Daily Republican., 1880-12-03
BEsslB's GHOST
BIT MES. =. BuRKR COLLINS.

| Uku 6Vot SEQ BuObbI hu, md
vourneen, sure, that's Q hard questio
to answer. But II you've mind /
listen to an ould woman's yarn, II
tell you something which, look at
auy way y on please, always seelns quee
TO mo.
You don't remember Bessie Delaney
do you now, alannas
No, Thought not. for, sure 'twa
while you was q wse lass that she lsf
this world. Heaven rest her sonl!
Five long years under the sod an
. sweet, purity crater WAS Bessie De
laney never sot eyes on such anoth
sr!
And she was ths light OF her f,ther'
and mothers eyes the very sunshin
In the ould cabin.
Sure, 'twould do you coed to sse th,
ould father, a.kissin' and . Iettiu' hi
baby, for so he always called Bessie
and she was all .hey had.
She always had her own way; sure
nobody could have the heart TO rsfus'
her, she was THAI winsoms SO msyhsl
she growed up . bit willful but kind
sr-l e.ried child, charitable and gen
srous hearted never lived
But, at last, all to once, dark days
come. The ould man, Bessie's faith or
got into debt and trouble there was |
heap o. sickness in the family arc
In one way and another, old Delane,
got down in the world.
Poverty came stslkin' at the dool
like . wolf and laid heavy hands OF
the once happy houses old.
About that time, there comes up from
the city yobdsr, Q young chap, dressed
to kill; hs wore gold watch and chain
and q ring with Q shinin' stone in IL
as big a. . marble.
HIS name was Ralph Reilly, and hi
had a claim ag'in Dslaney's farm.
lie come, all fixed TO make greaI
fuss but, somehow, as soon IS hs sol
eyes on putty Bessie, he seemed tc
change all about, and got as polite and
friendly rs you plsase.
Said he wouldn't be hard ON D. IL
ney, for the present, and sxed leave tC
stop ~ his house for few days, while
he took look about.
And the ould man, he was delighted!
Sure 'is an aisy matter, fat!erin' ny
men oraters.
And he gives Reilly the best In tie
house; and never took no pains Ia
Ikssp his purity daughter out o'the
young mans sight.
Wtll, hs stayoi there o week. and at
the eud O. tha! time, what do You
think 7 He ups aud asks ould Delan.
ey for Belsie, all fair and square, no
toolin', no de,avin'; they'd be marie
by the same priest as christensd b ,ssis
and then young Reilly would carry her
of to the gay city, to his foe house,
and there he'd give her lsnty o Aresa
es and jewels, and take her into gen
teel society.
The pIctsr he drawd o. the gay and
happy life would ha' turned a wiser
herd than Bessie's. But it went con-
tTary with her, poor chiii
For. you gee, Bessie had q lover.
Long ago sls'd ivsn her heart and hi
promise to young Ksvanagh, q prom
lsin' boy; he owrs1 q neIt farm, and
w2s savin' and layin' up the money tC
start him and Bessie in house k. epin'
aud q. soon as he'd got enough they
was to bs married.
Put ould Delaney acted mighty
qus re; a change cane over the man.
Fro II the day that ths rich stranger
fnt darkened the doors O. the Delaney
farm house, Bessie's father turned his
back on poor KavaDagb; and was only
mad because Bessie wouldn't do the
same. But all his talk had no effect
on her.
Father" she said, simple-liko, q,
lookin' up into his hard face with her
two blue eyes, like vl'lets wet with
dew; "tataer, darlint, | love Arthur
KavSnagh; I'm promise / to him. Don't
force ms to give him up, father, or
you'll break my heart"
Nonsense I" says ould Delaney.
"SuIe, girls hearts don't break that
aisy -
And he plead and plead with Bessie
to marry young Reilly; and the ould
woman tro--she got bewitched about
the city chap, and she ooaxed and
scolded Bessie; and among them all,
they turned the once happy home into
= very purgstory.
Many's the time poor Bessie would
steal away and come here to me IN my
ould cabin.
"Aunt Katie" she'd say, tho tears
. rollin' down her white cheeks,
"they're KILN me! II they force me to
marry that an-rsmember what say
II snail diet"
somehow her face took on an awful
look, and lonesome like, and l felt a
cold chill creep over me like someone
was walkin' on my grave.
Well. matters went on CROWN from
bad TO worse; until OF last old Delaney
swors that Bessie should marry young
Reilly just as soon as the bans could be
published.
50 that was to be poor Bessie's fate
I'll confess, mavoureen, there was o
time when | felt like runnin' away with
the child, and hidin' her from all the
trouble she was going through.
Time passed l saw Young ksvanagh
a few times. His face was that pale
'twould frighteo you, and he looked for
all th. world like he was . walkin' In
his slesp.
Ihesred, too, that he'd sold his
farm, and was all fixed to leave the
country as soon As ever Bessie was
married 10 Reilly.
Well, alanua, the weddin' day come
around. The bridesmaids were all
ready; the company was waitin', and
everythin' q goin' that smooth 'tWould
Won. when all OF . sudden