Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
ALPS WELL THAT ENDS WE'LL.

There was a suppressed hum Of con-
versation IN the dress-making depart
ment of the .r;3a dry goods house of
Maxwell & Son, which the steady whirr
of hundred sewing machines could
not wholly drown. Where the presence
feminine can be found, be sure the
tongue feminine will be heard. The
superintendent of the room, under
standing this, did not attempt to en-
force silence, so pretty Bessie Lawton
and Lizzie Turner, for whose machine
Bessie basted, talked conidentially in
their corner of the great room, and no
one interfered, SO long as fingers were
busy as well as tongues.
And this was what Lizzie said, Bes-
sizes blue eyes being riveted upon the
quilting she was basting into folds:
81 saw her yesterday when [ was go
ing out to lunch. She was just step
ping into her carriage, and Mister
Charles himself handing her in. She
looks old, nearly forty, I should say,
but they say she is immensely rich, and
her dress was splendid, SO [ suppose
her money goes against her age -
Did you hear they were to be mar
RED ,sooH :? y
"Biess me Didn't tell you that /?
Ny brother is clerk IN the stationer's
store where the wedding cards are be-
ing printed. They are to be married in
church on the twenty-seventh. Mr..
and Mrs. Charles Maxwell, and the
card Of the brides mother, Mrs. John
Potter. Twelve Come; we will go
for g walk for lunch hour"
ssNo. [ am tired !" Bessie pleaded,
and Ter friend left her, never needing
the Sudden pallor of the sweet young
face, the dumb agony IN the great blue
eyes.
When she was alone Bessie stole
away to the little room where the
cloaks, shawls and hats of the girls were
kept, and there, crouching in corner,
hidden entirely by hugh waterproof,
she tried to think it all out.
What had it meant? What did Charles
Maxwell mean in the long year he had
tried by every masculine device to win
herlove? She had not been unmaidenly
heart and conscience fully acquitted
her. She had given her love, pure, true
and faithful, to the son other employer;
but he had sought it, delicately and
presistently. before he knew that it was
given him.
The young girl, now sewing for a
living, had been daintily bred and
thoroughly educated, her father having
been man drawing salary sufficient
TO give his only child every advantage.
But when he died and his wife in few
months followed Tim, Bessie had chosen
life of honorable labor to one of idle
dependence upon wealthy relatives
Yet IN the social gatherings of these
relatives, and the friends of summer
DAYS, Bessie was still a welcome guest.
and 1t was at her uncle Leonard
brown-stone house she had been intro
duced TO Charles Maxwell. After this
she met him frequently, and in hen
simple dress, with her sweet, pure face
had won marked attention from him
With the frankness that was one of hel
greatest charms, the young girl had LEI
her s.amirer know that though she was
Leonard Lawton's niece, she worked
for q living in the dress-maklng depart
ment Of Maxwell & Son.
Then he had made her heart boun<
with sudden, grateful JOY, by TELLING
her that he had seen her leave the stor
night after night, but wonld not JON
her for fear Of giving annoyance by ex
posing Aef to the remarks Of her com
panions. After this, however, she Otter
found him waiting for her at SOM
point further from the store, and Away
SO respectful and courteous that sh
was glad Of his protection in her lone
walk.
But he was going to marry an heires
on the twenty seventh, ouly a wee]
away, 50 he had but trified with her
after all.