Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-14
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| GONE eight or ten years ago John
Ia Mitchell was classed among the
many prosperous farmers of Kentucky.
Reverses came, however, and at the
opening Of my story he was, compare
lively speaking, a very poor man. Out
of the wreck he retained few acres,
which, assiduously worked by his own
hands, were his only means of support.
His wife had been an invalid ever
since 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-
priye Jess of her one great desire-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-
lfngs mansion she would be among the
invited. And Sally Doak, whose father
was 1.-THE all-firedest poorest cuss in
seven states" never thought of asking
''the boys and girls TO come and have a
time" at her house unless Jess had
promised to be there Then Sally would
make things lively around her little
whitewashed home getting ready for
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 musica,
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 IIewling's
meant something" but jess never felt
the difference. She felt just as much
honored in being a guest at the Doak
cabin.
Sam Bruce had been keeping watch
full eye on jess for many a day. lie
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 lool, at. One of the
"old-timers" said that he appeared like
"he wuz half made. then furgut erbout.
and iis mutually stopped under
This may have caused his tirniditv 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.
Were anyone to tell Sam that Jess
thought of him other than as her next
door neighbor he would not believe il.
And although she was "oneommon
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
nyears. according to theircalculatious, |
and as she never he'd reg,ar beau She
valiant likely TO ever hev man."
"Gettin' on in vars" did not bother
jess. Time only added 10 her beauty.
She had become perfectly reconcUed to |
her humdrum existence and went |
about her household duties without a |
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 i'm
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 10
allow one Of his men to take her ia
theirs place, proud and independent 10 |
the core, she would not listen. Charity |
She could not accept.
Poor jess. How Sank longed to tuke
her to his heart and home and 30 COM
fort those who were dear to her. Bu,
he. too. was proud and couldn't brool,
refusal. SO kept silent.
On her way TO the city jess happened
70 think Of a Mr. Williams. whom She
had heard her father laud as an early
riser. lie was a wealthy land owne-
Of Houston. Tex. and was stopping al
The Louisville" Every morning he
and Jess father would have a char.
People were wont 10 say that John
Mitchell could not speak for five min
utes on any subject without chiminc
in with INV 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 ont If
pace IN vegetable wagon. II was hard