The Montgomery tribune., 1901-05-17
For n wnsn't f.orain.

the goNvynor. shrieked Miugct, IN
wild excitement. "Oh. he's all drip
drcnchin'. Hes all un-ironcd! Hc's
drowndinl"
The hose fell heavily and lay tun-
neling long sinuuus trench In the
path unhindered. jess fled in frantic
terror. She did not once look back.
Manners. dignity, responsibility. san
ity itself. deserted her for the mo-
ment. The horror of what she had
done appalled, her. She saw prison
bars and stripes looming before her.
The very heavens seemed shutting
down over her head and she gaspel
for breath.
Behind the hawthorn hedge the
laugh frozc on Lorain Cox's lips. His
fiery head rose out of eclipse slowly.
and he saw the worst. The spirit OF
knighthood burst from bud into bios
som In his soul ut that moment.
How long Jess lay ON her bed With
her fingers In her ears she never
knew; u minute? nm hodr! wcck?
Then she rightcd hcrsci. hnd got on
her feet weakly. II was borne In
upon her that she must 20 down "
she died in the attempt. Somewhere.
out there on the lawn the governor
was slowly "drip-drcnching." What
was he thinking about? Was hc--did
governors swear? Did they rave and
call down vengeance? Did they. oh,
did they carry dry clothes in their
grips?
She was mndc Of hero flesh and
blood. but her feet almost refused TO
move. She went 10 the head of the
stairs three times and back. Then
with u gasp she plunged out and down
the stairs, like n little hunted white
animal.
Suddenly. on the landing. she heard
n laugh. then another. That one wns
Rains. The first one doomed out
again. deep and hearty. She pceped
between the palms IN the landing win
dow. They were cut there together
the governor and Rain. And Midget
| Midget was pcrchcd ON the gov
crnors Knee. He did not look terri
BILE with wrath. and lie looked he
certainly did, dry
"No, you couldn't call 4 cut and
| dried reception drifird up To her
In Lornin'S voice with Lorain's big
laugh ut the cnd.
Midgc aud the governor joined In
cnioyingly.
"l,uthcr u cool one. though" added
Rain, trying To he digniilcd. with
bizarre effect. "You see. she thought
she wns dousing me jess II near.
| sighted. She meant To he regularly
on her dignity when you came. been
prnciicing all day"
| lie had made the ext lnnntion once
before. md added another about Mr..
aud Mrs. Golfers absence. Rain
WIS really doing finely. knighihocd
sat upon his big. lnnk figure and
frccklcd face with becoming grace.
Good bow" murmurcd Jess. Aud
taking heart. she wen, ON downstairs
hrn,rIy. II was n Hurried, meek III.
tie nnidrn who crossed th. wet rrns,
tn the lawn rhnirs aud held out u III.
tie shaking brown hand. I.orain
gnspcd and sought for landmarks, TO
assure himself that II was Jess.
"iIr'H all ironcd again" volunteered
Mhlge, chccrfuliy. "'I,nin ironcd him
didn't you, 'Rnin? lie wasn't 40 very
awful wet"
The governors eyes danced wicked
Ia. but bis b,nrtstrinys ,uyycJ with
pity for the sorry little maid and IA.
forborc.
"MIss .Irssp" hc snid. prnspinp th,
linn little hand warmly. "Wcll, Mis-,
Jess, 1 nm delighted 10 sec Won. pvs
nut Won into nv speech nlrcndy-yout
strong temperance principles, :
meant"
And of course less laughed. Ana
of course ,b. wors, ,yns over 4, vpa
La very pny littl. Marty. out ON ,h.
,n,yn. until .Icssi,n' by nnd hv. s,oIe
nwny 10 make IN for her terrible re-.
ccp,ion ns much ns possiblc by g,,.
ting the ill.nscd governor the very
dnintics, of tens.
When the rest Of the family cnIn,