Live Oak daily Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 190?-190?, 1906-09-03

gral0C1llQ she saw JeGSlc0 new and
strange, one whose cheeks were dam
ask roses.
The change startled her. She turned
half about, saying in a grumbhng
voice: maria, you Oughtn't to pro-
woke me so. Go out in the garden.
I'm comm pretty shortly. And you.
Jessy, tell the boy to bring round the
buggy. want you and Ann Liza to
drive over to the store for me-"
T'm sorry, but / can't CO." Jessy
said, holding tight to her mothers
hand. 81 shall be busy-packing up
and finding out how we can best get
away"
ooh. shut up! Stop your foolish talk"
grandma commanded fretfully.
Ann Eliza came in from the garden,
both her hands full Of dewy roses.
"Here! Take these and fix the parlor
vases" she commanded geSs.ca-
Jessica shook her head and turned
toward the door. Grandma had weak
ened sensibly; she was on the point OF
mumbling out an apology. But as
Ann Eliza cried pettishly, Il wish
you'd look at that: ! told you what
would come Of setting beggars on
horseback her anger famed up hot
ter than ever.
"You do as you're told" she cried,
catching Jessica by the shoulders and
trying to shake her. "You say you
want to work for a hvin'i prove it by
waitin' on your betters."
Jessica set her teeth hard, broke
from the quavery hold and rushed
away. At the steps she stopped,
smiled bitterly and shook the dust
from her feet. Over her shoulder she
called clearly, Mother, meet me at the
big gate in an hour; by then / shall
know exactly what we can do"
Ten minutes later she stood In the
Wakefield yard facing Jimmy, with
her heart beating so it half suffocated
her. She had so dreaded to tell what
must be told-to ask the help that was
imperative. 1t was not much, only to
carry her mother and their seant be-
longings to the pOOrhouse Any shelter
would be better than the Cole roof.
There was nobody else she could ask.
Jimmy was the only friend within
walking distance-moreover, the single
person to whom she could bring her
self to make such appeal She was,
In q way. bound to make It. She had
promised, when she denied him that
dearer promise, to call on him il she
found herself In need Of him Now
she was blessing him silently that he
had not asked anything; had listened
only to what she cared to tell and
said afterward, with little soothing
touch on her hand: You did right to
come to me, Jessy. OF course I'll take
you anywhere you may want to CO."
You. you must only sena Us. Black
Billy can take Us in the wagon.
Grandma will be SO angry II she knows
you helped US escape" JessIca had
answered. but at that Jimmy only
smiled.
Very shortly he made her sit down
on the bench under the big elm and
went away whistling, to reappear, all
In q whiffet, driving a spanking pair,
which drew a double seated vehicle
spick and span.
81 think we'd better make the trip
q quick one" was all he said in an
swer to Jessy's expOstulation.
Almost before she knew it she was
sitting beside him, bowling along the
turnpike at the teams best pace. As
quickly her mother was gathered up.
and, the hand luggage properly be
slowed, Jimmy amazed JeSsy by bid
ding her sit behind, adding, Il want to
talk to mammy-and these horses don't
let me turn my head for any consider
able time"
Jessy began to feel desperately lone
ly-she could not even divert herself
by watching the dazzle of the flying
spokes as the wheels spun round.
Jimmy was driving very fast, and
keeping to the turnpike. 1t must be he
meant to take them through town
that, no doubt, accounted for his choice
Of a rig. She knew he hated a sha bby
outft-especially upon Saturdays and
court days. 1t might be he had bust
ness that could not wait-but some
how she felt that he was unkind to
think OF anything but her extremity.
Then she sank into a sort Of daze, Won
dering duly how 1t would seem to find
herself a pauper, duly committed. She
had not thought Of that before-of
course there were legal forms before
they could claim the last refuge of the