The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-24

cuverru tner eyes. vn- .. e-~
were sobbing like the little I'm.
Where we goin to carry him tor
muttered Tim Bradlee huskily. John.
ny didn't have no home nor no folks"
He used the past tense unconscious
ly. This was not Johnny now--it had
been. The girls stood about. wiring
ing their hands Historically.
HE warn't worth it-such a little
humpbacked thing" somebody said
shrilIy.
Ssh, can't you? DO you want Jess
to hear|' cried some one else. But
there was no danger. Jess was wiping
the blood from Johnny's face. She
had only heard Tim Rradlee With a
sudden movement she stood before
him.
Garry Johnny to my house. Tim."
she said quietly. HE belongs to me.
I'm goin to marry him"
The girls voice rang out distinctly
There was no CULVER of doubt or Of
shame in it. She faced them all splen-
didly. One of the girls uttered a ner-
vous sound that might have been a sob
or laugh. Jess caught the look on
her face.
81 am goin to marry Johnny" she
repeated sharply. "Oh. you needn't
look that way, Moll Dixey! Johnny
amt dead. He belongs to me. and
tell you I'm goin to marry him. Won't
somebody carry him to my house? Has
anybody gone for doctor?'
Eyes. yes. two OF the boys" volun-
teered many voices. He'd ought to be
here inside o the art our. Study.
boys-easy"
If Johnny had been a baby instead
OF a brawny. crushed giant, they could
not have carried him more tenderly
down the straight road outlined in
crimson and gold. Relays followed.
and the poor. unconscious load was
shifted occasionally with the gentle
Jess and the little I'm went on ahead.
The child was sobbing still under his
breath, and his little torn clothes trail
ed. unnoticed, behind him. The hor-
ror OF the terrible minute before John
ny sprang to his rescue was overkeen
for his unbalanced little mind.
I'm killed! I'm killed- he moaned
with patient reiteration. You'd just
as lieves I'd be killed. Jess: yes. you
would too! You amt sorry"
And Jess was not even thinking of
the little I'm. She had forgotten him
for once.
When Johnny woke out Of his stupor.
he thought he had gone to heaven and
one of the angels was bending over
him. She was very sweet and gentle.
Why, it is Jess! Then Jess had gone
to heaven too? Johnny experienced a
sense of relief at the thought. 1t
wouldn't be real heaven without Jess.
"Jess. liEle girl" he whispered,
"when'd you Gomez"
Ssh. Johnny, don't talk. Yes, it's
me- It's Jess. I'm taking care o. you.
You've had kind 90 sickness. Sh-'
And Johnny closed his eyes again.
with a great joy mastering his pain.
Slowly. very slowly. his awful bruises
Yielded to the gentle ministry OF na.
ture-and Jess. Very slowly Johnny
numbered back to life. The little settle
ment OF Liberty had been under snow
= month or more before he saw it
again.
At first Jess had staid away from
the works to narse him: then she had
gradually trusted him more and more
TO granny. She could not lose the mon
~ she earned at the looms.
One day Johnny sat up In bed and
demanded . looking glass. Jess was
It the factory. The little I'm sat on the
foot Of the bed playing with a bit OF
bright string.
Say. little un. you know what a
ook.n glass is. hey? Well. you run
Ind fetch me ene." said Johnny.
II known the little I'm cried delieht.
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cut o a winder. and you can look
through it and ss.e the trees and the |