The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26
PART 1.
PART l.
CHAPTER Iu-A LOVERS REMoN-
STRAyCE

PART l.
CHAPTER Iu.-A LOVERS REMoN-
STRANGE.
81 want to speak to YOU" said Stephen
Eyre.
He laid his hand heavily on Jess arm,
and she shrank away from him with some
thing that savored of disgust as well as of
alright. She had been in a new world-a
sort of fairyland, where there were pictures
and flowers, and men who spoke SOFTLY and
women also, perhaps, who wore rich,
clinging, trailing gowns, land after which
she had often vaguely yearned, but never
hoped to enter; and it Jared upon her nerves
when Stephen spoke SO roughly to her.
Moreover. his hand hurt her thin arm, and
as he came closer to her she perceived, per-
haps for the first time, that his clothes were
coarse and dirty, and that he had been
smoking pipe, of which the odor was not
altogether agreeable. She gave a little
shiver and drew herself away from him.
''We can't talk here,' she said, almost sui
lenly.
''Then come where we can talk What
are you doing here at alls You come
along O. me, back to Mill street. Why,
you're miles away from where you ought TO
ssNo. I'm not" said Jess 81 ought to be
where nv work is; and if it lays this way,
it amt for you to meddle."
'tYour workr' said Stephen scornfully;
land what worE may you ha' been doing
in this part of the town, I'd like to knowf
Where's your basket? Where's your flow
ers? Don't you talk to me O work"
81 amt going to talk to you at all, said
Jess, pulling her shawl more tightly round
her, and moving forward. "Pm going
home.n
''Tll come with you, then"
s'I'm going to have a ride,h she said, look
ing at the omnibuses as they rolled past her
toward the city.
''You seem mighty flush of money. Well.
have your ride. I'll go outside"
'Just as you like. don't want your
company"
The tone was proudly independent Jess
ewes were full of fire; her cheeks were
growing red. Stephen Eyre was not re-
nowned for civillty, but he had usually
managed to smooth his his tones
a little when he talked to Jess, and
the girl resented his surliness. She
climbed into the next passing omnibus with
out looking at him, and he mounted to
place on the top without a word. They did
not see each other again until they met IN
the very heart of the city, and then jess
still refused to take much notice of her es-
cort.
Being a woman, although she did nothing
but sell flowers in the street, she knew her
power. She trod superbly, with her head in
the air. and her eyes fixed straight before
her. while Stephen followed almost humbly
at her heels. and did not dare to speak a
word.
less, silence was her best weapon; IL soon
brought him to her feet.
1t was only when, after long walking,
they had reached one of those dreary
streets where all the small, mean-looking
houses are exactly alike, and where no traffic
seems to pass, that Stephen pressed little
closer to Jess size, and said:
1--WE something to say to you"
81 don't want to hear It,
"But YOU must hear it
you've no business to say must do what
/ don't choosew
his wife must do, reckon"
"Pm not your wife"
''But you've promised to be."
"Then won't keep my promise. amt
going to keep company with you no more.
You're too rough for me-"
cts that fine gentleman that has put
these fancies into your head, - said Stephen.
with grim, suppressed vehemence. IN
make him pay for It,
Jess tossed her golden head little, and
curious to note the difference in her de-
meanor when she was with one whom she
believed to be her inferior, and when with
one who was above her in station. with
Eastwood she was shy, downcast, reserved ;
with Stephen Eyre proud. even defiant
Yet it was the pride aud the defiance OF a
very gentle nature, reused by treatment
which seemed unjust, and it was something
Of novelty in Stephens experience OF
Jess.
''Do you mean" he said at last, that
you're not going to marry me when get
that rise of wages in the springT
II shall not marry you if your wages
are raised ever so high" said jess, firmly.
Il amt going to be knocked about like
Nancy Burton is by her husband"
II wouldn't knock you about" said
stephen, rather angrily. 81 don't drink,
and don't see why shoald be iizened to
John Burton
jess frightened her lips and said nothing.
Maybe hurt you just now," said her
lover, trying to soften his harsh tones,