The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-14

they left horse and car at a farm house,
then toiled on foot to the summit.
Jessie flowed with good spirits, mis-
chievous as a kitten, 1.-the and beauti-
full as Notwithstanding in her sweet
youth and desirable. George, too, was
on the nights of glory-perhaps
higher than the hights-gay, manful,
hearty. Even Mary felt carried out
of herself, bright and glad, her full
heart overlooking it's happiness upon
her face. But the way was long, her
strength failed at last; so on the noun
tain top she sat down among the
heather TO rest. And the others wan
dered away.
After awhile, she having recovered
| strength, and taken deep of the. days
bounty, Mary rose and idly went
| through the heather, slowly, happily,
| just seeing and admiring. The air was
wonderful; a great peace brooded be-
meath the sun. No one was in sight.
The world seemed empty Full of
| gladness, Mary sauntered along; all
| suddenly stopped quick at sight or
| Jessie and George seated in a hollow
that lay within a clump of frs.
They were close together; Jessie
! leaning against a stump, hands
! smoothing a ribbon in her hat and
eyes bent upon them; George lying
| beside her, resting ON an elbow, feet
| crossed and his eyes on her face.
| They were not speaking. A score of
/ times had Mary seen them side by
| side and given no heed; but now She
| needed much. A sudden pain struck
| her heart. Her breath faltered. In
| an instant she was changed, and her
| life was changed and she stood black
with suspicion, racked, stricken, the
| house of her trust crumbled mlseraDly
| down. What change! Dear heaven,
| what agony of change!
| a1raaa Nno 10.
with the agony of ages.
Still they did not speak. But soon,
! as Mary watched, Jessie's hand fell be-
| side her, and with that George seized
her hand, scrambled to his knees, and
broke into protestations-miser
| protestatons that dashed Mary's heart.
| Dear God. that she should live to hear
| themi Listen, listen. The same words;
| the words which but yesterday had
been only for her; and now-now----
| All! was 1t possible? Could that be
| George? That be Jessie? This be her
very self? Listen. listenl Jessie" he
says, "before God l swear to you that
! you're the one woman in the world
for me. swear it. All, listen to me.
Jessie. Don't turn from me. Don't
blame me for Mary's sake. Dear
! knows / pity her-but / can't help It.
! / can't. You make me, Jessie. You're
! the one woman--'' Oh, that againl II
! was pitiful. 1t was unbearable. Then,
| blessedIy maybe. of a sudden dark
ness blotted the sunshine and Mary
lay still.
When light came back the hollow
| was empty Weak and sick at heart
Mary rose and went stumbling through
the heather. down toward the farm
1 house, her one desire now being to get
| home. But presently the two saw her;
soon they Joined her: without word OF
look Mary hurried on. face set hard
| hands clenched. her heart like stone
And behind the others stepped gufltily
with averted eyes
They reached the farmhouse; and
there the two stopped to get the car
but Mary went on down the lane, hur-
| rying-hurrying on. Her brain burnt;
she thought: "oh, dear God, let me
only get home-get home!" Like a
| hunted creature she went stumbling
over the stones. stumbling and hurry
Ing bllndly.
Nearing the highway, however, and
close to a spot where the lane turned
sharp to the left. a elamor arose on
the slope behind. Shouts and cries
came, a rumbing of wheels a pound
ing of hoofs; and turning. Mary saw
the car come tearing down with only
/ Jessie I'm IL, and George running be-
hind, shouting and waving his arms
The horse was galloping. The car
came laundering over the stones. JOLT
ing and swaying. Jessie sat pulling
| at the reins, arms outstrctched and
face white above them. Well might
she be pale. well might George rave
for the turning was there, and black
ruin near Il.
Ruin? Perhaps death2 Yes: Mary
saw well. In a fash all was clear tc
her. The horse WIS beyond control
George could do nothing. AZ the turn.
INK something dreadful must happen
Already Jessie had dropped the reins
and now sat covering her face. shud.
dering from what lay before her Only
one chance was there-that MARI
should stand IN the way. Then perhaps
the horse might sweFve. or stop or col
lapse before u came 10 that fatefu
turning. Only u chanee-a poor chance
VET. yet
Why should Mary stand 10 the way
Why risk iifo for q eaanco-a miarr
able chance ~ saving the iife ~ thl
Jessie whom Fhe hated Her chane
Jeasle had wrecked, Der ne had blight