South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-01-25
Caught in the Rebound.
BY ADA STRICKLAND.

Bessie Bessie + called Grandma Ross
from the pantry. them pies ia burnin'.
I'm sure. Look in the oven quick,
child.
But there vas no quick tap, tsp,' of
lSessic's high.heeled shoes across the
floor. in answer; and grandma herself
was fain TO hurry across the great kitch-
en-. and fling wide open the oven-door.
Alas for the Western housewives
pride and glory! The pumpkin-pies, so
wellshaped and golden when placed in
the oven. were now only u heap Of black.
ened. smoking ruins.
Dear! dear r said grandma disconso.
lately. And here it is almost meeting.
time, and no time to make any more.
Where can Bessie be? l meyer knew
the child do sdch a careless thing be-
fore.'
What arc you scoliing about, grand
mar said the sweet young voice grand
ma loved best to her. i heard you clear
upstairs
And what on airth was you dom up
stairs, Bessie Ross. I'd like to know?-
and these'ere pies all burnt to O crisp?
Deary me?
Oh, I'm so sorry, grandma I'll 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 Xantippe if she had
been there i'm person. and Grandma
Ross couldn't hold candle to her for
scolding.
But you can't make any MORE she
said. Them black ponies'll be up here
i'm jiffy, now, to take you to meeting.
Wasn't you up stairs looking at that
new dress just nowp
Never mind laughed Bessie; though
q tell tale blush stained her check 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 al ready long before the
ponies come. Don't you worry.
Listen said grandma Il hear buggy.
wheels now.
Both went to the door, light-hearted;
Bessie little suspecting that what she
should see would spoil her happiness,
not only for that day. but for many days
thereafter. The black ponies were tru-
ly dashing through the lane; the gilt.
tering wheels OF George Towards new
buggy springing merrily round in a
cloud Of dust, and George himself on
the seat, bis firm hand on the reins.-
But he did not pause for Bessie's little
brother to open the great barnyard gate,
aud then whirl lightly in. as lie had done
every meeting 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
| hof f,fu uni, a
dal-hat. plainly to be seen. Neither
J head was turned toward the old farm
house; but who shall say that deep down
in George Towards heart there was not
shivering Of remorse and shame? for
he knew, as well as if he hal been look
ing, how Bessie stood at the door, look.
ing for him, shading her eyes with the
little hand upon which gleame the ring
he had given her for birthday gift (; a
bctrothal gift also he knew she thought
it was. And lie had intended she should
think so, though all the while upon the
} hand that now clasped his arm there had
shone another aud costlier ring that
r truly meant betrothal. IL was shame.
full betrayal OF trust, a shameless flirta-
ton, on his part. he knew but he meant
to carry it off bravely to-day, with his
3 naughty bride by his side.
8 There, now said Grandma Ross. Il
should MT mite wonder ir Geo. How
ard had married that stuck.up Alice
Dorsey, after all. l heard some say,
last meeting, that he went to see her
3 pretty steady. Did mt he say nothin'
TO you about it, Bessie, childT
The keen blue eyes turned suddenly
to the spot where the girl had stood
But Bessie was gone. Out OF the back
3 door into the orchard she ran like a
e wounded deer, until she fell PROSTATE
P on the velvety grass beneath the old
f., apple-tree that rained its white blooms
e down upon her.
g The blow was cruel in its suddenness.
Q III she could only have seen him grow.
e ing colder, drifting away from her, she
0 could have borne it better but only
= last Sabbath night.as he kissed her lips.
i he bad called her his little wife,
; words that always brought the bright
= blood to check and brow. And now
( NO wonder that she covered i'm the grass
and hot tears Of agony e shame stream.
, ed from the dark eyes. She never doubt
: Ell that he was married. Some way it
had never entered her mind that IL might
be mistake for, almost unknown TO
herself, there had always been mingled
with her love for George Howard an ele.
ment Of distrust. Her own soul was too
spo:lessly pure not to recognize the
ialseness Of his. And now how she
thanked God that she had always been
so chary Of caresses and endearments
that he had called her bis little prude =
That one kiss last Sabbath night was
all he would have to remember and boast
Of TO his proud wife all that she would
have TO remember in a shame that made
her loathe she lips she had touched. II
was hard blow, Bessie Ross. But.
dear child, you still have much TO thank
God for. Oh il there is one punish
ment greater than another. when our