The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-08-27
THAT BLESSED WIND,


"Irs an i'll wind that blows nobody
any good" says the proverb and I
have no intention of disputing it, In
deed, am quite convinced that such a
wind must be very Ill indeed. But our
fine little infant hurricane of Septem-
Der Sth was not one of these. Among
its many misdeeds, was one firt of good
nature, which / make haste to record to
its credit, while every one else is charg-
ing it with damages done.
All day long during that capricious,
windy, sunny, cloudy, and altogether
unreasonable day of Wednesday, my
dear little friend Bessie had been wan
dering about the house like an unquiet
spirit. Seeing how matters stood, L
excused her entirely from all duties
of hospitality towards me, her visit
rcss.
"Let me entertain myself, Bessie" 1
said. "I don't like to have people
think that they must sit down and fold
their hands, and converse politely, be-
cause L have come to see them. Make
believe, dear, that / am not here, and
do just what you would do if you were
alone"
Now I knew perfectly we'll that what
my sweet, blue-eyed Bessie would have
done had she been alone, was to just
sit down and Cry those blue eyes almost
blind and I knew equally we'll that she
would not do it while was there. But
wanted to put her at ease.
The whole story was plain to me, or
nearly all of it. had seen too much
of her and Arthur Blake, over the way,
not to know that there was more love
between them than could be broken
into by outside storms without
making some, at least, temporary ship
wreck. Arthur was fine young man,
handsome, honest and tender, with a
pretty fair portion Of spirit and deter
mination. He was not one to make a
parade of his private feelings but 1
had seen him watch my darling's grace
full, soft ways with an unconscious
smile dawning on his lips, and a light
in his eyes that told sweet tale to who
ever might look closely. And Bessie
the girl only breathed in him, it SEEM
ed. l believe she walked thinking of
him, and dropped asleep thinking of
him, and never ceased thinking of
him dreaming or waking. 1 used to
sigh, sometimes, seeing how utterly
her heart WAS in his keeping.
But not word had she told me with
those beautiful lips of hers. 1t was
through her transparent face and
actions that [ learned all | knew and
more credible witnesses could not be
had.
The two were not engaged; that l
was sure Of. 1 did not believe that
there even been any love-talk between
them; that is, any that could be re-
ported. What eyes, and actions, and
tones say is not to be put in words.
They were in that delicate, perilous
position, when the happiness of two
loving hearts is absolutely perfect, and
at the same time most easily destroyed
that silent understanding which
seems so sure, yet may be lost through
look or a word.
Arthur Blake was going away, had
learned. He had got tired of our coun-
try town, and fancied that he would do
better to get into practice in London.
There was nothing to bind him to either
place. He was quite free. His nearest
relative was an uncle, who would help
to settle him as surgeon wherever he
should choose to live and Arthur him.
self had a little property of his own, and
need not be in any killing haste, OF
afraid of taking weeks rest, and time
to look about.
very TtS Weane5adhy9 %SeR h9d been told &5 ne tR
on my way to spend the day will
Bessie.
"But Bessie ?" I asked of my in
formant.
81 fancy that they are off," was the
reply. "You know it wasn't an engage
ment, perhaps only Irritation. At an.
rate, 1 saw Arthur walking out the othe
day with Julia Raymond and, at tn
same time, Charles Rivers was making
n call on Bessie. Arthur and Juli
passed the house, and saw them sittin
in the window. "
went on in q troubled frame G
mind, thinking that this beautliu
sunny-salling little love affair." whle
had been the delight OF my eyes, wa
perhaps, running among the breakers
longing to interfere, yet feariAg U
since outsiders SO often do more har
than good. And the moment } sa
Bessie's pitiful smile, I knew that 81
was being torn on the reefs. !,
So Mr.. Rivers came to see you u
other night, said, as we sat togeth
in the afternoon, Bessie at one Wlndo'
7 at another, looking out into the rain
street, and listening to the rising win
Yes" said Bessie, keeping watc
Jcould see, on the opposite house, n
to lose sight of Arthur when he shoe
come home. There would be SO II
more comings home, for he was TO
the very next day. ,,n 49,,
at wish Mr.. Rivers wouldn't COZ
here" she said, after a pause II DO
care for him, but he seems to want pe
pie to think I do. May be he does
mean it. but it's just as provoking as
he did" .,