24 TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



door of the house where she's a-Hvin'. Does such as you beheve 

 in sperrits? Man, I tell you as. surely as you live, Jess barred 

 the door o' yon house, saying again so soft them words which 

 wur her last — maybe you never heard them'. " Lead us not into 

 temptation," she said. It wur part o' a prayer we said when we 

 was little uns together. Sir, I wur turned from the thought 

 o' workin' more evil. I cannot work agen her will now, though 

 many's the time I did it when she wur alive to cross me. Take 

 them letters. They burns against my breast like fire. My Jess 

 is none the less to me still because she cared for a scoundrel, and 

 died by a-doin' of his will. But damn you, man, if ever I rides 

 a race agen for you, and if I don't, by fair or foul means, live to 

 see you ruined ! My little Jess ! my little Jess !' 



