The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-15
HISTORY OF A LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER X.-(CoNTINUED.)

piled Bessie, speaking with outward
calmness. II love Mr. Irwin with all
my heart, mother. 1t is no use denying
this to you, now that every one else is
In the.secret."
"Bessie, am quite shockedw
"You have no reason to be, mamma.
There is no sin in loving an honest man.
Poverty is no disgrace"
'Bessie, | may as we'll tell you the
truth at once. AT one time it was the
dearest wish of my heart that you two
might come to like each other; but now
circumstances have altered, and to hear
your two names uttered in the same
breath is as painful to me now as 1t was
once pleasant. 1t is more than impossi-
bic, Bessie if such thing can be, that
you and Mr.. Irwin should ever be man
and wife"
"I know that, for he does not love
me-"
"On the contrary, / believe that he
does love you, and has done so for many
perhaps years-without being
conscious of his own feelings, or rather
daring to analyze Or acknowledge them
1t was this very weakness, | can see, that
sent him here to-day with full confes-
sion of the miserable history of his past
life. Probably, until Mays childish
questions opened his eyes, he had never
acknowledged to himself that there was
anything in his relations with you that
could excite comment or remark"
"Nor was there, mamma, surelyW
81 think not; but the gossip of fool
ish old woman wounded his sensitive
pride, and made him almost fear that he
had provoked it by some imprudence OH
his own part
"But, tell me, mamma has he done
anything wicked, then? He must be
repentant now, in any case, and there is
no need that we should both suffer for an
old, old sin. | can forgive him anything
better than not loving me-"
"Alas. Bessie, if it were no more than
some old sin, long since washed out by
repentance and good deeds, you--nay all
of us-might be happy yet. But Mr..
Irwin thought it his duty to make a
revelation to me this morning which,
whilst showing him to be all | had
thought and hoped, renders marriage
between you and him absolutely impos-
sible."
Then I ought to know this secret,
mamma. | could not be more miserable
any way than am now"
But | can not tell you, Bessie. In the
first place, | promised Mr.. Irwin that
no living creature, besides myself, should
ever know his sad history; and secondly,
] consider those kinds of tales totally un-
fit for young girls ears, though | would
waive the latter objection Immediately
for the sake of giving you ease, if
might"
81 am sure you would mamma, for this
suspense is very terrible"
"And this trouble should bring us closer
than ever to each other, Bessie"
at wilt must. From henceforth
you will be my only thought in life,
mother, for shall never marry now"
"Don'tsay that, my love, for Time has
a most wonderful power of softening and
alleviatng our sorrows, and suggesting
remedies, and you are SO young to talk in
this way. hope to live to see you hap
PLY married yet"
Bessie shook her head, but attempted
90 verbal denial of her words. She knew
that she was not given to change-that
love she had taken into her heart would
last her lifetime; but she preferred to
leave Mis-. Weston her pleasant illusion
undistlrbed
At this moment the church-bell began
to toll slowly and soiemnly. Bessie rose
to her feet, with soft sob, andw ent to
the window, keeping her face averied,
that her mother might not see the tears
upon her face.
"come one is dead, mamma; who can
It be?'
"Hark. and we shall see how MANY
times the bell tolls for her age"
They were silent for a few minutes,
and then B,ssie said, "Twenty eight"
ut must be poor Anna Cell, | think"
said Mrs. Weston; Chat was just her
age; and felt sure, when | saw her last
night, that she was sinking fast"
''Poor Anna!" sighed Bessie; at seems
pity she should have been taken, as She
was the only good member of worthless
family"
"And, therefore, Bessie, was the only
one fit to de-"
"True!" answered the girl refectively.
Size did not move from the window;
and Mrs. Weston resumed the work Mr..
Urwin's entrance had interrupted. The
bell had ceased tolling, perhaps, aquarter
of an hour, certainly not more, when a
joyous peal anne twanging out from tie
old cEurch-steepler and, at this moment,
carriage and pair dashed past in grand
style.
Mrs. Weston heard the sound of the
wheels, and looked up sharply.
"W.at is it; Bessie"
"It must be Mr.. and Mrs. Roper,
fancy. Hark! how the bells are ringing,
and the have scarcely ceased tolling, too;
and twenty-eight is about Mrs. Roper's.
age, Mr.. Irwin said. 1t is strange
omen, mamma"
my. dear Bessie, it is no omen at all,
but simple coincidence. Joy is the
natural sequence of mourning, and vice
versa"
"And yet"
"HOu are ahsnrdlv s,Inerstitioue Pos