East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-03-23


tossing her recovered rose in among
the glowing cinders. Somehow or
other it had lost its charms, nfter hav-
ing lain in james Grayling's hand a
second.
"Sit down Jiln," said the farmer
"Any mails for US tonight"
Nothing"
What a strange smile passed over.
his foce as he saw the sudden down.
ward droop of Bessie Atterly's eye
lashes--the quiyer around her mouth.
"Nothin'! That's queer. You
see Bessie's feelin' kind o worried
cause she don't hear nothin from
Henry Ives"
James Grayling paused, little ma
liciously, TO notice the sparkle in Bes-
sizes eyes as she leaned forward with
redening cheeks and intent look,
"What does he say 7" she gaspcd,
as Grayling spoke something 10 her
father in whispered tones.
Well, I'm afraid you'll feel badly
about it; but friend has written
him letter, in which he says Henry
Ives was captured, with half dozen
othors, by a skirmishing party, a week
before he wrote."'
"Capturedf"
eyes, and that isn't oil. Ho says
that they didn't half bolievo that Hen
ny Ives cared whether he was carried
down South or not; for he had taken
a great notion to some pretty giIl down
in Virginia. planters dartcr l believe
and"
81 don't believe it, James Gray
ling" said Bessie, springing to her
feet, with flashing eye and passion
crimsoned forehead; II don't believe
word of it. You are repeating some
vile falsehood." l
81 knew you'd feel bad" said Gray
ling with provoking mildness; but /
thought that you ought TO know how
matters stood. / can show you my
friend Sans letter, if that will be any
more satisfactory. / never had much
faith in Harry Ives--a careless dash
ing fellow, who"
Hush! / will not listen to another
sentence p calculated Bessie, angrily,
and with certain strange dignity in
her girl face and slender form.
"idr. Atteriy," said Grayling, with
nggravating moderation ami calmness,
show long is it since your daughter
received letter from Harry Ives z"
DWELL it's q consida bic SPELL" said
the farmer but letters do take time
to reach US, you know"
"Yes, particularly when their never
sent" sneered Grayling.
Father, don't listen TO him, cried
Bessie, passionatcly. 'If the whole
world were TO tell me that Harry Ives
was untrue, / wouldn't believe them"
And Bessie tainted quietly away
with her chestnut braids Of hair
dropping over her fathers knee.
Poor child Could she have fore
seen the weary months of waiting for
the letters which never came from
the far-off Southern hills, the hope
deferred which maketh the heart sick,
that were in store for her, she might
have been sorry that she had not died
then and there, holding fast to that
firm faith in Harry Ives fidelity.
| James Grayling-a crafty, patient
| man-bided his time. 1t came at last,
/ when the tender green of the hill
: sides shrivellcd and grew brown under
the starry silent frosts of the bitter
, December nights, and the keen wind
, rushed with thunderous swell through
7 the lonely pine forests in those wild
solitudes.
Daughter, it is the dearest wish
! Of my heart" said farmer Atterly, col
emnly, as he sat with Bessie in tn,
: old silent room 'Fm gettin' well or
: in years; and if l could see you mar
ried to some good and true man besor,
, l am taken away, should rest mucl
5 easier in my grave. James Graylnl
7 has been almost son TO me during
these long months of trial and trouble
, He is coming for his final answer to
. night Let it be yes"
/; Bessie shuddered. That year o
Q sick, wistful grief had changed he
a into pale, fragile girl, with large
: frightened eyes, ever rowing from side
r to side rs if seeking something whicl
e never came.
: AWAIT, father" sho murmured
1 eagerly, asst pleading for life itself
: wait little longer. Only little Ion
. ger 1903 ea
q q haze waited, Bessie. 1t is {
: year and over since Henry Ives ha
: sent you either word or MASSAGE
4 lie may be dead-better dead than ,
4 scoundrel but james Grayling hal
n been as true as steel to me all thi
9 time. He deserves you, Bessie; am
when you're once married, you vii
Q be sure to learn 10 love him. Shal
y we say this day month for your we'd
: ding 7"
g That night Bessie laid her cold han'
in James Grayling's eager palm, an'
n said "yes," dreamily to whatever h
Q proposed. What had life left 70
d herY As well be James Giayling'
r wifo as anything else, since Coz
l willed that she should live and sufc,
0 on, and the dreary path of years la,
spread out before her listless feet.
}, The old smoke-stainod walls wer
t wrcathed with feathery garlands O
cedar and pine, with the scarlet Der
d ries of the mountain ash glowing
o here and there; the great fire roare'
up the chimney with festive sound
y and oil the neighbors were gatherc,
: round farmer Aticrly's hearth-stone--
{ for pretty Bessie was to be married
: that night. gn.l n'stca ta
"She don't look as a bride ough
y to, somehow" whispered Mrs. Dea
r con Jennings to her companion, Ma
s hala Bird. "she seems TO me Jus
& like one % fhem snow Mroatha dow