The morning call., 1894-08-19

beasts that drew the show into all the
haste they could muster toward the west.
Buffalo occasionally tempts the inhabi-
tant thereof, In spite of his admiration for
1t, to declare that it is well named, owing
to the frequent clouding of its skies at a
moments notice.
Upon a steep bluff frnging its trout its
"zephyrs" beat piercingly on certain
afternoon in mid July.
The ntpDing of these lake breezes had
driven almost every lOunger from the Vi
cinity of the water. Here upon the bluffs
crest, bearing their severity, there stood
but solitary figure.
The creature, though a woman, was a
half-clad tramp.
The vagabOnd drew her flimsy gown, at
when the wind dragged, tightly around her
ana caught 1t between her knees
This was the only sign she gave of SEN
sltlVeness to the weather. Her eyes-eyes
which would have been handsome had il
not been for the swollen bags of skin be-
meath them-stared intently down at the
water and then at the distant Canadian
shore.
"Ill 60 to the place where she fell to-
night, IL | have to swim there" she CAB
bled mysteriousy to herself II bslieVs I
could do it. l think there's more of devil
than woman in me-"
The wind loudly rustled amid some
shrubs at her back. She turned and spoke
IS If TO hearing thing.
Stop! she cried TO it, wiping a drop
OF sweat that rolled over her black eye
brow. My God! l have heard folks
speak of nature making them feel good,
but l think there's q bad spirit ALWAYS
whispering through it to me. 1t sounded
like the devils own talk among the dark
trees that night"
of
whlmper as II IN pain. Presently a gang
of workmen returning from toll looked at
her jeeringly.
Que flung jibe at her. She answered
not, but when their steps were lost in dis
lance she slowly turned from the edge of
the bluff and began TO walk along a broad
parkway in the direction of the city.
The raw, bitter air made the woman
shudder in spite Of herself. AS she reached
an outlying street where the small de-
tached dwellings were bowers of greenery
and pTettiness, hailstone, large as mar
Bile. struck her upon the cold hand.
Another followed it.
Men, women and children everywhere
were scamperiOg to shelter. And this
poor fugitive. after a bewildered look
around, made for flight of white stems.
and stood shivering on the veranda of the
nearest and Drettiest house on the street.,
Low chairs were there which the owners
had hastily quilted, cnild's painted horse
lay Cd the floor. By and By, despite the
youngster looked forth to regain his treas
ure.
One peep was enough for him. Flushed
and stammering he ran back to his moth
er's side.
Ma! mai" he cried. holly, "dere's W ct
woman out dere. Bring her in. won't ye,
map
His r,otbar roso o,joI,Ir - h. g..
very pretty mother she was in spite of a
somewhat too pale cheek.
She wore loose red gown, fancifuIly
trimmed with decoration of gold and red,
which made her black eyes seem peculiarly
happy ana lustr9us.
But as she moved IN response TO her
small sons entTeaty she reached for a
cane that stood near her and leaned upon
u, for she was perceptibly though slightly
lame.
"a wet woman outside. Bertp' she said
well, we will bring her in"
her cane tapped sTartIy upon the
veranda.
Her gaze rested bIankly on the stranger
She fell back a step or two, calling and
before. 1t nearly frightened him into fits.
jess! Jess" she gasped. Isis it
your"
The creature called Jess glared at her
tor minute, then her lips fell apart and
she spoke slowly. as if the words cut her {:
Il might ask If it's you," she said, "Only
L Know 1t amt. Something is giving way
within me; I'm mad at last
She made an attempt to dart from the
veranda into the thick of the beating hail.
but the red-gowned woman seized her arm
and chung TO it.
Poor JessT' she sobbed. Poor Jess
Don't run away again. l have never
blamed you, at least not lately knew
all through it was an accident, and that
you couldn't help it, whatever folks said
And 1t was the beginning of good luck for
me, and better life than ever expected"
She drew the trent bling tramp within the
door of her home. But there Jess Jordan,
long ago known to the public as the aero
bat Daphne. suddenly slid down and