The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-11
THE EXECUTOR.
CONCLuDED.


Was it possible that John Brown began Il
think it might be as well if he never did fine
her The prophecy certainly was not unpleas
ant to him, though poor Nancy meant it other
wise Mr.. Brown hurried up the monotonou.
side of Grove street, we are afraid not without
a little private exhilalation in the thought tina
Phoebe Thompson was not unlike the proven
bal needle in the bundle of hay. The chances
were she was dead years ago; and though he
would neither loss minute in beginning, nol
leave any means unused in pursuing the search
for her, it was certain he would not be ncon-
solable if he never heard any more Of Phoebe
Thomson, Doubtless he would not have ac
knowedged so much in words and did not even
have any express confidence within himself on
the subject, lest his own mind might have been
shocked by the disclosure of its involuntary
sentiment. Still he took an interest in Mrs.
Thompsons bequest, greater than he took in the
properties intrusted to him by his other clients.
He could not help himself. He felt affection
aely interested in thattwenty thousand pounds
But as he came up to it, John Brown remem.
bered, with little interest, that spot of the
quiet street where Bessie, yesterday, ran across
to speak to him. He could not help recolling
her appearance as she approached him, though
young girls were greatly out of his way. Poor
Bessie The bakers cart occupied at that mo-
ment the spot which Bessie had crossed and
one Of the Curlingford ladies was leaving the
! door o fthe Christians little house Mr. Bro Hn,
though no man was less given to colloquies
with Lis acquaintance in the street, crossed
over to speak to her. He could not help being
interested in everything about that melancholy
little house, nor feeling that the very sight oft
was reproach to his thoughts Poor Bessie !!
there she stood yesterday in her black frock-
the light-footed, soft-voiced creature-nor much
more than child beside the middle-ared old
bachelor who could find it in heart to be harsh
to her. Across that very spot he passed hastily,
| with many compunctions in the mind which
| had been reused so much out of its usual ways
OF thinking by the events and cogitaiions Of
the last four-and twenty hours The lady to
whom he paid such marked token of respect
was quite fattered and excited to meet him.
lie was the hero of the day at Caringfosd. The
| last account of this extraordinary affair was
doubtless to be had from himself.
You've been to Christians. l suppose you
were there for some purpose SO early in the
morning. said the abrupt Mr.. Brown, after the
necessary solutions were over.
'IeS-but L am very early person, said the
laay oh, forgive me. know quite well you
don't care to hear what sort of person l am );
bus really, Mr.. Brown, now that you are quite
the hero of the moment yourself, do let me con-
gHtulate you. They say there is not a chance
o. inding this Phoebe Thomson. Some people
even say she is myth and never existed and
that it was only device of the old lady to give
he, an excuse for leaving you the money. Dear
me! DID you ask me question? forget.
an really SO interested to see YOU
i like an answer when its practicable, said
tho lawyer. i said supposed you were about
some business at Miss Christians house q
must answer you this time, mustn't I, or
ycu won't talk to me any longer? said the
playful interlocutor, whom John Brown could
ha1 c addressed in terms other than compliment
tory. Yes, poor thing I've been at Miss Chris
tiau's and on disagreeable business too, in
the present circumstances. We are going to
seAd our Mary away to fnishing-school. So
| had TO tell poor Bessie we shouldn't want any
more more music-lessons after this quarter. I
was very sorry, am surc-and there was Mrs.
Mayor taking her little girls away from the
morning-class. When they expected TO get
Mrs. Thomson's money they had been little
careless, L suppose and to give three days
holiday in the middle of the quarter, without
any reason for it but an old PERSONS death you
Know-a death out Of the house--is trying to
peoples feelings; and Mrs. Christian had Civ
en- everybody to understand that HER daughter
would soon have no occasion for teaching
People don't like these sort of things; and Mrs
Mayor heard of somebody else d little nearer,
who is said to be worry good at bringing on little
children. l said all could to induce her to
change her mind but believe they're to leave
next quarter. Poor Bessie am very sorry for
her, am sure
Sand this is how you ladies comfort a good
young woman when she meets with great dis
appointments said John Brown.
'La!-a disappointment You know that on
ly means one thing to girl said the lady, 'but
you're always SO severe. Bessie has had no dis
appointment, as people understand the word :;
Al, -
attentive, and do hope he'll propose directly,
and set il all right for her, poor thing, for she's
dear good girl. But to hear YOU speak so
of all people-Mr. Brown. Why, isn't it YOUR
fault l declare l would hate you if [ was
! Bessie Christian If the doctor were to be off
too, and she really had disappointment, it
would be dreadfully hard upon her, poor girl ;
but it's to be hoped things will turn out better
than that. Good morning but you have not
told me word about your own story ali Car
| lingford is full of it. People say you are the
| luckIest mani
These words overlook, rather than were a2-
dressed to, him as he hurried off Indignant
John Brown was not supposed to be an obser
want person, but somehow he saw the gentee
! people Of Caringfore about the streets that day
in surprisingly distinct manner-saw them
| eager to get a little occupation for themselves
| anywhere--saw them coming out for their
walks, and their shopping, and their visits, per-
suading themselves by such means that they
were busy people, virtuousy employed, and
| making use of their life. What was Bessie do
ing Mr.. Brown thought he would like to see
her. and that he would not like to see her. 1t
was painful to think of being anyhow connect
el with an arrangement which condemned to
| that continued labor such young, soft crea-
| ture-a creature so like, and yet so unlike those
| other smiling young women who were enjoying
their youth. And just because it was painful
Mr. Brown could not take his thoughts off of
that subject IfPhnbe Thomson turned up he
Should certainly try to induce her to do some
thing for the relations whom her mother had
| disappointed so cruelty. If Phoebe Thompson
did not turn up-well, what then-if she did
ut? Mr.. Brown could not tell; it would
be his duty to do something. But, in the mean
time, he did nothing except shake his fist at
young Riders drag as it whirled the doctor past
to Ills patie Is, and repeat the shabby fellow y
OF last night with an air Of disgust John Brown
had become very popular just at that moment
all his friends invited him to dinner, and drop
ped in to hear about this story which had cleo
TITLED Carlingford. And all over the town the
i discussed in every possible Kind of hypothesis,
and assumed different character in the hands
OF every knot of gossips. Nobody thought of
i bessie Christian (; but more and more as nobody
thought Of her, that light little figure running
across the quiet street. and wanting to spaek
10 him, impressed itself like picture upon the
retentive but not very fertile imagination of Mrs
Ihomson's executor. 1t troubled, and vexed,
and irriated, and unsettled him. One little pair
f Of willing handsome little active cheerful SOU
and all the burden of labor, and patience and
dread monotony of life that God had allotted tc
that pretty creature; how it could be, and no
body step in to prevent it, was a standing mar
, vel to John Brown.
CHAPTER IY.-JoHN BROWN SHARES THE BUR
DEN HIMSELF.
Mr.. Brown was well known everywhere as a
famous business man-not perhaps in thai
sense so familiar to modern observers, which
implies the widest fights of speculation, anc
such skiful arts of bookmaking as ruin them
selves by their very clegerness. Mr.. Brown dl.
not allow the grass to grow below his feet hi;
advertisements Tnrratnallu lod off that list of aQ