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

GeOTBe! Sne asked III neF SOper way.
Like herr" George held his answer
for a breath. Did he wish it? Nav"
said he. faith I don't. Woman. dear.
you're worth a houseful of her. Whisht
now, with your solemn face. Just kiss
me, an away into your bed: an ex-
pect me in a night or two. Good night,
me own Mary" He kissed her and
tramped off between the hedges.
whistling gaily, thinking of Mary,
thinking of Jessie. But Mary stood.
lonely by the gate, thinking only OF
him. All. she liked him well. How
happy she was. how content. Life
seemed just beginning. A month ago
how dull was the world: now what
bounty it held! George, George!" she
said her thoughts following him along
the road, God keep you, my own boy,
an make me worthy Of ye." She bow
ed her head upon the gate. Tears came.
Georges whistle died out in the silence
of the hills. Then quick step sounded
behind on the PATH and Jessie came
tripping to her. side a-flutter with mis-
chief.
II saw you. I was watchin. Oh,
you're q sly pair. Kissin' at the gate,
| indeed, like Pat an Biddy. lust wait
| till see him again; my word, won't l
/ tease him." Mary did not answer: so
Jessie stopped. Mary" She whispered
hell do wish you joy. He's just the
kind I'd choose myself"
/ The words came lightly: but some
how they fitted Ill with Mary's humor
without answering them. she turned
from the gate IT'S late" said she,
Fan I'm tired. Aren't we comm to bed
Jessie?"
w.
! If Jessie, in the days that followed,
! did not twist George round her fin
gers, at least she held him submissive
between them, captive yet not a pris-
.oner, free yet not unbound. All was
open as the sun. They meant nothing
Soon their ways must part. Jessie
would find another moth, George cease
: his circling and hutter down. Winter
was coming, so dull and cold; life was
short, the sunshine fieeting: let them,
then. whilst yet there was chance, en-
joy these golden harvest-days. So they
took chance by the hand. And time
flew. And Hannah sat wondering and
James considering. And Mary? Well,
as you know, Mary was not one to
claim much consideration. She was
easily satisfied. expected little; gave
more than she was likely to receive.
Perhaps love made her blind: perhaps
she was by nature so Aaithful soul
and 50 trusting at heart that she gave
others credit for a faithfulness and
trust which they did not possess. En-
tirely she had given herself to George;
implicitly did she believe-oh. as she
believed in God-that he was her very
own. 1t was natural that George
should admire Jessie and be her good
friend. Everyone was. 1t was natural
that Jessie should divert herself with
George, should attract his attention,
demand his company, laugh with him,
sing, chatter. attend him even to local
| dance and concert. sail with him on
the river, drive out with him, accom-
panying him to fair and meeting. She
herself was dull, was busy, had hardly
a minute to spare nowadays from the
service of the needle There was much
! TO do, much to prepare for that blessed
J time lying there in next spring. Still
! still. Well some times she thought--a
hint from Hannah having maybe
struck home, or word of Jessie's. or
Of Georges that perhaps all was not
quite as Ii should be. Was George
| changing in his manner toward her?
Was he cold at times, irritable: was
he firing of her, giving to Jessie time
and attention which once he had given
only TO her? Why did she lie awake at
nights, sometimes thinking, thinking,
fearing dreading? Was it.? Oh, no,
no! She was wicked to doubt. She must
trample fears under foot. Let her
mother quit limiting. Let herself be
content. She was thrice blessed. George
was the same. How often when he bade
her goodbye at the gate. and she
spoke doubtlngly, did he chase doubt
IN the old hearty way.
Mary dear, have wit. Girl, you're
the one woman In the world. An.
don't be worrying your solemn head.
I'm just the same-only better. There.
now. kiss me an away 10 your bed an
3 be expectin' me SOON"
stand happy at the gate, looking az
the stars. listening 10 HIS whistle.
thinking OF the days that were COM
Ing.
1
".
On a day IN October-~a Iaggard day
Of Irish summer, calm and beautiful
7 -