The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-09-02
, s.saaa5:92g:99s9:s95sss993s9s
JESS.
@@eG@@@@&@e@eGGeae@@e


GONE eight or ten years ago John
y Mitchell was classed among the
many prosperous farmers of Kentucky.
RCyerses came, however, and at the
opening of my story he was, compara-
lively speaking, a very poor man. Out
OF the wreck he retained a few acres,
which, assiduously worked by his own
hands, were his only means of support
His wife had been an invalid ever
STAGE Jess, their only child and daugh-
ter, left college. Upon her entering this
institution her father paid for the full
course in advance, fearing, as he said,
that something might happen to de-
prjye Jess of her one great dcsire-a
college education.
Being capable of filing any position
that required sense and qualification,
jess was forced to refuse the few which
were offered her because her father
would not leave the "old place" and
move to the city and her mother needed
her constant attendance. She tried her
hand at story-writing, but the dozen
or more that she sent out with so much
faith in their availability came back
The wealth and poverty of the sur
rounding country paid homage to Jess
Mitchell. Whenever there was to be
gathering of any kind at Judge Hew-
Iing's mansion she would be among the
invited, And Sally Doak, whose father
was the all-fredest poorest cuss in
seven States" never thought of asking
the boys and girls" to come and have
time" at her house unless jess had
promised to be there. Then Sally would
make things lively around her little
the occasion. The night of the party
would find everything as sweet and
dainty as Sally herself.
jess would always take her violin
with her, for she knew that her musical
gift gave these people genuine pleasure.
She was never happier than when add
ing to the enjoyment of Others.
Now, to be asked to Judge Hewling's
meant something" but Jess never felt
the difference. She felt just as much
honored in being a guest at the Doall
cabin.
Sam Bruce had been keeping a watch
full eye on Jess for many a day. He
owned one of the finest stock farms in
eastern kentucky. This did not make
him preSumptuous as far as Jess was
concerned, for he knew that dollars and
cents cut no figure with her. Sam was
positively ugly to look at. One of the
"old-timers" said that he appeared like
che wuz half made, then furgut erbout,
and iis mutually stopped under"
This may have caused his timidity in
approaching Jess, but it did not pre-
vent him from giving her that great
noble heart of his, that any true woman,
no matter how beautiful or fascinating
she might be, would be proud to be
queen of.
We're anyone to tell Sam that Jess
thought of him other than as her next
door neighbor he would not believe it.
And although she was "oncommon
kind to him in his last spill of sickness"
the folk around about said nothing but
tibet Mitchell gal would be kind to al
most enybody." Jess ''wuz a-gettin' on
in years" according to their calculations,
and as she never he'd rcg'lar beau she
valiant likely to ever hev a man"
"Gettin' on in vars" did not bother
Jess. Time only added to her beauty.
She had become perfectly reconciled to
her humdrum existence and went
about her household duties without
murmur. And when, one morning in
the early part of April, her father was
stricken with paralysis while loading
the wagon with the vegetables that he
had punched the night before, she. be
ing convinced that there was no inn
mediate danger, took his place on the
wagon, drove to the city and furnished
his customers. When Sam remon-
strated with her and begged her to
allow one of his men to take her ia
TIERS place. proud and independent to
the core, she would not listen. Charity
she could not accept.
Poor Jess. How SAM ionged to take
her to his heart and home and to com
fort those who were dear to her But
he. too. was proud and couldn't brook
refusal, so kept silent.
On herway to the city Jess happened
I" think of Mr. Williams. whom she
had heard her father laud as an early
riser. He was a wealthy land owner
of Houston. Tex, and was stopping at
"The Louisville" Every morning he
and jess father would have chat.
People we're wont to say that John
Mitchell could not speak for five min
utcs on any subject without Ginning
in with my daughter" OF course he
made no exception to Mr.. Williams.
jess made for "The Louisville" first.
thinking that she would beat the
"early bird" for she did feel out of
pace in a vegetable wagon. 1t was hard