The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-09-10

NUAs nAI poVL PooA EAAubI AN - INV
ly ever to continue, SO far as can see. The
lady in gray we call our "little gray gossip,
and a darling she is As to Annie, you
seem TO know all about her. | suppose
little Bessie has been lauding her up to the
skies"
'Who is little BessieP'' we inquired.
Little Bessie is your little gray gossip
wenever call her anything but Bessie to her
face; she is harmless little old maid. But
come this wayi Bessie Is gong 70 sing iof
they won let her rest till she complies and
Bessie singing, and Bessie taking are "iuely
Widely different indeed. Could this be
tbe IittIe grav lady seated at the piano, and
making il speakP while her thrilling tones, as
She sang of "days gone by, 7" wen straight to
each listeners heart, she herself looked ten
wears Younger. When the song was over, |
observed MI. Worthington, with Annie still
resting on his arm, in a corner Of the apart
ment, shaded by projecting piece Of furni-
ture; and | also noted the tear on his furrOw-
ed cheek, which he hastily brushed away, and
stopped to answer some remark Of Annie's S,
who, with fond affection, had evidently OBJ
served it too, endeavoring to dispel the pain
full illusion which remembrances Of days gone
by occasioned.
We at length found,t company, separst-
ing, andEOur wager still unredeemed. The
last to depart was Mr.. WOrthingtOn, escOrtlng
Annie Mortimer and little Bessie, whom he
shawled most. tenderly, no doubt because she
was poor forlorn little old maid, and sang so
sweetIy.
The next morning at breakfast, Cousin Con
attacked us, supported by Mr.. Danvers, both
demanding a solution of the mystery, or the
scented sevens! After vast deal Of laugh
ing, talking, and discussion, we were obliged
to confess ourselves beaten, for there had been
an engaged couple present on the previous
evening, and we had failed to discover them.
No; it was not Annie Mortimer; she had no
lover Mo- it was not the Misses Halliday,
or the Masters Barton they had flirted and
danced, and danced and flirted indiscrimi-
nately; but as to serious engagements-pooh
pooh!
Who would have conjectured the romance
Of reality that was now divulged; and how
could we have been so stupid as not to have
read it at a glance2 These contradictory ex-
Clamations, as is usual IN such cases, ensued
when the riddle was unfolded. 1t is so easy
to be wise when we have learned the wisdom.
Yet we cheerfully lost our wager, and would
have lost hundred such, for the sake of hear
ing a tale SO far removed from matter of fact;
proving, also, that enduring faith and affec-
tion are not so fabulous as philosophers often
! pronounce them to be.
Bessie PTudhOlm was nearly related to Da-
Vid Danvers, and she had been the only child
of talented but improvident father who, af-
ter a short brilliant career as public singer,
suddenly sank into Obscurity and neglect
from the total loss of his vocal powers. brought
on by a violent rheumatic cold and lasting
prostration of strength. At this 'juncture,
Bessie had nearly attained her twentieth year,
and was still in mourning for an excellent
mother, by whom she had been tenderly and
carefully brought up. From luxury and in
diligence the descent to poverty and privation
was swift. Bessie indeed, inherited q very
small income in right of her deceased parent,
sufficient for her own wants, and even com
forts, but totally inadequate to meet the thou
sand demands, caprices and fancies of her all
ing and exigant father. However, for five
years she battled bravely with adversely, eking
out their scanty means by her exertions-
though, from her fathers helpless condition,
and the constant and unremitting attention
he required, she was in a great measure de-
| barred from applying her efforts advantage
| ously. The poor, dying man, in his days Of
health, had contributed to the enjoyment OF
| the affluent, and in turn been courted by them;
but now, forgotten and despised, he bitterly
reviled the heartless world, whose hollow
need of applause it had formerly been thC
sole aim Of his existence to secure.
Wealth became to his disOrdered imagina
ton the desideratum Of existence, and he at
tached an inordinate value to it, in proportion
as he felt the bitter stings of comparative pen
ury. To guard his only child-whom he Ger
tainly loved better than anything else in tn
world, save himself-fTom this dreadful evil
the misguided man, during his latter days
extracted from her an inViolable assuranc
never to become the wife Of any individua
who could not settle upon her, subject to n
contingencies or chances, the sum OF at leas
one thousand pounds.
Bessie, who was fancy free, and a lively
spirited girl, by no means relished the slight
and priyations which poverty entails. Sh
!, therefore willingly became bound by this sol
emn promise; and when her father breathet
} his last declaring that she had made his mint
comparatively easy little Bessie half smiled
even in the midst of her deep and natural sor
row, to think how small and easy a conces
sion her poor father had exacted, when he
own opinions and views so perfectly coincidet
with his. The orphan girl took up her abode
with the mother of David Danvers, and con.
tinued to reside with that worthy lady until thu
! latter's deCease. 1t was beneath the roof o.
| Mrs. DanVers that Bessie first became ac.
! quainted with Mr.. Worthington-that &C.
! quQintanCe speedily ripening into a mutual
and sincere attachment. He was poor and pa.
trOnless then, as he had continued ever since
with slender likelihood of ever possessing
on wife. 1t is true that in the chances and
changes Of this mortal life, Paul Northing
ton might succeed TO a fine inheritance; bu
there were many lives betwixt him and it, AM
Paul was not the one to desire happiness a
another's expense, nor was sweet little Bessi
, either.
Yet was Paul Worthington rich in one in
estimable possession, such as money cannC
purchase-even in the love of pure devote
heart, which for him and for his dear sakt
braVely endured the life long loneliness an
isolation which their peculiar circumstance
7 induced.
e Paul did not see Bessie grow old and gra,
!, in his eyes she never changed; she was to hi
!, still beautiful, graceful and enchanting; 81
t was his betrothed, and he came forth into IL
L. world from his books and his arduous cleric
!. and parochial duties, to gaze at intervals in
her soft eyes, to press her tiny hand, to viii
e per fond word, and then returned to his lon
IS ly home, like second Josiah Cargall, to Il
: and find in severe study oblivion Of sorrow.
n Annie Mortimer had been sent to him as
?, ministering angel; she was the orphan al
d penniless daughter of Mr.. Worthington
!. dearest friend and former college chum, al
: she had come to find shelter beneath t
: humble roof of the pious guardian, to who
: earthly care she had been solemnly bequeat
i ed. Paul's curaCy was not far from the TOW
d where Bessie had fixed her abode, and it W
generally surmised by the select few who we
in the secret of little Bessie singular histor
= that she regarded Annie Mortimer with esp
eial favor and protection, from the fact th
IL. e L.