The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-19
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA, MARCH 10, 1878


cheeks. Harvey sat erect and graceful
in his saddle; and George, with his new
made bride beside him, could only
think
" How proud and happy that fellow
looks and how pretty and bright Bessie
Ross is ~
And Bessie thought, too,-
How handsome Harvey Is Wonder
/ never noticed it before. And so much
better than George;n stealing glance
ut her big cousin, !" that, If he had seen
1t, would have made his heart beat
quicker.
They had reached the church and dis
mounted, and were standing in group
of the other young people of the neigh
borhood, chatting gayly, when George
drove up.
or all the crowd, Bessie was first to
congratulate the bride and groom and
there was not n shadow In her eye or a
tremor in her voice rs she pronounced
the usual " wish you much joy,"
though George thought he could detect
a slight tinge of sarcasm In it.
Her hand did not tremble when It
touched his, but when IL was with
drawn, his hand closed over the plain
gold ring he had given her.
For the next two weeks, Harvey did
not give Bessie time to think. II seemed
to her there never was rs many merry
makings in the neighbOrhood before at
that season, and attended by Harvey she
went to all of them.
Bessie wondered at herself in those
days, when she got time to wonder. All
the maidens she had ever read of, who
had been Tilted as she had been, had, as
n natural consequence, taken con-
sumption, and died most interesting
deaths. But she saw no signs of it in
her case. Her appetite was as good as
ever; and she found herself really en-
joying the parties and picnics, and very
proud of her handsome escort.
g Harvey rides so much better than
George ever did, and if he isn't quite so
polite, why, he has more heart"
So she would say to herself, and when
she caught herself making such COM
| PARSONS as these, she jumped at the
conclusion that she never really had
loved George Howard, after all which
was not so very far from the truth.
Cunning Harvey saw it all, but wisely
kept his thought to himself till his time
should come. Cunning grandma saw il
all too, and laughed under her big sun
bonnet at the way things were turning
round to suit her plans after all tha
trouble about George Howard. But sht
said nothing either, and Bessie driftet
on in delightful ignorance that she wai
bending her proud little head for tn,
silken moose of love again.
" Bessie" said Harvey, one evening
as he took the brimming milk-pail from
her hand at the bars, what ever be
came of that pretty gold ring you uset
to wear? Your hand looks bare with
out it."
ell - lost it," she stammered.-
"That is, 1 mean" bravely now, {"
gave it back to George Howard, Harvey
l couldn't wear married mans ring.
Harvey said nothing more just then
but later, when he found her alone OF
the porch, he took up the little bar
brown hand, and-strapge act for mai
ter-offact Harvey held it warmly t
his lips moment.
"Too bad this little hand should g
bare, Bessie" he said, 81 wish yo
would let it wear this;" and, in th
moonlight, she caught the flash of
heavy gold band as it slipped upon he
finger.
With her heart fluttering like frigh
ened bird, she looked up into the homes
earnest blue eyes, but spoke no word.
9 have had that ring, Bessie" i
went on, lever since your birthday br
before / had chance to give it to yol
George had put his ring on your finge
and would not offer it. L thought 6
first would throw it away, but the
concluded would wait. / loved yo
then, Bessie, and love you still.
don t ask you to say anything now, Ii
tie girl; but think over it TO- night, ant
If you have the ring on tomorrow,
shall know you love me, and will SON
day be my WIFE"
And he left her alone in the moor
light, where for an hour she sat gain
Vabantlv at the ring Harvey loved he