The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-14

much older, and married him with a future assured by nothing further than Teds contagious laugh and abil- ity to see joke. Jessie had been re- garded by the populace as beyond hope.
 They did not relent even when all their prophecies of woe to follow were fulfilled. They said they did not see what else she could have expected and It was only proper 1udgmen. upon her. To some people it is one of the chief joys of life to witness retri- button descending where they think it Is most needed.
 It certainly" descended on Jessie The four years os her married life nad gone steadily from bad to worse ana at last even the two-room cottage, With the leaky roof and broken win dow panes, was no longer possible, be- cause the cold weather was coming on and there was no fuel even if there had been a decent stove in which to burn 1t. The lack of proper food she was used to-one can get used to many things in four years-but the cold was different, especially as she had the baby to consider.
 After she had taken the fat and placid six-month-old youngster and herself back to her own people in sheer desperation the maledictions which her relatives poured out on Ted Bingle encouraged her to the point of seeking a divorce. The current of bitterness in Lessie's own heart had only required accelerating. If Ted had been consistently brutal toward her she could have hated him with better grace, but she could not forget the brief intervals when he would stay at home, laughing and careless and attractive as ever, with the few dollars he had earned trapping up the river, or working by the day.
 Then would come long spells of ab- sence or of drunkenness, followed by repentance. Meanwhile the family exchequer was absolutely empty.
 Those had been years of hard toll for Jessie over washtub and in other women's homes at housekeeping time. The townspeople gave her credit at least for bearing her lot uncomplain- ingly. But the baby had changed all this. What she had stood she refused to endure for the child.
 After the decree Jessie left the baby at home with her mother and sister and went to work for the Gra- hams. The Grahams had the incest house in town. Lessie's room. which was gorgeousness itself compared with what she had always had, was not the least of her good luck. There actually was a servants bathroom at the Grahams' done in white enamel. Likewise she had gas stove and Mrs. Graham rarely came into the Kitchen to interfere.
 Three Pines, looking over all these items of good fortune, sighed in sat- isfaction and said 1t hoped Jessie ap- preciated what luck she was in She was more comfortably housed than nine-tenths of the population and act ually earned money, though she did not work as hard as she had done previously Since she had seen the error of her ways there still might be hope for her. Ted Bingle was elim- mated from her life and perhaps now she could gain a little peace and hap piness. Three Pines was disposed to mitigate its opinion of Lessie's intel lect and to think that perhaps she had some sense after all.
 Jessie had been working for the Grahams four months and was thin ner and paler than ever when Mrs. Graham came into the kitchen doubt fully one day.
 Jessie" she said. Ted Bingle is in town. Mir Graham saw him on the street yesterday. I thought you might like to know"
 Jessie frightened her lips and the cake spoon bent in her hand. q don't care," she said in hard little voice. What difference does Ted Bingle make to me-"
 Jessie has got all over her infatu- ation for that worthless fellow" Mrs. Graham explained to her husband with a satisfied sigh that evening.
 Lessie was just going in at the kitchen door at dusk few days later when Ted put out detaining hand. and stopped her. TT want to talk fo you, Lessis." stammered he. An want to hear about the-the baby"
 When Mrs. Graham handed Lessie har wages Saturday night tho otfl raised her head defiantly. I'm going to leave" she said Ted and were married again this afternoon. We