Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-14
BESSIE'S RUsE.
BY ALICE DALE.

tho world. l had rather have Lillian
Dane for sister than anv ether woman
i know. wish you would ask her to
marry you. Leigh"
Leigh Lawrence shrugged his shapely
shoulders.
"Why, she Is only little homebcdy,
Bess," he drawled, languidly; ono
dash nor style about her /; she IL not to
be compared to Miss Carradine. There's
a woman worth looking at, Bessie.
Eyes" responded Bessie Lawrence,
she Is pretty to look at but that is
all. True, she is the most graceful
dancer in the city, and a tolerable mu
sician ; she certainly has pretty face
also, but these attributes are not all
that go TO constitute a good wife. Do
you think no, Leigh ?"
Leigh Lawrence looked q trife con-
fused, but he said nothing. He was
dazzled by Miss CarradiLe's grace aDc
beauty and brilliancy, before which
pale, brown. eyed Lillian was cast Oil.
tirely in the shade.
20 he ended the discussion by leaving
the room, and Bessie Lawrence with "A
little sign took up her crewel work
from the table and bent her bright head
Overt l..
She was a clever, sensible little
woman, can old maid" some called
her; but the cheeriest, happiest little
lady one could find In days search.
She loved her only brother dearly ), and
would do anything to secure his happi.
ness, and 30 she resolved to resort TO "a
little ruse which had sprang full fedged
into her busy brain, born of her woman +
ready wit.
But she possessed tact enough to say
no more TO her brother In praise OF
Lillian Dane, and his Irritation mean
while with Miss Carradine progressed
rapidly.
Just in the very height Of the season,
when everything was at its Rayest, an
Important business affair called Leigh
Lawrence to the city.
He had not been absent fortnight
when the news began 10 spread about
in fashionable society that the Law.
renee (there were only the brother and
sister) had lost their fortune.
Miss Carradine FASTENED to call Oh
Bessie Lawrence.
" Is 1t really true, Bess ?" she asked
trying to suppress her own eagerness
"you and have been such great friends
always, dear, that have ventured 10
inquire. You see have bseu told that
you and your brother are su fferers from
this great failure of the D-3ank "
Bessie lookel grave
" do not mind telling you, in stric,
confidence, my dear Miss Carradtp Inc, ="
she returned. i" that Leigh aud are
losers through the failure. All ou,
fortune was in the D-Bank, aud"
Oh, dear" broke in Lillian Dane,
who all this time had been sitting on
the veranda, busy with her crochet
work, Is 1t really true, Bess ? How
sorry l am
And she came and kissed her friend
with tender, womanly sympathy. Blu
Mrs Carrsdine did not lengthen h.I
call, and that very afternoon Bess saw
her drive past In Captain Dash's elegan,
phaeton, with the captain himself at
her side, and Miss Carradine looked as
happy and serene as though the D.
Bank had never existed. Bessie's red
lip curled scornfully.
Tried and proved" she murmured
softly to herself; land ! fancy 1 can
cure Leigh of his mad infatuation; now
for the other one!"
Lillian Dane called that very day
she brought her work. and th,
two Sat emtroidering and chatting
coE,ly.
Lilly dear p queried Bess, at length,
would you marry man, good
man, even though he were not rich o.
If l loved him" interpolated LII
liam, eraveiy. Certainly, dear Bess
why not ?''
Bessie smiled slyly.
| was WONDERING" she returned
90 if-if Atua Va raIt a l.
to marry my brother, If he ASA ed her. ;
Liiiian's brown eyes opened wider.
Why not ?" she repeated. "Oh,
Ut derstand, !" and a vivid blush over
spread her face "possibly you,
brothers loss offortune would infiu.nc,
her. But 1t does not seem possible.
How could woman be so MERGE
Dary?"
SO the in erview ended, which prov
ed 10 Bess Lawrence's satisfaction tn,
real worth OF the little woman whom
she had learned to love 80 dearly, tina
she WAS determined her brother SHOULD
appreciate her worth and. love her also
Shortly afterwards, away in the dis
tant city where he stiil tarried perforce
Leigh Lawrence received the followins
letter from his sister
DEAR LEIGH Lots of news
Miss Carradine is engaged to Captair
Dash. She was heard to remark tn,
other evening that she had rather di,
Than marry poor man. The ga Ian
captain Is heir apparent 20 a large for
tune, you know. And ano her piece OF
news, matrimonial Miss Danes wed
ding comes off on the 25th. Mr.. Har
rinRton IL the happy man. | am Il
ofiiciate as bridesmaid, and you are Il
be home in time (Mr. Harrington com
mands ~ 10 act az best mar on tht
occasion. Your atfectionate BEss."
A few days after the reception O
this letter found Leigh Law re, CO a
home.
Somewhat pale woe. begone, he enter
ell his sisters pretty par or, to tiud, Il
his embarrassment, Miss Carradine pre-
sent.
She greeted him rather coldly, tn,
Leigh was equal to the occasi N.
Allow me TO congratulate you Mis-.
Carradine," he obs, rived, coolly.
She had the grace to blush.
You are very kind, Mr.. Lawrence, u
she faltere0.
AS Leigh seated himself, he turned in
surprise TO his sister.
Bess," he began, what is ali
this excitement about the D.
bank People have been condolipe
with me since my return home, about
my lost fortune. l don't under
stand
will explain, them" said Bessie
G slinly. You know we lost few
hundreds through the failure, hui
thanks to your sagscity and wisdom in
r,moVing the balance from the banb
just In time, those few hnndreds wer.
our only loss; but that was quit.
Rough foundation for rumor to build
on. Thank Heaven, we are safe!"
II was astonishing TO observe tn.