The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-05-21
AN OLD MISTAKE.

heavy on his hands, ana lie knew
not what to do with himself. So,
for lack OF better occupation, he
took to calling on "a certain plump
widow of his acquaintance, who
had remarkably pretty daughter.
Bessie PeplOe was a younger
edition of her mother. They had
the same black eyes, rosy cheeks,
and wavy hair, and truth cOm1els
us to add, the same quick temper.
nI'l! never marry old Gray Bes.
sic told Mrs. PeplOe, dehantly,
after the manner OF the young lady
who refused II man before he "axed
her" tor Mr.. Gray had not yet
proposed. although every evening
he presented himselfat the widows
dwelling, and he sat 10y the freside
IN tho NEST comfortable chair in
| the room.
ave shall Sec" returned the
elder lady, and her bright eyes
flashed, for she had set her mind
upon the marriage, aud already
regarded Bessie as the mistress of
Mr.. Gray'S comfortable house iu
the high street of the little town III
which they resided.
eyes, we shall see,' muttered
Bessie, and putting ON her hat,
slipped out to have a walk with her
adnIirer, Jack Viking, to whom
she cOntided her trouble.
Jack WAS poor, and tor that rea-
son had refrained from offering
his hand TO pretty Bessie; but
when she told him that old Clay
J WAS alter her he could no longer
restrain his feelings, and before
they parted the girl he loved had
consented to- be his wife.
"What will mother say pthOu2ht
Bessie, with "A sigh, az the parted
at the gate of Mrs. PeplOe'S cot
tage. "That hOlrid man will be
there"
That horril man was there, III an
armchair opposite Mrs. Peploe.
He smiled at Bessie as she enter
ed; but Bessie trOwned at him in
return, and his face fell. Thatev
ming the girl was absolutely Snllen
she spoke IN nonOSyllables, aud
i'll temper deprived her pretty face
of half its beauty.
"I am afraid her mind is set
against it," MIR. Gray told himself,
with a sigh, sand we might all be
happy, if she could only look into
it in Il proper light; but | suppose
it's natural"
And he redoublcd his efforts to
be agrecable-pOOr little man! loF
he had an affectiOna!e healt, and
his big house was dull aud lonely.
But BeSsie's face never relaxed
its set expression. She hated the
man, and meant to let him see it,
in defiance of her mothers angry
.lances. What business had Il
man old enough to be her father to
come cOurting her
"YOu have behaved diSgraceful-
ly," her mother SAID, when Mr.. Gray
had taken his departure. "lt is so
wicked To tIihe with tue love OF
any man."
Al Lave never trihed with Ills
love-" relOrted her daughter; 'he
must know that | hate him. |
have never, never attempted TO
disguise it; now have 1 mother :"
"YOu are a TOOL" said her mother,
blumily. "Mr. Gray is the best
chance you have ever had, or will
ever have, and | insist on your say
ing yes wnen lie asks you to be his
wife,
"Motherr' cried Bessie, impul-
sively, throwing her arms around
her mothers waist, hiding her face
in her bosom. another, | have
already said yes to somebody else
-SOmebody love dearly"
"What W easpe,l Mrs. Peploe,
freeing herself from her daughters
embracr, "What y
alt is true enough" said Bessie,
in a faltering voice, "Jaek asked
me to marry him, and ] have said
yes"
"Without consulting meM ex-
claimed her mother, amgrily, look
ing at Der with a stern, rrprOachful
face.
81 love him. returned Bessie.
''He is the only man ia the world l
could aver care for'
.Stuff aud nonsense T cried Mrs.
Peploc. "Even If ] liked tue young
mall-which dOu't-yOnr marry
iug wOnld be odt of question. lie
can't afford to keep yOu."
al am not afraid of poverty
sail Bessie bravely "beSidr, we
are not going to marry In haste.
We rau wait.
"Poor tool! ~ aud Mrs. Peploe's
lin curled. 81 know what the vail
lug means for woman. She sOes
on trusting aud believiUg ia his
promises, aud then, when her beau
Is has faded he turns around and
mariips some Que else
aEven then,p Said Bessie. "the
WOman is betterOfi than IL she had
tied herself to somebody she could
not love-
lob, yes yOu are mad-Quite
mad,s returned Mrs. PeplOe; "but,
thank goodness, you havea mother
who won't allow you to make an
idiot Of yourself. You viii marry
Mr.. Gray and forget all about that