The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-12-17
her. Thank God! l know that she
was pure at heart. My poor crush

ROW and walked the room exciledly.
"Where shall 1 find you?" 1 ask
ed presently. 81 suppose L can
come and see you. Bessie need not
know 1 know her trouble"
"Oh, it will not matter; she is
crushed too far to care. Why, she
loved the scoundrel!'
YES" 1 assented. 81 suppose as
much"
Shortly after Gertrude went
away.
l did not call upon her the follow
ing day, as 1 had intended, nor in
deed for several days. Various
complications of my own affairs en-
crossed and annoyed me. Then 1
found 1 had misaid the street mum
Der she had given me. And so it
happened that a week had elapsed
when one morning l set out for her
boarding house.
l do not think 1 shall ever forget
that day, although have seen many
exciting days in my life and expect
to see maLy more.
1t was a clear, cool morning with
heavenly sunlight over all. The
occasional late rains had washed all
the dust and disagreeabIe sticki-
ness from the atmosphere. 1t was
a morning to inspire cne, to tighten
ones footsteps, to give one wing
ed, buoyant sensation.
And yet, as I left the horse cars
/ hA efr fnuuorIs
Gertrude Haskelrs lodging, ! felt a
weight of dread or premonition set
tling upon me. l almost paused to
turn away and not enter the house.
But after a moment l threw off the
feeling and rang the bell.
Gertrude came down to the par
lor.
81 want to tell you thing or two
before we go up stairs" she said;
Bessie is doing. She is very
much prostrated."
She sat down by me and touched
my hand occasionally; hers l felt to
be as cold as ice. Her face was
flushed and her eyes shone feverish
ly. She was terribly excited.
81 want to tell you," she continu1
ed, "that he is coming here this
morning. l have been on his track
ever since; 1 have traced him to
this city. He is a travelling man
and naturally enough has come to
this city. He does not dream that
she is here-that l am her sister.
She was known out west as Bessie
Dean; Aunt Hester insisted on it. l
have thrown him off his guard.
And now he shall come face to face
with her and"
"And then?" l asked.
''He shall make reparatiop," said
Gertrude. calming herself with a
wonderful effort. Come let us go up
now. Remember, Bessie knows
nothing. 1 have kept it all from
her"
We climbed the many steps of
stairs to the fourth story. The
house was new and tall, one of those
handsome affairs that the city push
es out day by day towards the
north. We went in softly. Bessie
lay by the front windows on a sofa;
one little hand was under the pret-
ty, worn face with the frame of soft
brown curls. Our entrance arous-
ed her. She opened her eyes and
smiled family.
There was no evil in that smile.
My heart went out to her.
They had two rooms, little par
lor and 9 still smaller connecting
bedroom.
We were hardly seated when a
knock at the door and the manner
in which Gertrude started to her
feet sent the blood leaping through
my veins in furious way.
- gentleman" l could hear the
servant say.
''Let him come up," knew Ger
trude was answering quietly, and a
few other words in a lower tone.
Then, to her sister, ''lie still, Bessie,
it is nothing.'
Strong as my nerves are, much as
1 have passed through, l could not
help trembling and turning pale. l
left my seat and looked impIoring-
ly at Gertrude who stood by the
door
She motioned to the bedroom
and slipped quickly out of sight
behind homely cretonne portierre.
held my breath as footsteps
came on the staircase. l could hear
;ny own heart beating loudly. Then
a mans voice in formal salutatiOn.
Then a plaintive, piteous, wailing
sound from Bessie's lips, the one
word-''Basil!"
The door shut with sudden force;
l heard Il clicking sound and knew
that some one had locked it. l
pushed aside the portierre and look
ed out.
At glance / read the man who
stood there, abashed, irresoiute
Weak, evil, yet perhaps not too evil
for reclamation. Well dressed,
rather good looking, on the whole
outwardly respected.
Above the low sobs of Bessie,
who had covered her face, 1 heard
Gertrude's voice, calm and ;nsis-
tent.
You understand now, Basil
Humphrey, why / sent for you. We
need not discuss the situation.
There is but one thing to be done;
you must marry my sister at once
L have sent for clergyman"
He grew white to the lips with
anger.
at is impossible" he began, and
made for the door as if to escape
But it was locked
Let me outr' he demanded,
iercely. You can't trap a man"
Basil! GeFtruder Bessies voice
rose to a scream. For Gertrude
had flung herself upon him and
clutched his throat with a death
like grip.
Il will kill you rather" she pant
cd.