The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-11-04
Bessie.

1t was warm. bright day. and pretty
Bessie Willis looked longingly out from
her window in the great hotel. with Il
homesick feeling ut her heart
Il wish | could go out. she said
softly to herself. :" l wish 1 dared go
out alone, for Herbert never thinks OF
me any more than he would OF statue
set in Il niche.
Herbert was her brother. lodging in
some remote room of that same big
house, and sometimes she would scarce
" see him for days together.
They were all alone i'll the world
this bright young sister and her merry
hearted. careless brother. There had
been a little property left them when
their parents died. and as soon ms Her
bert was twenty years of age he sold
it. and. taking the proceeds. hurried
away to London with his sister in
charge, only too eager to make his for
tune in the world.
He thought he could easily obtain
some pleasant and lucrative situation.
but situations were not so easily found.
and prudent, practical little Bessie knew
that their small fortune was wasting
slowly, week by week.
She knew it was useless to talk of this
to Herbert; it only fretted and annoyed
him. and he told her often what paltry
speck it would all be, compared with
the wealth he was going to accumulate.
So she drew away from him, and only
answered his merry GOOD morning,
little pigeon" or careless " Good night.
sis" with pleading smile or grateful
nod. But this Sunday she was so tired
and lonely, she wondered if she could
not win Herbert's attention for little
while.
They did not even sit at the same ia
BILE in the long dining for Her
bert had grown intimate with party OF
Young gentlemen who boarded there,
and there were no ladies' Mt their table
but, thinking of the dear old home, and
of how long it was since they had talked
together. bessie wrote her brother Il
little note. and. stealing down to the
dining-room just before it was time fol
the bell. she laid it close beside hls
plate. As she took her own place be
side old Mrs. Vanders, she failed to no
tice that some of the people at the Other
table had changed places. and strange
gentleman, with stern, pale face. had
taken her note from under the edge OF
his plate. He read the name on the out
side" Herbert and. looking very
much puzzled, put it into his vest
pocket. While waiting for the dessert
he took the little missive ont again. and
screening it by an apparently careless
arrangement of his napkin, read:
DEAR HERBERr:-I would like &c
see some of the churches. if yon do moi
mind taking me in my Winter dress.
will wait for you in the parlor. Please
come up Immediately after dinner, and
/ will have my hat on, and be all ready
to start. Yours. lovingly,
BESSIE
1T is evidently mistake" the man
said to himself. but how to rectify ii
/ do not know" So he went up to the
parlor with n sort of guilty feeling.
There was the sweet-faced girl he had
seen at the table. just fastening on her
hat. She did not notice him; but pres
emily group Of yonng gentlemen came
in, and the sweet face frightened visl'
bly, as the girl stepped forward. saying
"Are You going, Herbert? Did You
find my note"
"Note!" one Of the young men said.
~ have seen no note
ALLOW me, please suggested The