Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-05-08
Saturday, May s, 1875.
Bess e Lawton's Mistake

There was suppressed hum of conversa-
ton in the dress-making department of the
large dry goods house of Maxwell Son,
which the steady whirr Of a hundred sewing
machines could not wholly drown. Where
the presence feminine can be found. be sure
the voice feminine will he heard. The super
intendent Of the room, understanding this,
did no. attempt to enforce silence, so pretty
Bessie Lawton and Lizzie Turner, for whose
machine Bessie basted, talked coufdentially in
their corner Of the great room, and no one
interfered, so long as fingers were busy as well
as tongues.
And this il what Lizzie said, Bessie's blue
eyes being riveted upon tbe quilting she was
Lastng into folds:
Il saw her yesterday when ] was going out
to lunch. She was just stepping into her
carriage, and Mr. Charles himself handinI her
in. She looks old, nearly forty, | 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 we're to be married
very soon ?"
Bless me Didn't tell you that? MY
brother is clerk in the statioDer's store where
the wedding cards are being printed. They
are to he 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 a
walk during lunch hour.
"No. | am tiredw Bessie pleaded, and
her friend left her, never needing the sudden
palor of the sweet young face, the damb
agony in the great blue eyes.
When she was alone Bessie retired to the
little room where the cloaks, sbawls and hats
of the girls were kept, and there, crouchin9
in corner, entirely hidden by huge water
rroof. she tried to think it all out.
What had it meant? What did Charles
Maxwell mean in the long year he bad tried
by every masculine device to win her love
She had not been unmaidenly; heart and con-
science fully acquitted her. She had given ber
love, pure, true, and faithful, to the son OF
her employer; but he had sought it deliber-
ately and persistently, before he knew that 1t
was given him.
The young girl, now sewing for living,
had been daintily bred and thoroughly cdu-
Gated. her father being man drawing a sala-
nv sufficient to give bis only child every ad-
vantage. But when lie died, aud his wife in
few months followed bin, Bessie had chosen
life of honorable labor in preference TO one
of dependence upon wealthy relatives, and
friends of summer days Bessie was still a
welcome visitor, and it was at her uncle Leo
nard's brown stone house that she had been
introduced to Charles Maxwell After this
she met him frequently, aud IN her simple
dress. with her sweet, pure face, had won
marked attention from him. With the frank
ness that was one Of her greatest charms, the
young lady informed her almirer that though
she was Leonard Lawtou's niece, she worked
for living in the dress-makins department of
Maxwell e Son.
Then lie had made her heart bound ~itlf
sudden, grateful joy, by telling her that be
had noticed her leave the store night after
night, but would not Join her for fear Of Civ
ing annoyance by exposing her to the remarks
of her companions. After this, however, she
often found him waiting for her at some point
away from the store, and always SO respectful
and courteous that she was glad Of his pro-
lection in her long walk
But he was going to marry an heiress on
the twenty seventh, only week away, SO lie
had but trihed with her after all.
Poor little Bessie, crouched among the
sbawls and cloaks, felt as if all sunshine was
rooo from her life forever, as if her cup Of
humiliation and agony was full TO overflow
ing