, aud
l haven't done anything wicked. And
they'll think I'm lost, Stephen, and they'll
all be in a dreadful state about me; it's cruel
of you to keep me here. Why, even if you
let me goto-day and Tomorrow they'll
have been awful ANXIOUS and troubled
about mel know they will. Let me go
now, Steve, and then I'll explain to them
that l stayed because grandmother was i'll,
and I'll never tell them how unkind you
was to me last night. You don't believe
what you said to me then; you know it isn't
true You used to be kind TO me; won't
you be kind now-now that George and me
are happy and love one anotherg'
you have no right to be happy" said
Stephen, trying to draw himself away from
her. But she seized one of his hands and
held it fast.
ut isn't wrong to be happy, Steve.
I'll try and do all you want me if you'll Just
let me go away soon from here. Do let me
gon
She kissed the hand that she held, and
pressed it to her cheek-then looked up into
his face with such pleading, piteous eyes,
thai Stephen felt his resolution waver for
one moment. But only for moment. He
drew his hand roughly away, and spoke
with harshness.
"Pll let you go whenI see you safe. aud
not before. When you've repented aud
then III let you go. Or when Eastwood has
married the fine lady they talk about and
forgotten all about the girl that he called
Jessica Strong-as if plain Jess Armstrong
were not good enough for his dainty lbs
why, then maybe I'il let you go. And the
sooner you 60 on your knees to God and
not to mortal man, the better for you"
''Look out, she's fainting," said Alice
hastily. For on hearing Stephens words,
the girl had turned deadly white, and, de-
prived of his supporting hand, was sinking
slowly to the floor. Her shining hair, loose
from its fastenings after her dreary night
of unrest, lay over her arms and shoulders
like a golden veil Alice would have gone
to her assistance, but Stephen sternly held
her back.
"Don't interfere" he said. "She is not
fainting; she is only rebellious and willful.
We will speak to her by aud by"
He took book from his pocket and began
to turn over the leaves Old Mrs. Flint
grumbled out some sort OF remonstrance.
"We've had enough o. your preaching,
Steve. You leave me to talk to Jess. will
yeg'
But Stephen took no notice, and pro-
ceeded to read aloud a chapter from the
New Testament. He read 1t badly, in a
hoarse, rasping voice, without modulation
or apparent emotion; but even his voice
could not destroy the beauty of the words
he read. 1t was the story of the prodigal
son. And when he had finished it, he knelt
down and poured forth long prayer. in
which his faculty Of expression certainly
failed to 90 justice to the fervor of his
soul. Alice knelt with him. her face trans
figured by an ecstacy Of devotion, but the
old woman In the bed muttered and gr aned
to herself, while Dick Eyre made faces et
her, and Jess lay prone upon the Il or. her
face hidden on her arm and her limbs
shaken now and then by despairiDg sob.
When the prayer was over, she sat I'd
and looked dssolately around her. Thea
shs dragged hersslf into q leaning position
aeainst Ilo sal. aad SPOKE 20 stephen.
,sl'll do al ycs want sae said, ~ a curl
ousy strained fnd tired voice, III only
! you'll-~SoDe day--let ms 60"