The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-08-24


ton. The old ladies whispered it over
their tea cups, the old men talked it in
the stores and the post Office, the young
loaiers told it with oaths upon the street
corners, and the young ladies said to
each other, "Ilave you heard the awful
story about Bessie Brown don't be.
lieve one word of it, but they say SO"
But Bessie Brown, sitting at her
work in the pleasant little shop, knew
nothing Of this for many a day. Her
conscience was clear, her mind pure,
heart light, aud she never dreamed that
the breath of slauder could touch her
fair fame.
But by.and by fell to wondering why
her companions-thc girls who had
sought her society aud fondled and
caresscd her previously-acted so strange.
ly toward her. Aud then there were
two or three little gatherings in the vii.
lage, to which she was not invited a
thing which had never occurred before
since she came to Hydcville. And some
of the loafcrs aud little boys made impu.
dent remarks aud stared at her as she
passed them in the street and then
Bessie Brown knew what it all meant
knew that her character had been
assailed, though she knew not why, or
wherefore. And the rose faded out of
her cheek and the light from her eye,
and her step grew listless aud weary !:
and the drcary weeks dragged by.
Charlie Stearns saw how she was
dropping, aud he camc to her Que day
"Bessie," he said tcuderly, Il want you
for my wife. You are wearing your life
out in this work, and | have good
home to offer You. VIII you come ?"
And to lis surprise Bessie burst into
hysterical sobs, mo, no." she said,
'you ask me this out of pity-you know
what people are saying, aud you pity
me. ] thank you for it, but | cannot
accept your offer"
Charlie took her hands tenderly in
his own. IL know what people say
about you, yes" he said. "But / dou't
ask you to be my wife out Of pity. l
ask you because love you. Give me
the right to defend you against all the
world, Bessie, aud no one shall dare tc
speak aught against you"
But Bessie would not listen to him
Il cannot marry you" she said. 81
cannot marry any man now. | know
and God knows that | am innocent o.
all that is being said about me, whatever
it is. But | will not bring my name
with a stain upon it to any man. l
will so away will not stay here. Oh
God, / wish | might die"
II was not long before Bessie Brown S
pale cheeks and hollow eyes began to
attract attention. DR.. Drew met hei
on the street one day, and stopped hcI
as she was about to pass him. any
dear young LADY," he said kindly, 81
fiud you will not speak to me about
health, aud so l am forced to speak lc
you. What is the matterY You are
looking wrctched."
81 am not very well" she said look
ing with such weary eyes that his heart
ached for her.
II should think not" he said om.
phatically. "Do you not rest we'll ol
nights ?"
"Not very"
ado YOU cough much ?"
"a great deal"
"What allied your mother when she
died 7"
Consumption, SIR"
''And your father 2"
ale, too died Of consumption
"Well call at my Office in half an
hour, aud will have some medicine for
you. You must take better care Of
your health, young lady, or you will
follow in the footsteps of your parents. "
But it was too late to save Bessie Brown.
She wanted to die, aud when people get
at that stage aud have disease to start
upon, medicine does not have much
effect upon them. she was dying fast
People saw that plainly, and everything
was forgotten that had been said about
her, und her old friends aud compan.
ions fiockcd arouad hcr, Ignoring the
past.
The minister's wife was her friend
all through; and one day Bessie said to
her as she lay upon her bed and the
lady sat by her side, "sIrs. Gibbs, !
want you to tell me just what people
have said about me. | know that l
have been slandered / have had hints
thrown out to me of tho nature of those
ISLANDERS, but | want to know before
| die just what people have said, and to
know what have done to draw remarks
Mrs. Gibbs hcsitated,, but Bessie
pleaded until she told her all the shame