Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-08
BESSIE LAwToN'S MISTAKE.

There was suppressed hum of con.
versation in the dress-making depart
ment Of the large 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 voice feminine will be heard. The
superintendent OF the room, understand
ing this, did not attempt to enforce
silence, SO pretty Bessie Lawton and
Lizzie Turner, for whose machine Bes-
sic basted, talked confdentially in
their corner Of the great room, and no
one interfered, SO long as fingers were
busy as we'll as tongues.
And this is what Lizzie said, Bessie
blue eyes being riveted upon the quilt
ing she was basting into folds:
81 saw her yesterday when l was
going out to lunch. She was just step
ping into her carriage, and Mr.. Charles
himself handing her in. She looks old
nearly forty, should say, but they say
is immensely rich, and her dress was
splendid, SO suppose her money goes
against her age"
odd you hear they were to be mars
ried very soon?"
"Rless me! Didn't tell you that i?
My brother is clerk in the stationer's
store where the wedding cards are being
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 90
for walk during lunch hour.
"No. 1 am tired!" Bessie pleaded,
and her 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 retire
to the little room where the cloaks,
shawls and hats of the girls were kept
and there, crouching in a corner, en-.
tireIy hidden by huge waterproof
she tried to think it all out.
What had it meant? What did
Charles Maxwell mean in the long yeal
he had tried by every masculine device
to win her loves She had not been
unnaidenly; heart and conscience fully
acquitted her. She had given her
love, pure, true, and faithful, to the
son of her employer; but he had sought
it deliberately and persistently, before
he knew that it was given him.
The young girl, now sewing for {
living, had been dainty bred and thor
oughly educated, her father being :
man drawing salary sufficient t.
give his only child every advantage
But when he died, and his wife in /:
few months followed him, Bessie hac
chosen life of honorable labor il
preference to one Of dependence upo,
wealthy relatives, and friends of sum
mer days. Bessie was still welcom
visitor, and it was at her uncle Leo
nard's brown stone house that she ha'
been intl oduced to Charles Maxwell
After this she met him frequently, an
in her simple dress, with her sweet
pure face, had won marked attehtio
from him. With the frankness tina
was one of her greatest charms, tn
young lady informed her admirer tha
though she was Leonard Lawton
niece, she worked for a living in tn
dress.making department of Maxwe
& Son.
Then he had made her heart boun
with sudden, grateful joy, by tellin
her that he had noticed her leave tn
store night after night, but would no
join her for fear of giving annoyanc
by exposing her to the remarks Of he
companions. After this, however, sh
often found him waiting for her a
some point away from the store, an
always so respectful and courteou
that she was glad of his protection il
her long walk.
| But he was going to marry an heir
ess on the twenty>seventh, only wee
away, SO he had but trifed with he
after all.
| Poor little Bessie, crouched anon
the shawls and cloaks, felt as if he
cup of humiliation and agony was flu
to overlooking.
But the noon hour was over, thu
| girls coming in or sauntering in iron
resting places in the work room, an
the hum Of work commenced again, a
il: must, whatever aching hearth .