Smyrna times., 1886-03-17
BeS8ie's Choice.

wart young man, standing beside the
rustic seat where a young girl sat
fashioning some dainty article for her
own use, out of heap of muslin and
ribbons in her lap.
His brow was frank and open and
there was an honest look in the brown
eyes that gave his cOuntenance a very
pleasant aspect, while her face was
fresh and sweet as a half-open rosebud.
While his eyes were fxed intently
urOn her face, she did not lift hers
from her work, though the shifting
color in her cheeks showed that she was
not so unconscious of his gaze as she
seemed
Robert Gordon had been talking
ahsently and disconnectedly upon vari-
ons topics, and which were evidently
foreign to the subject which was upper
N 81 in his thoughts.
Then followed a silence of some min
uf"o. when Robert, with visible effort,
broke the silence thus:
I've been coming to see you for some
time, Bessie, and 1 suppose you know
for what purpose ?"
Bessie opened her eyes wide with an
al Of innocent surprise.
I, Robert? How should 1 know
VII you have come for?"
The honestyoung fellow, quite unused
10 the contradictory ways of women,
v"~ NOT little staggered at reply so
4 mt from what he had expected.
i supposed that you could not help
know'ng that 1 came for you"
Dear me! such a thought never once
e"'ered my mind, said the deceitful
il tie mink. shaking her head with
d.f1I.e gravity.
Worse and worse! But that honest,
straightforward heart knew of only one
way o the object he had in view, and
that The most direct
Il did, Bessie; and I have come
today 10 ask you to marry me?"
Now in spite of her affected uncon.
sc BUSINESS, Bessie was not ignorant of
the nature of Roberts feelings for her,
and to what they tended.
Many times she had looked forward to
This hour, mentally rehearsing the VOWS
and prOtestations that would be poured
into her not unwilling ear, and she
grew quite indignant at a realization SO
little ike what her glowing imagination
had pictured.
She would show him that she was
not to be SO easily won as he thought"
was her inward comment.
Really, don't know what encourage
ment l have given you to ask me such
questions rs that" she said, aloud.
Nevertheless, do ask it, Bessie"
Holding up the bow she was fashion,
ing, Bessie surveyed it with a critical
eye.
L like you very well, as a friend, of
course; but rs to marrying you, why,
that is quite another thing"
Robert looked blank enough at these
words, but he was not a man to fear the
truth, Or to shrink from the pain it
BROUGHT him.
You dmt love me well enough for
that:"
Bessie's heart beat little more quickly
at this question. But she was deter
mined to spur her lover into some
expression of disappointment, if not of
love, more in accordance with what she
thought the occasion demanded.
mo: 1 don't think So"
Robert drew his breath hardly between
his shut teeth.
I'm sorry, / had thcught-had
hoped But it is useless to speak of
that now"
Sorry! !" repeated Bessie to herself
with scornful emphasis, as she thought
how her favOrite heroes of romance
would have expressed themselves on
such an occasion.
Then aloud:
"Oh, you'll easily find some one 70
console you"
However that may be, 1 hope you
will be very happy"
He was gone. Bessie watched him
as he sprang over the stile, into the road.
with a feeling of mingled disappoint-
ment and anger.
Love me, indeedl" she calculated
with scornful toss of her head; "I
don't believe he knows the meaning Of
the word %
Then, as her thoughts reverted to DIR.
Martins bland and smiling face, she
thought how different be would have
expressed himself
These reflections ended in a siQh-a
sigh of mingled disappointment and
regret; far down below the surface.
covered by many foolish imaginings,
more than kindly feeling for She hon
est heart she had rejected.
She neither meant nor expected that
he would have taken her quite so lit
terally, and grew quite angry at the
thought that he could give her up 50
easily.
AS she stood thus she heard a stop
on the graveled walk, and turning, saw
the shapely, well-dEssssd form Of DIR.
Martin.
Catching a glimpse at her among the