Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-03-23

kissed his widowed mother, who would
not have believed "owt again Jim" on
the testimony of an archangel, and went
out into the frosty air. straight to the
station and away to town so miles
distant, to make u fresh start. His
sweetheart was still in the mill He
ought, of course, to have waited for her
and told her. But he didn't. He would
write. She would learn soon enough.
The village would buzz with the news
Us though the new '.hooter" had pro-
claimed it by nightf.ll. And it did
There were girls who seemed glad to
tell Rachel, and when she fiared up and
said:
''Yo' know as well as Aw do'at Jim
meier did it, - they only replied:
well, he's ta'en his hook, at any
rate. Yo'r Aunt Bet seed him goo an
says good riddance to bad rubbidge.
She doesn't seem to think as weel o.
Jimmie as her niece does. What could
Rachel say? She went home with rage
in her heart against her aunt. and some
thing like resentment against her lover
for hastins away without word to the
girl who could have died for him All.
little did she think, yet even now dead
misery had taken possession OF her.
'Well, Miss Proudie, an how's thy
fine gentleman naa?" (Aunt Bets own
lad had had hopes of the "of1ice" once,
but had turned out Il wastrel; hence her
bitterness. law thout wot it 'ud be.
Some fowlk can't stand gettin up i tn
world Pride'1 hev a fa', an thy whip
persnapper's come cropper, at ony
rate.
where Besides Aunt Bet wasn't worth
answering. Then, that very day, the
overlooker had threatened to reduce her
to two looms and had humbled her sc
terribly before the other weavers that
all the spirit seemed clean gone out OF
her. She went to bed, but not to sleep.
The 'lnocker up" had an easy task
next morning. That day was the black
est of many black ones during the past
few weeks, and now no lovers comfort
awaited her. Everything went wrong.
The stuff wouldn't weave. Her looms
seemed bewitched. The overloolzer over
looked with a vengeance.
stYo'u start on two looms tomorn, "
he said .'TEink ON that! Aw've lots a
wenches o. II 'at weave better nor thee
an do moor wark on two looms IAN tina
con o. three
1t was the last straw. She dare not
face Aunt Bet and her sneers.
''Oh, Jim, Jim, was the cry of her
heart, why couldn't you say word tc
me?' For when her heart spoke it cried
for Jim, and not for looms. Coming out
OF ibe hot mill it was bitter cold. She
drew her shawl over her head and hur-
ried away--not to the place she called
"hcme.'' She scarcely knew where she
went a hopeless despair weighed on
her sensitive spirit Tears, unchecked
and unheeded, dropped as she walked.
Anywhere, anywhere, out of the
worldr' would have been her exclama-
ton could she have expressed her deep
est wish. Suddenly she found herself on
the top of the reservoir embankment.
The moon was shining upon the water,
which sparlcled and shone with a crys-
talline brilhance-
''There's nowt left to live for, an
won't 1ivep' and, casting her shawl
from her, she threw herself from the
embanlcment. There was a sharp, ring
ing sound. The moon shone ON, and all
was still
"Now, Aw wonder what's come Cat
about this money!" thought Jim Sum
ner as he struck the reservoir bank on
his way from the station home. Folks
are fain to stay in toneet, Aw reckon.
Aw'm glad nob'y'n see me till Awe
cleared myself clearin it is-and
what can tn masters ha' taken tn trou-
BILE to get my address fro mother-foI
'dby else knew it-an telegraph for
me to come instantly, if it's not? My,
but tn frost has bin keen this two days
Aw'H bet tn lodge'll bear. - So saying,
he ran down and tried it with his foot,
and, finding it safe, walked a distance
on the margin.
whats that? Good heavensp' He
had stumbled over the prostrate form OF
a woman lying few feet from the en-
bankment. The ice was starred in every
direction where her head had struck it.
Poor Wenchr' He turned her over, and
the moons light fell upon face he had
often kissed. He reeled as though he had
received the blow that made the blood
flow from that marble brow. How cold
she wasl But she breathed. He picked
her mp and carried her, he knew not
how, up the bank and away till he stag
| gered into his mothers cottage.
Could she be in better hands? Still
unconscious, but with signs of returning
animation, he left her and hastened to
the mill. The lights still burned i'll the
Office. The masters were seated by the
fire, and in the background sat the mes
senger and Jabez Smethurst
''How dye do, James-you got oul
wire?''
L did, sir, thank you
boy, tell Us again what you told
this morning. Whereupon the peniteni
lad, with fearful looks at Jabez, tolt
how the overlooller had terrorized him
about small betting debts; how, at his
instigation, he had obtained blanl
check from the office lad at Bromley'si
how Jabez had filled it in, copying the
writing from another of Bromley
checks; how he had presented it with
| the rest at the bank and got the cash.
/ The sequel was known and did not need
/ recounting. Jabez swore it was parcel
of lies, but the boys evident sincerity
revelations OF Jabez' bookmaking trans
| actions and later Rachel's account Of her
/ rejection Of his suit. and his Subsequent
/ threats and persecution, convinced the
masters of Snethurst's guilt They SIM
I pIy discharged him and eased their con-
| sciousness of JiIn's oyerhasty dismissal
by raising his salary to eI50 a year.
The folks who cheered "a happy pair
| and pelted them with rice did not see a
scar on the brow of the bride, for it was
| covered By her bridal veiL-Tit-Bits-