The Portland daily press., 1898-02-24
COPYRIGHT 1898. BY THE AUTHOR.

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in this unusual display of generosity.
"No doubt you were faithful serv-
ant to my grandmother and she reward
ed you handsomely. ,
"No doubt [ were faithful servant
to her," said the old crone with curl
ing liz. but when you caught old Mad
am Bascom dom anything from graft
tude you had to get up mighty early in
the mornin. You did that
Jessica was in a fair way to forget
the ostensible reason Of this late visit to
Savanna. Her oyermastering surprise at
finding the aunt supposed to be dead
hidden in the old woman's cabin had
driven the matter of the looms entirely
out of her head. Savanna, too, was grow
ing restless under this prolonged intru
sion.
She conspicuously lighted lamp by
way Of emphasizing the lateness of the
hour. She sized broom of twigs that
hung in the chimney corner and brush
ed the ash Uttered hearth with frank
disregard for her visitors close proxim-
ity. Then she gave Jessica some candid
advice:
"When you finds it necessary to gal
livant about the plantation this late of
evenin's, missy, you had better make
Oscar come with you. Oscar is my son,
and I learned him some sense when he
were little When my Miss Ellen thar
were your age, she wouldn't "a let lamp
light catch her this far from home lone
by herself
ST expect you are right in reminding
me Of the proprieties,' said Jessica
good naturally, although I imagine
your desire to get rid of me is not very
disinterested. While am here, how
ever, may as well settle all my bust
ness with you. started from the house
on very different errand from this. L
want you to start the weaving industry
on the place for me-.
"Weavin? I'm too old to weave l
amt goin to work myself to death at
the biddin Of a child"
"You are certainly the most irasci-
Bile old subject I ever came in contact
WITH said Jessica, looking the old
woman coldly in the eyes. 81 can't i'm
agile how anything ever grew fond Of
you.
''She loves me. She loves me better
than she does anything in the world"
~ am glad Of it, for your sake and
hers too. I haven't the slightest inten-
ton of working you to death. l simply
want you to teach some of the younger
women how to weave, so that the peo-
pie on the place need not suffer for
clothes.''
"Buy 'em clothes.
"You don't recognize the fact that a
war is going on and that there is no
place for US to buy anything. What we
can't make for ourselves we will have
to go without. -
"Then go without.
Jessica had recognized from the first
that there could be no half measures
between her and this refractory old
creature, whose many years OF assertlve
mystery and powers of evil had enabled
her to dominate every one around her.
She turned upon her now with severl-
ty that reminded Savanna forcibly of
'tthe old madam" in it's naughty AFRO
gance.
"Listen to me, Savanna, and be gov
erned by what your own sense must tell
you is for your own good. You are the
only person on this place who knows
how to weave. I have asked you cour-
teously to teach some of the other women
how to run the looms. You need not
think I am dependent on you. l know
how to weave myself, and, If the worst
comes to the worst, I can do without
you. But do not care to take up this
line of work. You have been left unmo-
Tested here SO long that you overesti-
mate your liberties. You are not free
woman yet, and you are under my au-
thority SO long as things stand as they
do at present will give you until to-
shall come in the car
riage to remove my aunt-to make up
your mind about the weaving"
"And if I say won't do it, what
then?''
"What then? Well, you can stay on
in this house, which my grandmother
gave you, but that shall be your solita-
ry privilege on the place. shall see
that no wood is brought to your cot
tage, that no meal is ground for you in
the gristmill, that no rations OF any
sort are issued to you. %
Good Lord, but you is hard one.
Who will say blood don't tell: You is
your old grandmother come back in the
flesh, with dash off, She stopped
suddenly, and again Selling her brush
Of twigs began sweeping with offensive
energy.
Jessica stood up and began drawing
on her riding gloves.
IF [ find you in proper frame of
mind when I come for my aunt I will
take you home with her. You y be
her sole attendant if you wish it.
"She's better of where she is.
81 am the best judge of that.
"You is judgin accordin to your
lights, an mighty poor lights they are.
In that house, in that room, she will
be- Twin over the whole miserable past.
She won't be able to get away from it.
re- l..l,-.A 4La,,ch+ = a II o17+ %bat a xxyox,