The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-10-27
Mlisfrllaneous.
BESSIE BEAGLE AND Nh. WINDER' s
WATCH,

WATCH.
Thirty years ago was in the midst OF INV
first gr nd passion. IT. object, Bessie B'agle.
with whose aunt, old Mr.. Beagle. then
boarded. She was no beauty. but u trim, tidy
dun ping of girl with soft brown eyes and
IN olive skin, and way OF wearing her plain
dresses which made them prcttier than other
girls fnery. | hsd been there six months. and
we had grown very intimate. She had not
much time, poor child, to spare from house,
hold duties. for Mrs. Beagle kept her at work
all d,y AMI sometimes half the evening, but
eontriycd to sae good deal of her no,with'
standing. S,metimcs sa,opPosits her, watch-
ing her plump fingers, ms she knitted some wo-
manly trias in Berlin wool or cotton. and some
times I c1ntriyed to take moonlight walk
with her At such times, confess, had held
her hand or stolen INV arm abouther waist, and
| ON two or three occasions | had kissed her. She
knew how well liked her. and ] knew she
knew IL: though. save few santnentil moth
ings, I had never said much to her, aud there
was no absolute engagement between us.
She liked me too. Nobody knew better than
I through whose agency was made so extreme
ly comfortable.
No matter how late Windcr { Co. kept me
at the Office. dinner was always warm for mo,
and the pudding never quite gone, In fact, !
had lions share OF goodies, and double al
lowance Of clean towels.
| was Just nineteen. Nv a'ary exactly paid
my board; but had besides quarterly allow
snce Of fve andtweuty dollars wherewith to
clo,he myself, and now and then contrived to
purchase tickets for some play or concert.
whittier escorted Bessie. She enjoyed such
things so, In fact she enjoyed life thoroughly,
and used to think would make any mans
life happy who should win her. Such q rusy,
coy, orderly little housewife Of eighteen was
never seen. Janson Cloak, who sat next me at
the table, and who was at that time studying
medicine, was as much in love as | was, and
hated mo desperately; but laughed a. him for
he came in late to cold vegetables and small al.
lowance Of dessert. and rang twice some morn
ngs for clean towels. Bridget and old Mrs
Beagle attended to his interests, not Bessie.
Good little Bessie who. when had inauenzl.
made me hot lemonade, and when had head
ache left canphor bottle ON my table where l
found ii at night-who was sort OF mother
to me, young as she was, for those 6rst six
months. | thought myself unchangeibly IN
love with her until tho day when, with band
bOxrs and bundles, and shOppins.bags and
trunks. a c,h brought to our door a new board
er-Miss Selma Maydcw-who. in the tempo
rary absence OF her parents. was in,rus,ed to
he care Of Mrs Beagle. She was n blonde.
With the most glorious color in the world A
lew years ago saw picture by Lpuis Lang.
hclievc christened "Day." which put me in
mind Of her. She had u stylish. dashing nan.
ner. and dressed ex,ravngrn,ly. I think she
was pas, twenty, and she looked Eve years old
er than little Bessie.
Il was strange how plain tho latter grew by
contrast with her How the little round face.
with its olive skin. los, its charms beside that
Of the brilliant blonde. And then, too, Bes'
sie's brnwn merino had various darns in il. and
though trim and neat, WIS little duiled by
age; while Miss Selma came to dinner every day
in some new thing Now she worcwhite. now
pink, now blue, even trying purples and laven'
ders, without losing charm: for no cOntr st
could hurt her complexion. She could chatter
too, abou, thousand things, and sing with
trills and qnavers which Bessie knew nothing
of. She took me by storm. and only knew
,ha. had changed towards Bessie when saw
her looking hurt and Oe snded, behind the green
ps,,. one d.y nc dinner. At first | felt con.
sei,nce-s,rieken, but in little while I plncked
IN spirit. M man had been. so to speak Har.
Kissed for changing his mind at that date, and
I believed that had right to change mine.
B.-.ie was well enough in way--ssweet lit
tie darling. but Miss Selma was being OF an
other stamp. I, was MT my fault that ador
ed her. couldn't hslpit. Bessie hadno bus
iness to look 50 slun. had not pledged my
self soher. Conscience brought before me sun
dry tender slances and whispers, thoughts more
tender still, but turned my back upon them.
What had been was not; had admired Bes.
sic. bu, then had no, seen Selma. Therefore
I leaned toward her and asked her IL I should
pass the butter. in manner which must have
betrayed my devotion. henIturned INV head
again Bessie was conversins with Jason Glo,k.
was content; I did not desire to break the
child's heart
Alter tina, devoted myself to Selma. who
condescended to ilirt with me. and allowed me
such triains favors as the turning OF ber mu.
sic when she played. or the putting on Of her
shawl-who did not utterly refuse melting
glauces, and was always willing to ca. ics-