Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-29
BESSIE'S DISCOVERY.
BY GUINEVEkE.

"A strange will, said Doctor Porter,
musingly.
Young Lawyer Forbes looked at him
with pcrplexity in his eyes. They were
standing together at one end Of the par.
lOr, the room where but two hours ago
Miss Felicia Irving had lain wrapt In
eternal slumber with bunch Of snow
drops In the hands Clasped above her
pulseless breast, and peaceful smile
on her old, wriDkled face.
She was at rest with her ancestors
now, IN the old family vault, and these
two men were discussing her will, q
strange document to them, who had
known 10 we'll Of the real kindness and
generosity of the eccentric old. lady.
can scarcely realize that every
thing il left to her nephew, Lewis Ar
ling" said the doctor. "He never was
q favorite of hers; then there are Char
lie Sewell and Bessie Irving, with
equal claims, left entirely unprovided
for"
Lawyer Forbes looked across the room
at the trio mentioned, one Q small, dark
man with sharp.teatuIed face, and
keen, black eyes; the other, tall, blonde,
and dehonair. The girl was small and
slight, with a round pretty face that
was usually brigh and smiling, but
now the color had vanished, and the
bonny blue eyes had been dimmed
with tears. -.
81 am very sorry for Miss Bessie, "
he said "She has been very devoted
to her aunt during her last illness, and
| know, really mourns her loss"
"Yes, /" replied the doctor, " l think
there il a mistake somew here. The
will read was an old one, you know,
drawn up by your father before Bessie
came TO the farm. thought there had
been another made about two years
ago. was attending Miss Irving then,
and dur ing severe spell she spoke OF
her will and sent for your father. He
came, and az ! supposed, drew up an
other will, but of course in that case
you would have learned of It,"
Certainly" said Lawyer Forbes.
I" NV father intrust d all his business
to me before he died, and had there been
a later paper l should have known 1t. y
He spoke calmly, but there was an
anxious look in his eyes and his lips
rWilchrd nrrvously.
Doctor PorteI's keen, searching
z auce went fron he lace before him to
the dark one of the heir and back again.
Strange, very strange" he unused,
again. "1here IL some treachery here.
Sir % exclaimed Lawyer Forbes,
Indignantly. =,
"Oh, I'm not thinking Of you; don Z
be offended" raid the doctor. ! don't
like the LOOKS of that Airing, he's
mean and crafty. Well, I'll be going.
God-day, ST"
He crossed the room and shook hands
with the two nepheWs, but drew Bessie
aside.
what are you going TO do now,
child :" he asked ? go out into the
world again
Bessie looked up at him with visit
ful blue eyes.
81 suppose So" she answered. I'm
going 10 leave the farm early to'mor-
row.
"What, has the scamp turned you
out so soon ?"
ono. The fact is, dot tor" lowering
her voice and blushing painfully, "he-
has asked me to marry him.
Indeed. And you? ?"
81 refused"
"Good," said the doctor. But how
did he take your answer?'
Bessie glanced fearfully over hel
shoulder at the heir.
"He WAS furious, DOCTOR" she said
| ten a IIi m
" Scoundrel 'said the doctor. well
Bessie, suppose yon come to my house
to morrow. would like to have yor
make it your home, II you will. Ny
wife is very fond of you and will vel
come you gladly. There is a vacanc!
In the South school, and guess ! cal
get the position for you. That will b.
better than going back to the city won
it ?"
"Oh, doctor, "cried Bessie, grateful y
how kind yon are. But cannot b
dependent upon-'
" Pshaw 70 interrupted the doctor
Come to the house tomorrow, AM
wen talk it over. And now III b
going. Goodbye, Bessie, don't let tn
little black proved scamp frightel
you. He'll be cautious, though guess
with all his relatives around. Good
| bye"
| A hearty hand shake and he wa
gone Bessie, cOmforted and encourag
ed, went up TO her room to prepare TO
her departure in the morning.
A photograph in a rich velvet cas-
stood on the mantel, and she took /
down, kissing it once or twice bofor
aging it away.
= Dear, dear Charlie, "she murmured
" I'm so sorry for him If no stood II
Lewis Arling's shoes now
Then she tell into reverie, unconsci
GUS OF the flight of time until bel
ringing ont sharp summons to tea rous
ed her.
Il Lewis Airing sat beside her at tn
table, but after the first greeting b
scarcely noticed her.
TWAS late in the evening when Bes
sic had finished her packing then TO
1.-The tirst time she thought of a book ly
ing on the table in the library-a cost.
volume that her aunt had given her
few weeks before her death.
Opening the door, she peHred out In
to the hall all was dark and gu et,an'
gathering her skirts in one hand sh
cr-pt noiselessly down the stairs.
She had just entered the library an'
stood with her hand on the book, Whel
the sound of voices reached her from
the hall without, low and whispered
but she recognized one as LeWi
Arlng's.
she did not want to be discovere'
there by him, but there seemed no plac
of coucealnent there were no convent
rnt sofas nor heavy curtains, and thel
her eye fell on the old clock in tn
corner, tall, heavy, useless piece
furniture that had ceased its labors
years ago.
II Another instant, and she was stand
ling within the wide wooden case, witt
the door closed upon her.
Il The two men entered the room, and
after closing the library door, turne
the dim light into a broad flame.