The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-02

Rhrtoh nau sneu those nrst and DlttereSt
tears of her sojourn in the great, city, and
Bessie herself, shocked at the total intli fer
enoe of Aunt Munger and the girls, made
aim bowl of Cruel and took it up stairs.
. You are very kind" said tho psle lad,
looking a. her with eyes which we're like
sunken caverns of fire. 81 don't know
what right have to your ministrations.n
"Just this" said Bessie, .cheerily q
heard you say once that all your friends
were up in Maine, and, of course, some
one must take care of you"
Every one doesn't argue after the same
fashion" said Wyatt, bitterly.
"And besides, pursued Bessie, cat homo
at Bluebell Farm, we girls have little So
ciety which we call Sisters of the Suffering
And we go around to all who are ill-all,
mean" she added, with blush, "who
cannot afford-who don't have friends and
nurses of their own. So, you see, lam not
inexperienced in this business.
sisters of the Suffering" repeated Wy
att, slowly. F." Yes, it is sweet name, "a
name that sounds gratefully on ones ear.
Miss Bessie, if my mother were hying-if
abe could be here--I think she would thank
you as don't know how to do"
"Oh, said Bessie, brightly, "S is early
for thanks yet Wait little"
Down into the Valley of the Shallow poor
Laurence Wyatt went, close, cloee to the
black waves where Life and Love drift forth
SO often to return never more. Bat he re-
covered, at last, aud Dr. Steuben said that
it was, under Providence, owing TO Bessie
Barton's kind rursing and ceaseiess care.
And he went away to his distant home, -
for rest and change, and Mrs. Munger drew
a long sigh and remarked, "to DO sure, what
a relief it was"
Bessie, dear" she said to her niece with
sudden excess of Tenderness, "you were
speaking of y ten.dollar bill your mother
sent you to spend. I've chance to get a
great bargain in console mirror, for the
best drawing. room, if l could serapc little
money together. Suppose you lend it to
me,-for few weeks only"
Bessie colored; her eyelids dropped.
Oh, Aunt Munger, | cannot" she said.
"I-I gave it to Lawrence Wyatt. He
could not pay up his board-bil without it,
and"
"Gave it to Lawrence Wyatt indeedis
shrily exclaimed the boarding house keeper.
"And he took It from you?'
He borrowed it, Aunt Munger"
"You'll never see it again." said Mrs.
Munger, angrily. Bessie, you are a
fooll"
So she acquiesced in Aunt Munger's pro-
Ject and remained, although she was n little
afraid of the boarders. There was the fat
man with the flowing coral-colored beard,
who was a newspaper editor-and the
pdSsee widow who had the best front room,
and was always sending messages to the PEG.
Pile overhead not to tread heavily, as she
had the nervous headache-and the two
mustached young men who had something
to do with the broking business on Wall
Street-and the stout couple who went daily
to gymnasium, and walked for exercise SO
many hours per diem. Aud there was Tia
stones carefully muffled in red fannell
And Mrs. Munger was gloomily contemplate
ing sherif's sale when, one day, a carriage
rolled up to the door and out stepped gen.
tleman in sable furs and costly dress.
"Don't You know me, Mrs. Munger and
Bessie ?" said he. +" | am Laurence Wyatt!
Aud I've come to pay my debts. Don't look
at me SO strangely. l am not an appari-
donl Only my uncle from Chicago has
adopted me, and am to enter the mining
business with him. He has settled a liberal
allowance upon me, and am rich man
now"
Mrs. Munger sighed sepulchrally.
" You've no debts here, Mr.. Wyatt" said
ne. cts ali settled up to date. But il
you know of any eligible parties looking out
for good board"
.Yes, of course 1 will recommend them,"
said Laurence, frankly. But-my aunt is
out here in the carriage, and she wants TO
see the young lady.wko saved my life-Bes-
sic Barton
So Bessie, tblushing aud frightened, went
out to see the grand lady in the carriage,
who slipped little diamond ring on her
linger--a solitary diamond That shone and
glittered like a spark of fire. And Laurence
Wyatt whispered to her:
"Our engagement-ring, Bessie"
Adeliza and Medora Munger were highly
scandalized when they heard of it. So Bes-
sie, the sly little puss, Ind been secretly en-
gagged to that book keeping young man ever
since he went away, looking more like
haggard specter than anything else. How
could she know that he would como back
rich mans heir2 Wasn't it the most i'm.
provident thing iii all the world
81 He told me had saved his life," con.
fessed Bessie "And he loved me,--and
declared that some day lie would lay tina.
rescued life down at my feet. And so he
has"
"That's all silly, sentimental nonsense"
said indignant Medora, who was loverless, at
ght-and-twenty.
at did seem hard that the husband hunt
ing Misses Munger should be lunwooed and
unwon, while simple little country-bred Bes-
sic married the rich man But then, while
Laurence Wyatt lay sick unto death in the
little dreary hall bedroom, the Misses Mum
ger had not troubled themselves whether he
lived or died.
Only a four-and.a- half-doliar boarder,"
they had scornfully remarked. "Why
don't ma insist on his going to the hospit.
al ?n
But Bessie had held up the silver torch of
Faith, Hope, Charity. And its white fire
had illumined her whole life with bright
ness. - Shirley Broaons.