The Washington critic., 1885-11-04

take them home with me. And he
gave the address, Maxwell & Son
but are YOU sure he will pass hcre2"
"Of course he will. lie lives in the
next block. He'll come"
Suppose he shows fght?"
you hold him and I'll soon stop his
fight"
Every word fell upon Bessics ears
clear and distinct in the silence of the
night.
They would rob him, murder him,
these dreadful men, If nobody warned
him. They would spring out upon him
as he passed ana strike him down be-
fore he knew there was danger. He
must not come alone, unprcpnred. False
lover false friend as she felt he was,
she could not go on her way and leave
him TO death.
When she stood up the pain of her
ankle was almost uncomfortable; but she
chung to the railings and 50 limped one
block. The others seemed .intcrmin-
able; often she crawled through the wet
slush of the streets. often ON one foot
hoped painfully along, till the store
was reached at last, and the light in the
counting house still burned. The side
door for the working girls was still un.
fastened, and Bessie entered there,
reaching the counting house soaking
wet white and trembling, to confront
both Charles Maxwell and his father.
Unheeding their ordinations of dis
may and surprise, she told her story
with white lips, but steady voice.
waiting for me cried Charles
Maxwell 'thc scoundrels "
"You bought diamonds at IS to-
day ?" asked his father.
"A parure for Miss Potter, sir. |
wish to present them, with your per
mission, on Thursday"
"Ah look at that poor girl
For, overcome with pain, fatigue and
mental torture, poor Bessie had stag
gered toward the door and tainted
upon the floor. A hasty call sum
moned the ianitor. and in few min
utes the janitor's wife had appeared,
rubbing her eyes, but full of womanly
resources for the comfort of the girl.
A hack was procured and, clothed
in dry garments furnished by the good
hearted lrishwoman, and escorted by
the janitor Bessie was driven home
The next morning walking proved
to be impossible, and Bessie was
obliged to call upon her landlady for
assistance to dress, wondering at her
self little for caring to get up. But
before noon, sitting in the parlor of her
boarding. house, her lame ankle upon
a cushion, she was surprised by two
gentlemen callers, no other than Max
well and son in person, and n lady who
introduced herself us Miss Potter
"Wc have all come to thank you"
the lady said, land | have come TO
carry you home with me. These gen.
tlemen owe you their lives; / owe you
my diamonds.
But what did you dor asked Bes.
sic.
1--WE captured the robbers by mas
terly stratagem," said the old gentle.
man. Charley sauntered past the
allCyway, with revolver all ready in
his hand, while ], with three police
man, went round and entered the alley
softly behind the Williams. Taken by
| surprise, their retreat cut Off, they were
easily made prisoners. You understand
we could not arrest them unless they
actually attacked Charley. As it is,
however, there was pretty little tussle
before we came up. Bless me, dear
child, don't faint! He's all right"
"My footw Bessie murmurcd. 81
sprained my ankle last night 1t was
to rest ii that sat down on the church
wall"
you didn't come all the way back
with sprained anlilcy"
"Ycs, sir"
"You are heroine " cried Miss
Potter. But, my dear" and here the
| hnipapu 1pnNy tn Jnggin nd fApls
her hand in a close clasp, I'VE have
been hearing this morning pretty
little love story, of which you are also
the heroine, and l have come to see if
you will be my guest until Thursday
and then make poor Charley there the
happicst of men by assisting at double
wedding"
Bessie's eyes, slowly dilating as the
other lady spoke, were open TO their
fullest extent as this climax was
reached.
Charley " she said, 81 thought he
was to marry you on Thursday"
A musical laugh answered her, call
ing the gentlemen at the same time
from the window where they had
sauntered during the progress of this
little scene.
Miss Potter looked up at them.
Convince this young lady, Char
ley" she said, that your affection for
me is only that of a dutiful son, and
that | shall have motherly affection
for her likewise when | become the
wife of your father, Charles Maxwell,
senior"
And then Charley took the chair his
step-mothcr. elect vacated, while the
other lady and gentleman went outside
to arrange cushion in the carriage for
the sprained ankle.
What Charley said may be imagined,
but certain it is that Bessie drove home
with Miss Potter, and was that lady S
| guest until the following Thursday
when her wedding cards, too, were dis.
tributod and the bridal party consisted
of two bridegrooms and two fair,
blushing brides,
The daily papers, in noticing the
wedding, stated that the superb parurc
Of diamonds worn by Mrs. Charles
| Maxwell, Jr., was wedding present
from Mrs. Charles Maxwell, ST..