Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-12
was very young, and Il do not remembe,

Bessie's brightness was little eubdned. Per-
haps the faint fear and discomfort l could not
shake off had possessed her too.
We came down very late. Only Gilbert had
got up as usual and gone out on the farm. He
came home an hour earlier than customary and
went straight to fathers study He ALWAYS did
this on the days when father did not 90 out. I'm
order to report progress and ask advice if he
wanted it; but on this day We knew that some
thing else was going on.
Bessie sat between Anna and myself irving to
draw, aud looking pale and nervous Suddenly
the door opened and Gilbert appeared
Bessie, will you come and see father?" he
asked
Bessie got up shaking a little. and they went
away together Gilbert looking pale and
excited. too but not distressed
While they were gone told Anna what Bes-
sic had said to me on the night before and she
looked very grave. She said nothing; but
knew She feared, as did. that so much mystery
must hide something unpleasant
Bessia came back in half an hour pink and
tremuious; she seated herself and made another
heroic attempt at her drawing. Anna and |
would not question her. but presently she said
'lGur father will Hnt sanction orr engage
mcnt til he has heard from Mr.. DreNitt He
was 80 kline; he looked very grave but he
kissed me. He called me my dearie. lust as
he does Anna and you. And your mother was
kinder still. She said. Heaven care for YOU.
my dear
She put down her pencils. and we kissed her,
both very much moved by love and compass
sion.
She was to stay a month longer. she said.
Our father was writing to Miss Parsons also.
and mother had asked her 10 stop The cloud
almost cleared off as she told lie this: and |
began TO feel hopeful.
We had another happy week The children
went back to school. and Eva returned home
Tom was obliged to resume his studies in Lon
don directly after her departure, and we were
n II rf MI tb,
enliyen Us.
Mr.. Drewitt's letter was long in arriving and
we did not know when it came: for father had
taken to Docketing his letters at the breakfast
table and walking off with them unread. But
one morning Eliza came to our sitting room
and said that father begged Miss Bea.e to 90 to
the study: he had something particular TO say
to her. So BESSIE went.
1t was an hour before she returned: and then
she only put her head in at the door and said
In q strange rough voice, quite unlike her nat
ural one
Laura. will you come and help ne pack2 I
want to catch the $50 train and there is hardly
time
Anna and I exchanged glances of grief and
dislnay, a!d followed Bessie upstairs Some
how | did not dare to speak to her. | hardly
Ventured to look after the first glance for her
face was altcred-white and drawn and fright
ened. She packed steadily and carefully. and
put on her hat and cloak at the glass as if her
reflection.
could not bear it. and went and put my arms
around her.
''Dont. she said almost roughly and shook
me Oil. Inca SHE looked at my face. and see
ing what was written there, said. Don't be IN
happy. don't pity ne, dear little Laura have
been told that Gilbert ana are to lie parted for
ever. and your father, Just as good as lie is will
not say why. II any ore pities me- sha. brea X
down. Something dreadful must have been
said about me. | do not know what it is; but [
mean to know"
But where are You going" I asked. crying.
ITO Miss Parsons :"
NO. am goinr to Mr.. Drcvitt TO make him
tell ne what he knows. When he has told HE
if the secret is anything like what think and
fear shall go away. and 10 one have known
VIII ever hear or ne again, except Gibbie Just
once.
She kissed me with cold lips. and Anna too
and hinged the little ones whom she petted
ana then. getting into the d0g-cart drove off
with Tim the groom. She had already hidden
goodbye to mother and father. she said. Gilbert
was nowhere to be seen. She refused TO let
father drive her. and would not stop till the next
day though We mpiored her with tears
Anna and [ went back TO the sitting room
and passed Il m0urnful evening alone. GibDie
did not appear; nor did mother and father: they
went of after dinner 30 their own room. We
knew cur parents would tell us all directly: it
was their way TO take their children into their
confidence, and OF both their toys and sorrows
we We're kept Informed SO, Wien We were sent
for to mothers room next morning. We knew
why sue looked pale and troubled, and as if she
had not slept.
Dear children" she said "poor Gilbert and
Bessie are to be made very unhappy. Your
father refuses to consent to their marriage and
SAYS that he can never change his mind and
thlnk his decision is right. Better that my
own boy and that poor child should suffer than
that an almost eternal wrong should be COM
mltted How wish she had never come here.
There is Mr.. Drewitts letter. Take it. my dears.
and read it,
looked over Annals shoulder and read as
follows:
ST. CLEMENTS RECroRY, January 80, 1877.
vonn dga IF s , great I pain Of nnd answer
patient true and. need hardly say possessss treat
most nnfortnae and it is tor that reason alone
that have kept her away from my own family have
rened in yours. You will how very painfully was
Placed: could guard my own but others could not.
enough t. place her affections some person who
Tier t. but perceive from your letter that it
Is not S. and tt my ward must continue suffer
Miss Beae is the only daughter of William Holbrook
death H9 T mG dsFe cay "a h 94 sd
eiEnteen years ago The case caused much sensation
men well Known in certain set The cause es' of
1f " His w T td too Ia3G o Be
and his sentence finally committed to penal servi-
tude for life He also died In the the first
year He had been my dear friend at college, and
united his unhappy little daughter to my He was
himself penniess. but his wfes relatives who had al
t. produce for Bessie an income of two hundred and
nifty pounds year. They wealthy, ll-bred
purse-rroud people, and stipulated that they should
never see her again
Allow Inc to express my deep regret for the pain
that al TINS Will cause You and yours. Try to
ME the difficulty of the position to The girl is all
she should below could condemn her to isolation for
lfe? hoped weakly that fortunate chance would
save her. need not think beg you to deal kindly
with her and withhold this story if possible trust
her feelings and those of Mr.. Gilbert VINEYARD not
too deeply engaged Tel my poor little ward shall
her possible after her Miss Parsons
should write to her at once. but that am mulch
puzzled to account for conduct without giving her
information that would only crease her distress In
some way must try to escape explanation.
- Believe me- dear sir, yours faithful ly,
Anna and l looked at mother, greved and
horror-strcken. Here, indeed, was grief for us
all-and what anguish for Gbbie and Bessie. :
for we knew that Bessie had by this time COM
PEELED her guardian to tell her all.
Poor Bessie!" we cried, with tears. ''And
poor Gibbiel" sighed mother.
Does he know ~ asked Anna.
eyes. He asked father if he had any Obec-
lions to his going away for week or two, and
father said OF course not. Gibbie wants to
think the matter over in quiet away even from
me. He will go to Brighton to-day; do not
notice his departure, my dears, OF question
him"
And we went away to talk things over sor-