The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-08-14


at that instant, and the sound of, lag
ging footsteps coming towards the
house interrupted Roses remark, and
then dusty, travel stained man paus-
ed at the foot of the steps. and touched
his dingy hat rim to the girls.
HE was evidently one of the many
respectable, discouraged, disheartened
men, one 80 often meets trampinS
through the country in search of work. y
Rose drew herself up.
"Go away. We have nothing for
You. We don't encourage tramps here >
He touched his hat-the rim WAS de-
cidedly battered and dusty.
II beg your pardon ladies, but if you
will give me a.
Rose swept across the floor angrily.
"Wil you march off, or | will have
the dog set on You? Bell, go tell Jane
to unloose Rover"
The man turned away slowly as if to
move was an effort, and Bel! sprung mp
in au impulse of remonstrative protest.
Rose, how can you be so heartless?
He is as pale as death, and only see
how he drags himself along? You
might have let him sit down minute.
and at least have given him kind
word aud a piece of bread and butter. "
A contemptuous laugh pealed from
Roses red lips.
"Iired and i'll! Drunk and thief,
you'd better say? A piece of bread
AMI butter! Absurd, Bell!"
Bell raised her finger warningly.
ooh Rose, don't! He'll hear you!'
Rose raised her voice key higher.
"Let him hear then? Perhaps you
had better sit and watch that he does
not faint aud fall"
She swept haughtily into the house,
leaving Bell with her cheeks flushing
and a compassion born of the sweet.
womanly sympathy glowing in her blue
ewes as she watched tho man walk slow
ly, painfully along, and finally halt at
the gate, as if in utter discouragement
at the long stretch of roa'l between him
and the next house, where he might
find what Rose had rudely denied-the
magnificent country seat OF Lionel
Granville, from whose door no beggar
was ever turned away hungry.
Bell saw him, and her quick instincts
told her what she imagined his manner
meant.
Quick as bird, she dashed up stairs
to her room and ;snatched her porte>
monaie from her bureau draw. aud was
down again with a sovereign in her
!. hand, AS she ran'softly after him, still
leaning against the.gate post, and look
ing with that same strange expression
on his p. lie face at the towers OF F"rnley
Conrt.
Here, please. 1t isn't much, but
it's all I have to spare. Take 1t please, >
He looked surprisingly at her, and
then at the money.
"You arc very kind, but you are mis-
taken. 7 only wanted a.
Bell thrust her money in his hand.
"Nrser mind, please. think can
see you are proud; please take it.
There!'
He seemed anus ID at her eagerness,
bnt made no more ado about accepting
the gift and pocketing it. as he stood
and watched her slim figure fitting
away like the spirit IN the dusk.
The next day Rose came into Bells
room, radiant as she only permitted
herself to be under rare circumstances,
her gray eyes fishing and her red lips
/. parted in a smile of triumphant de.
light.
BELL, see this! Now what do you
say?"
She laid square monogramed en-
velope in the girls lap, addressed, to
the Misses Melton, and bearing inside
invitations to the reception at Fernley
Court for fortnight from that night
. Rose watched the girls sweet face
grow under the surprise, then saw, to
her amazement, that flush of delight
fade. .. .--.
"Well, Bell, of course We'll go. III
take some money! I can spare and get
suissie and wear natural flowers with
it: and I know you have sovereign
laid aside for an emergency. You can
get good many things with it-and
who knows but what Lionel Granville
may be captivatedl
Bell LAID the envelope softly down.
"I can't 60 dear, unless 1 wear my
old white muslin, and it will look
wretched Leside your new sUiss.e. L =
I've spent my money!"
Rose frowned.
"Spent your money? Why, saw 1t
Yesterday morning in your drawer. l
noticed that the edge of the sovereign
was a little Clipped, and remember
wondering whether it was good one or
not. Spent your money. Bell, what
do You mean?'
Bell met the vexed eyes as calmly as
she coulL. She was just little in awe
of this magnificent sister of hers.
"I gave it that poor man last night
Rose was sorry. 1 am sure he wasn't
the sort of man to talk to as you did
I know he deserved the money"
Rose sat down aud folded her hands
in icy wrath.
"Give sovereign to tramp-a beg-
gar! Well, if it doesn't pass my com
prehension!" a
Rose swept out of the room-she was
like a duchess in her movements, and
poor Bell went on with her, sewing,