The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-06-18
BESSIE BENTON.
BY JOSEPHINE.
Written for the ldanitowoc Tribune.
CONCLUDED.


cess, and on returning to her hui in tn.
woods, at night, had been attracted b!
the sound of child's voice as if in dis
an innocent little babe Of not more thar
one year of age-the darling of FOND
mothers heart, which had been entrust
ed to the care of rurse all too young to
accept the charge, and this accounts fol
its being found. deserted. Now though
Old Mag I'll take this young 'un and
bring it up, and then she shall beg for u:
both. With this she carried the little
one home, nursed it and kept it alive, un
til it was four years old. She then sem
it out on its first duty to beg. Every ONT
gave her something andat night the chic
came to Ola Mag with its little baske
full and so heavy she had to ask a little
boy to help her. He too was a begga
and a very bad boy, for he used such pro
fame language, if the little one would moi
keep up with him, that the poor chic
was glad to see even Old Mag standing ii
the door to meet them The boy being sew
eral years older than the child at once at
tracted the attention of Mag who asked
him who he was. She received that same
old answer 'NoboGy's child" She tho t
to adopt this boy too, woulC be an act OF
charity, and as ne at once assented to it,
she took him in. The following morning
the two were sent on the same errand to
gether, Bill as he was called, to help the
little one carry the basket, while she did
the begging, for she had such pretty eurls
and deep blue eyes, every one liked her
and she was never refused. Things wen.
on we'll with Old Mag who soon had the
future all planned to suit herself. Bill
must marry Bessie, when they were old
enough, and she had often talked to them
young as they we're, and on one occasion
she had given Bess terrible beating be.
cause she said she would not be his wife.
One day the children had started begging
as usual It happened to be Christ
mas morning and Bess had gone far in
advance, for she was afraid of Bill.
While playing with some other beggar
girls like herself, we'll dressed man
stopped to speak to them.
well little ones what are you doing?''
They all stopped and gazed at him in
wonder, and little Bess was the first to
speak. I'VE have started out begging,
but we don't Ike to beg; do your little
girls beg?' DR.. Benton could hear no
more. Taking the little girl by the hand
he led Ter short way from the rest of
the girls and she told him that she had
been sent to beg, but would say no more
for Mays threats were before her, and
she would do anything sooner than make
her angry.
Yes, she would 60 with the man and
be such good girl. if he would only let
her. 20, please do let he go and be
your little grill" she pleaded.
DR.. BIS heart was moved when she
turned upon him those blue eyes filled
with tears; to leading her to dressma-
ker's establishment he gave her into the
hands of very kind lady who brought
DR.. B--a beautiful neatly clad girl in
stead of the little bundle of rags he had
brought there her pretty curls had been
tastefully arranged and he would not have
known her but for those deep blue eyes,
not to be matched IN the whole world.
He then took home his Christmas pres
ent to Nellie, and as little Bess is in good
hands we will leave her and return to
Mag.
Bill had hunted in every street, all over
the city but no Bess could he find, and
sour and cross he returned to Mag with
an empty basket. well Bill, where S
Bess?" said she as he slammed the door
behind him and threw his basket to the
tarthest corner of the room.
Don't know and don't care, she's run
off and got stole | guess, | can t find her.
Mag sprang to her feet in establishment.
Whats that you say, you rascal-run
off-what's that and she caught her
big stick which had been terror to both
Bess and Bill.
30 Mag, don't lick me; I never stole
her, and it's just as bad for me as you,
for don't ye see I've lost wife, He he!
You scamp, put on your hat, and
we IL start for the young I'm. and if |
find her she'll be sorry she ever saw Mag
Martini" and Mag threw the stick into
its corner and tying on her bonnet started
III search of Bessie. Up and down the
streets they wandered. calling Bess-but
the poor child had found friends and was
no where to be seen, and Mag, after
watching her opportunity, stole loaf Of
bread and turned homeward, mutterins
to herself, bill shall have her yet. .
Ten years had passed, and Bill and Mag
leaving the city had wandered from towI
to town with only two objects. FRS
getting. enough to eat 70 sustain life anC
secondly to find Bess At last they came
to Bentonville, and as Mag one day was
wandering along the banks of the river
with Bill, who was now a young man, but
who chose this life to any other, they
both stopped and listened
Bessie Bessie. - Dr. Benton had
missed her and had come to her Messy
Seat to look for her, and Bessie sprang up
and ran to meet him just as Bill and Mag
came around the little bend in the brook.
Its her, Mag" said Bill, Il know
it's her," yes SO do l., and thus they
talked and watched DR.. B. and Bess
until they were lost to sight by the foil
age. which surrounded his house.
Hal Fla /" says Bill, ''she shall be
my wife yet'-and he laughed heartily
land she's pretty too, l knew she would
be! Now for fun" and he went on in
this manner until he was interrupted by
Mag who said.
Look there she is! and who is that
young man with her?"
Yes there they were, Harry Summers
and Bessie Benton, sitting beneath the
old oak they stopped and watched then
plant something beneath the tree, and
then silently stole back to their little hui
in the woods Bill was the first to speak
of her, and he would sit for hours ant
tell of what gay times he and Bess would
yet have. They did not want her unit
| the old man was dead, so they would ge,
all the property, so year after year passed
and Bill saw her come and go to hel
Messy Seat, but he must wait. Finally
he wondered if he hao not better let the
money go and make Bess come down t.
the life he was leading, and he fnall,
concluded it best, so the next time sh,
came he would capture his prize, ant
then-but we have seen him take ne
away and now let us, dear reader, follow
them. She is clrried almost unconsciou
to the little hut and there is met by ole
Mag.
"Well Bill, you've got her, !! am glat