The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-19
BEsSTE's FALSE LOVER.

pies Is DuTnlu III Fulc' iiVVh ~ ViS
oven quick, child"
But there was no quick "tap, tap" of
Bessie's high-heeled shoes across the
floor, in answers and grandma herself
was fain to hurry across the kitchen,a and
fling wide open the oven-door.
Alas for the Western housewives pride
and glory The pumpkin-ples, SO we'll
shaped and golden when placed In the
oven, were now only heap of black
ened, smoking ruins.
C Dear dear /" said grandma dlscon-
solately. "And here it Is almost meet
ing time, and no time to make any
more. Where can Bessie be 7 | never
knew the child to do such careless
thing before"
What are you scoldng about, grand
ma ?" said the sweet young voice grand
ma loved best to hear " / heard you
clear upstairs"
"And what on airth was you doin'
upstairs, Bessie Ross, I'd like to know 7
and these ere pies all burnt to crisp
Deary mel'
"Oh, I'm so sorry, grrndma. / will
make some more, though. Don't,
scold."
The bright, pretty face lifted to the old
lady's Just then was enough to disarm
the ancient Nantippe if she had been
there in person, and Grandma Ross
couldn't hold candle to her for scold-
ing.
But you can't make any more" she
said. Them black ponies III be up here
in jilly, now, to take you to meeting.
Wasn't you upstairs looking at that
new dress just now ?''
Never mind" laughed Bessie;
though tell-tale blush stained her
cheek as she rolled the sleeves down
over her round, white arms, and hung
her big kitchen apron on its nail behind
the door. "I'll be all ready long before
the ponies come. Don't you worry"
" Listen" said grandma 81 hear
buggy-wheels now"
Both went to the door, light-hearted :;
Bessie little suspecting that what she
should see would spoil her happiness, mot
only for that day, but for many days
thereafter. The black ponies We're truly
dashing through the lane; the glittering
wheels of George Howard's new buggy
spinning merrily round in cloud of
dust, and George himself on the seat, his
firm hand on the reins. But he did not
pause for Bessie's little brother to open
the great barnyard gate, and then whirl
lightly in, as he had done every meet
ing day before for two years. No: there
was another figure on the seat beside
him,-a slender, stylish figure, in robe
of shimmering gray silk, and hat OF
white lace and flowers,-a bridal-hat
plainly to be seen. Neither head was
turned toward the farmhouse but who
shall say that deep down in George
Howard's heart there was not shiver.
ing of remorse and shame for he knew
as well as if he had been looking, how
shading her eyes with the little hand
upon which CLEANED the ring he had
given her for birthday gift a betrothal
gift also he knew she thought it was
And he had intended she should think
SO, though all the while upon the hanC
that now clasped his arm there haC
shone another and costlier ring tha
truly meant betrothal. 1t was a shame
full betrayal of trust, a shameless flirta
ton, on his part he knew; but he mean
to carry it off bravely to-day, with hi'
naughty bride by his side.
"There, now," said Grandma Ross
81 shouldn't mite wonder if Georg,
Howard has married that stuck-up Alic,
Dorsey, after all. 1 heard some say, las
meeting, that he went to see her pretty
steady Didn't he say nothin to yol
about it, Bessie, childY"
The keen blue eyes turned suddenly t.
the spot where the girl had stood. Blu
Bessie was gone. Out of the back doc
into the orchard she ran like a woundeC
deer, until she fell prostrate on the vel
vety grass beneath the old apple-tre'
that rained its white blossoms dowI
upon her.
The blow was cruel in its suddenness
If she could only have seen him grow
ing colder, drifting away from her, sh
could have borne it better but only las
sabbath night, as he kissed her lips, h
had called her his ''little wife" - word
that always brought the bright blood t.
her cheek and brow. And now N,
wonder that she covered in the grass