The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-26


ny. She could not lose the money she
earned at the looms
One day Johnny sat up in bed and de-
manded a looking glass. Jess was at the
factory. The Little I'm sat on the foot
of the bed playing with a bit of bright
string.
Say, Little I'm, you know what a look
in glass is hey? Well you run and
fetch me one" said Johnny.
Il KNOW the Little I'm cried delight
edly. I've got one myself. Ii came
out o a winder and you can look through
il and see the trees and the snow
No no; ask granny. Granny !. know"
the sick man said, fretfully.
Granny came in with the looking glass,
as a last resort, behind her. for Jess had
said no. She looked frightened.
There, there, Johnny-there. there; you
go right TO sleep and git rested up. Or, If
you'd ruther, IN fetch you In some beauti-
full porrdge. Jess made it," she added art
fully.
Fetch me lookin' glass" roared John
ny. I've been feelin over my face-there's
something wrong with It,"
Poor Johnny! 1t was all wrong. He had
hazarded and lost all his rough manly
beauty The thin face on the pillows was
twisted and malred.
Granny, IN get out O. bed if you don't
fetch it," he persisted, and granny yield
cd weakly. The Little Tn peered over
Johnnys shoulder as he looked.
'Ain't you hombly, johnny" he piped
shrlFy. MY. your face is all crosswaysv'
When Jess came home. Johnny's face
was turned away. He covered it with his
great lean hands.
Johnny. Johnny" quavered Jess. but
she knew the mischief was done 1t had
had to come. All her tenderness and fore
sight could not ward il off-Granny had
only precipitated it a little.
How Jessie had watched the terrible
wounds heal slowly into ugly seams, and
suffered for Johnny Not for herself, for
what did Jess care for the ugliness that
bhghted Johnny's handsome face forever?
II was still Johnny's face-and Johnny be-
longed to her. She was going to marry
Johnny.
But her heart ached for him. She could
hardly bear it. To-day, speeding down the
long stretch of roadway from the works,
she had wished her face too, could be
scanned and married like Johnny's. Jess
knew the fresh, sweet beauty of her own
face. and the contrast hurt her-for John
N.Y.
"Poot Johnny" murmured Jess. Another
difficulty doomed over her-her public
aVowal before the men and girls the day
of Johnny's sacrifice. Every word of it
stood out like clear handwriting on the
wall They had all heard-all but John
ny. What would he think when he heard
of 1t, too, outside, as he would be sure
to do? He was getting stronger all the
time. Soon he would be out again, and
some of the boys would let the secret out.
But that trouble settled itself while Jess
stood and looked down at Johnny's hidden
face The pity and the love in her soul
crowded out, everything else. She kept
smoothing the big white hands with her
fingers over and over. and then she leaned
down and kissed them. Johnny quivered
from head TO foot: Johnny" Jess cried;
Johnny, look up, look up! Please. DEAR
She forced away his hands with gentle
flrmness. She was looking down al him.
laughing a little, shyly. A wave of crimson
crept up across her sweet face. What
I've got to say is that love YOU Johnny.
The Lord Almighty knows 1 do l want
you TO let me marry you--Johnny, you've
got to! said was going to. 1 told them
all l was that day you saved the Little
I'm"
The rest she whispered with her face in
his neck as she knelt beside the bed.
Johnny, answer me straight out" she
breathed, Haven't l got right to be an
swered same as-other women?"
She was laughing softly under her breath.
but he could feel the hot blood in her face.
II m going to marry you, Johnny" whis-
pered Jess. 81 love you, dear"
The Little I'm stopped stealthily out TO
granny. His uncanny strange child's face
was fun of awe, and he prodded granny's
arm, excitedly with little sharp foreiin-
ger
My, Jess is kissin' johnny he shriRed
"an' Johnnys kissin' Jessr'
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