Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1879-06-20

II don WISH 10 dictate 10 You, bessie,
bu; Warren Mann isn't fit associate for
you, and if YOU value my opinion. You viii
forbid his visits. He is gambler, and"
.'You needn't enumerate his faults. He
is a nice fellow, and will 60 with him
when / choose" cried Bessie, getting an
grier every moment.
II never thought you were a flirt. Bessie,
or that you would have triaed with me as
you have done. am sorry
''You needn't be sorry, Mr.. Herne. We
are not suited TO each other, and am glad
we have found it out in time. You are
jealous and exacting."
"And you're hear,lesss coquette.' cried
Tom; getting angry in turn. II once hoped
to be happy with YOU, but that hope is past.
May Mr.. Mann be more fortunate than |.
Good bye"
And with these words he left the room.
''oh, what have dones" cried poor will
ful Bessie, sinking on the floor, and sobbing
as il her heart would break.
She was aroused by hand placed on
her shoulder, and, looking up, she saw the
smiling face of Floy Hayden, who, seeing
the flushed face and tear-stained cheeks,
exclaimed:
''Wbat is the matter with you, childr'
''0h, Floy, I have driven him away,
and he will never come back, and love
hun so much" said Bessie, throwing her
self in her friends arms.
s'Who's gone? Who viii never come
back 90 asked Floy, slightly bewildered at
such IN ouiburst from one who was usual
ly gay and happy.
-.il.aI D.--.a ALL - 49,
all my fault"
And Bessie burst forth into fresh fit of
weeping.
'.Oh u said Floy, beginning to under
stand. ''There, darling, don't cry; tell me
all about it." said she, soothingiy.
Bessie managed to tell her story to her
friend, who said:
at may not be so bad as you think,
dear; he will be back in the morning to beg
forgiveness; he is as sorry as you are"
Bessie was comforted by this, although
she passed sleepless night. Morning
came, but no Thomas Herne. Mr.. War
ren Mann came, though, and made himself
as fascinating as possible. But he found
Bessie hstleSs, and the very opposite of the
bright, talkative girl of the evening before.
He had never appeared so shallow as he
did that night, or his conversation so nom
sensical and silly.
''By the way, have you heard the news,
Miss BessieF" he asked.
'.No," said Bessie.
About Mr.. Herner'
..What of him.'' said Bessie, becoming
very much interested.
'oh nothing, only he is going abroad,
and, from what | hear, he never intends
to come back Very sudden isn't it?
Heavens? arc you i'll, Miss Bessie!' he
asked, as her face grew kesthly pale, and
she looked asif she was going 10 swoon.
Nothing" she answered, recovering
her selfcontrol by a great effort.
Il would never do for Warren Mann to
know how much TOMS departure affected
her, and she commenced talking of some
thing else, striving to be indifferent, though
it was hard work to keep back the tears.
Soon after her visitor took his leave, and
Bessie gave vent to her feelings. In mo-
ment OF anger she had driven the man she
almost worshiped from her, and for the sake
of one who hadn't three ideas in his head.
After time she went to her room, but not
to sleep. ..He will find some one else to
love, and forget me-" she said TO herself,
and the thought was almost maddening.
Meanwhile, while Thomas Herne was
sitting in his room with his friend and chm,
Charley Graham, hewls moody and sullen,
and Charley noticing his detected look,
said:
sWhafs troubling you, old fellow?
You look as if you were under sentence.
Have you and Bessie been quarreling.'
.'Yes," growled Tom.
s.What is ii about!'' asked Charley.
81 asked her to cease walking and talking
with that COMPOUNDED Mann, and she said
she would dance with whom she pleased,
that shouldn't dictate TO her, and that we
were not suited to each other, and broke
her engagement | am going abroad or
somewhere; can't stay here and see her
the vie of that fellow
"Tom, said Charley; you are fool.
You know Bessie Ware loves you, and yet
you turned Jealous, and made an idiot of
yourself. You deserve TO be hcrse-whip-
pee. As for going abroad, youwill do no
such thing; YOU will stay here and go to see
Bessie in the morning, and become recon-
lied to her,"
Il won |, cried lonl-
ayes you will. You have made her cry
her pretty eyes nearly out"
"That will co, Charley" said Tom.
"Well. I hen go to bed and sleep ifyou
can, after behaving in such insane man
ncr,"
II viii go, just to get rid of you," growl-
ed Tom.
And then he tumbled into bed in baG
humor with himself and everybody. All
through the long night he lay thinking of
his lost Bessie, as he called her. When
haggard. He had made up his mind togo
somewhere anywhere TO get away from
the place where he had been SO happy,
but which held no one who cared for him.
He thought Of Bessie's charming ways and
sweet face, and it seemed 10 him that lie
loved her al the more because he had lost
her. He took up book, but before he
had read half a page, he found himself
specializing as to how soon the marriage
would take place. He opened the trunk,
and the first thing that met his eyes was
small gold locket. In ii was portrayed the
face of Bessie. He glued at it for long
while, and then, with sigh, he threw it
down and LEFT the house. He walked on,
not caring where he went, and soon found
himself in small grove of trees and bushes,
thicSly covered in places by climbing vines.
In one OF these places he sat down on
rustic seat, to think. He now remember
ed that this was one of Bessie's favorite
retreats, it being on her fathers place He
had not been there long when he heard
voices, and, not wishing TO be observed, he
drew back, out OF sight, in the bushes.
He knew whose voices they were. The
speakers came up close where he was, and
he heard Warren Mann say:
$50 you will not marry me, Miss Ware.
May ask your reason p
"a do not love you, Mr.. Mann. have
no other feeling for you than that Of friend
ship"
''You love another, then 90 said Mann.
And as Bessie made no answer. he turn
cd and left the Grove. Bessie sat still ai-
ter he had gone, and Tom was near
enough 10 see that She was unhappy.
While he watched her, he saw tears roll
down her checks, and he heard her muir
muir something in which his own name was
mentioned. He crept nearer, and she was
saying:
'.Oh, Tom! Come back-I love YOU"
Tom could control himself no longer,
and going nearer, he called, softly:
'-Bessic,''
She sprang 10 her feet ut The sound of the
voice OF one she loved so well, and Tom
clasped her 10 his breast, and kissed her pas
sionatcly.
Il thought had lost you, darling, was
all She could say, rs she hid her face on his
bosom and wept for JOY.
''When are yoa going abroad, Tom said
Charley Graham, some time alter. rs they