Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-11-13
! ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY NOVEMBER
miscellaneous.
NON%((@N@NON-
BESSIE.

There was suppressed hum Of con-
versation in the dress-making department
Of the large dry goods house Of Maxwell
4 Son, which the steady whir Of 100 sew.
ing machines could not drown. Where
the presence feminine can be found be
sure the tongue feminine will be heard.
The superintendent Of the room, under
standing this, did not attempt to enforce
silence, so pretty Bessie Lawton and
Lizzie Turner, for whose machine Bes-
sic basted, talked confidentially in theif
corner of the great room, and no one in.
terfered, so long as fingers were busy
as well as tongues
Aud this was what Lizzie said, Bes-
sizes blue eyes being rivited upon the
quilting she was basting into folds;
II saw her yesterday when | was GO
ing out to lunch. She was just step
ping into her carriage and Master Charles
himself handing her in. She looks old !,
nearly 40 | should say, but they say she
is immensely rich, and her dress was
splendid, SO suppose her money goes
against her age"
"Did you hear they were to be mar
ried soon ?"
BLESS me! Didn't I tell you that
My brother is clerk in the stationer's
store where tho wedding cards arc being
printed. They are to be married in
church on the 9th. Mr., and Mrs.
Charles Maxwell, and the card of the
brides mother, Mrs. John Potter.
Twelve! Come, we will 80 for walk
for lunch hour"
"No, | am tired" Bessie pleaded,
and her friend left her, never needing
the sudden pallor Of the sweet, young
face, the dumb agony in the great blue
eyes.
| When she was alone Bessie stole away
to the little room where the cloaks, shawIs
and hats Of the girls were kept. and there,
crouching in corner, hidden entirely
BY a huge waterproof, she tried to think
it all out. ~
What did it mean What did Charles
Maxwell mean in the long year he had
tried by every masculine device to win
her love? She had not been unmaidenly;
heart and conscience fully acquitted her,
She had given her love, pure, true and
faithful, to the son of her employer; but
he had sought it, delicately and persist
emily, before he knew that IL was given
him.
The young girl, now sewing for a liy-
ing, had been daintily bred and thorough
ly educated, her father having been man
drawing a salary sufficient TO give his
only child every advantage. But when
he died, and his wife in few months
followed him. Bessie had chosen life
Of honorable labor 10 one of idle depend
ence upon wealthy relatives. Yet in the
social gatherings of these relatives, aud
the friends of summer days, Bessie was
still welcome guest, and it was at her
Uncle Leonard's brown-stonc house she
had been introduced to Charles Max
well. After this she met him frequently,
and in her simple dress, with hor sweet,
pure face, had won marked attention
from him. With the frankncss that was
one Of her greatest charms, the young
girl had let hor admirer know that,
though she was Leonard Lawton's niece,
she worked for living in the Dress
making department of Maxwell K Son.
Then he had made her heart bound
with sudden, grateful joy by telling her
he had seen hor leave the store night
after night, but would not join her for
fear of giving her annoyance by expos
ing her to the remarks of her com panions.
After this, however, she often found him
waiting for her Mt some point further
from the store, and always 50 respectful
and courteous that she was glad of his
protection in her long walk.
But he was going to marry an heiress
on tho 9th, only week away, 50 ho
had but tridcd with her after all.
Poor little Bessie, crouching among
the shawls and cloaks, felt as il all tho
sunshine was gone from her life forever -
as if her cup of humiliation and agony
was full TO OVERLOOKING
But the noon hour was over, the girls
coming in or SCATTERING from resting
places in the work-room, and the hum
Oh WORK commenced again. as It must,
Whatever aohing hearts or weary hands
crave rest
Bessie worked with the rest, her feel
in1gs SO numbed by INC sudden blow that
she scarcely heard Lizzie's lamentations
over sudden Hood Of 'order work that
would keep many OF them 10 the room
until alter midnight.
wen have oil day Tomorrow u we
can hnlsh these dresses tonight" said
one OF the small squad o. girls told on
Tor the extra work. miss Smith says
So But these must be ready TO deliver
IN the morning"
TAX! TAX talk f! Nhlr whir whir
Bessie folded and basted, working
with rapid. mechanical precision hear
ing the noises OF voices and machines,
feeling the heavy, dull beating OF her