The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-06-11
BE SSIE TON.
BY JOSEPHINE.
Written for the llanitowoc Tribune.

Written for the Nanitowoc Tribune
1t was one of those lovely evenings in
June, when one is at loss to distinguish
that Gay has departed and night begun.
for no sooner had the sun sank to rest
than the moon arose slowly over the little title
hill lying just back of the elegant man.
sion which was the pleasant home Of
Bessie Benton. Bessie was the adopted
daughter of DR.. Benton. the most skillful
physician of Bentonville, who had always
been kind hearted man and had ever
been looked upon with respect by both
young and old. He had only to speak to
patient and it seemed to be nearly all
that was required, for very soon the eye
that had long look dull and sunken would
light up and the pale cheek almost regain
It's natural color, and before the DR.. was
seen to drive off, more good would be &C
compllshed than dozen bottles of med
lcine would ordinarily produce. The
Dr. had married young, aud after having
lived several years of unalloyed happiness
God had seen fit to take from him his
dearly loved companion, leaving him alone
with the RECEPTION of Bessie, his adopt
ed child. 1t is no wonder that he almost
worshipped her, for she was graceful
fairy, and the light and joy of his now
lonely fireside. And it was no strange
thing for DR.. B. to sit for hours with
Bessie by his side, at which times he
seemed to take great delight in trying to
impress it upon her young mind that she
must never, never leave him for any one
else. for he could not live without her;
and little Bess would wind her arms low
lngly around his neck, and a.ter promis-
ing to never love any one else but him,
and sealing the same with a kiss, bound
away to call Rover, her large New Found
land dog, to show Papa how nicely she
had taught him to jump through hoop,
or take him to see how fast the Ivy was
growing which he had given over to her
especial care.
She was strange child, this little
Bess, and perhaps this was why DR.. B.
had chosen her from the group of ragged
children when he went to the city OF +.
to get Nellie: his wife, such nice Christ
mas present And indeed it was pres
ent, for although they never learned her
parentage this much they did know, she
was an intelligent, beautiful child, and
poor little bes2ar Dr. B. had often ask
ed her, when Bessie first came to them,
of her parents, but the poor child would
only burst into tears and entreat them
not to send her away And now they had
ceased to approach her On a subject evil
IDENTIFY SO painful At the time my story
opens Bessie was ''sweet sixteen. yet no
one had ever thought of calling her any
thing but Little Bess. She was small and
graceful, with long golden curls, which
with every toss of her head seemed to
to fairly dance with delight, as if proud
OF the graceful figure they adorned. On
the plea ant evening of which have al
ready spoken, at a later hour, Bessie
might have been seen walking arm in arm
with her friend and only playmate from
childhood, Harry Summers They were
too old now to join in the sports of G. d.
hood, and the good Doctor saw nothing
wrong in their taking this their last walk
IN the quiet evening, for on the morrow
Harry would be far away But why has
Harry sought this dreary path? 70 lie
sure it led to the ''Old Oak Tree under
they had often played, but Bess would
have preferred going to her messy seat
by the beautiful river of Carol, yet she
said nothing, and they quietly wendell
their way to the Old Oak, where Harry
was the first to break the silence:
Be has the Doctor any ivy in his
garden ?''
Astonished, Bess replied, Yes Harry,
| he gave me one only a short time ago,
but why do you ask such queer ques-
ton, do you wish to take it with you ?''
said she with a merry laugh.
mo" said Harry sadly, but will you
for my sake transplant it from the garden
to this spot, and he paused aud gazed
lovingly into those deep blue ewes raised
inquiringly to his-''will you do it for my
sake, Little Bess?
oh yes, Harry, I'll do it because you
wish 1T, but it will be SO lonely for me to
come out here all alone every day to at.
tend to my poor little plant
But Bessie, said he taking her little
hand in his and gazing down upon her
Il shall be thinking of you all the time,
ontyou Just think OF ME once in awhile, fol-
l don't know who will watch over my little
one, and if any one we're to take you off anC
make you his wife Bessie-you will not
go will you? for you are my own and af
ter l get rich and en- support my little
one in all the elegance she has Away.
known, then / know Dr. b. will bless a.
and we can be so happy, if you would only
love me and be true to me and when
return be my wife, only promise me thi:
and | shall 60 with joy in my heart bu
a sadness at parting with you even with
this assurance. During his conversation
thus far Bessie had stood by his side lis
tenlng very attentively to each word. bu
at the word ,uJe she stal ted with a sud
denness quite unnatural to her.
Harry" said the beautiful child S,
suddenly transformed to woman "Yo,
I L
be your acite! How strange had no
thought of this before, but no-they vii
not do 1t, they dare not.
Bessie my darling my hearts frs
love, you must be crazy! What are 20,
saylngr In one momene she was tn
same little light hearted Bess, and b.
laughingly exclaimed II was only think
ing Harry of such a bad dream that
had long time ago-long before | say
you-lt was such strange story; but
think now it must have been all dream
Yes, darling it must have been, bu
try and dispel those gloomy thoughts an,
tell me that, with DR.. BIS. blessing yo,
will be my wife,
Eyes Harry if he will consent, but
never talk of loving even DR.. B. but tia
horrid dream comes up before me an
makes me feel almost like wishing DR.. B
had never taken me to his home and bee
so good as he has always been. but II
try and forget all, Harry, and when you
get rich and come back to me we will re
married and live happy, like papa say
he and Nellie did, and if you ever see
poor little beggar girl that don't like t,
beg, you will take her home with 20,
won't you, and thea | will tell you tina
dream; it was SO strange and there wa
such naughty old woman they Gale,
Old Mag"
Yes darling you may tell ne all 20,
wish then," and STOPPING he kissed tn
Inns he bod 60 ofton E,cSol hoca.o h..