Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-29

''not to her, at any rate. mean Miss Car
son--l hate gratitude whole summers s
fun would be spoiled.''
"All right, If you don't want me 70, l
won't, answered Beldon, rather surprised.
THANK you, jess, /" said Charley heartily.
When the young men had left, the quarry
men, looking for Miss Carson, saw she was
gone. That young lady had been awakened
by the shouting, and, not knowing but that
they were making fun of her-and suddenly
remembering that she was in a position
which some Of her back-biting friends, who
| like to criticise her actions, would style un-
ladylike, quickly made her way back as she
had come.
Beldon kept his promise. The week
slipped by, and Miss Carson never knew
how near death she had been, nor how
brsvely she had been rescued.
On the evening before leaving for abroad;
Charley found himself sitting alone with
| her on the hotel porch. The lady who was
| to join the party was momentarily ex-
pected. He felt slightly nervous, almost
bashful. He had lost good deal of his con-
fdence in himself since he met this "hyaway
girl" He could not flirt with her.
She started the conversation: Your Curl
osity about our future companion will soon
be satisfied, Mr.. Bracken."
Cant you tell me, so that I may be pre-
pared?" he asked. Before she had time to
answer, however, a sudden thought struck
him. "Ohl of course, know what it is, .
he said, show stupid not to have guessed it
beforel Your mother, of course; will ex-
pect in minute to see" But he stopped;
something In her face made him do so.
"My mother is dead" she said, in low
voice.
"OhI excuse my carelessness," Charley
said, hastily.
An awkward silence ensued. He felt ex-
tremely uncomfortable. Miss Carson's last
speech was in such a changed tone as to
make him feel very uneasy.
"I was but 2 years old when she died; so
remember very little OF her-only that oIce
was taken into her room-she was lying in
bed, and papa stood beside her, crying; she
kissed me great many times, and said
''Take care of my child, Ben, and then,
thought, went to sleep; did not know what
death was"
Charley gaid nothing. He did not know
what to say. There was something in his
throat that he could not cough up.
81 often wish had mother" she went
on. "I might be more useful girl; but papa
is always very kind. He thinks look like
mamma, and, till he came here, we have
never been separated more than one day.
He has been my only school teacher. She
paused again, and then returned to the old
CAV style: "How 1 am boring youP' she
said.
mo, indeed, please go onI 1 am very
much interested" said Charley.
"Hushl" said she. "Listenl"
In the next room the shrill noise of a
| uurryman's child was relating what had
happened at the quarry. Not a detail was
admitted, not syllable was lost to the
couple on the porch.
When the story was told she turned to
him half crying, halt laughing, and held
out her hand. He took it.
as it true, Charley?" she asked. She
had never called him Charley before.
''Yes, Il"
'eYou need not make any excuses. know
how bravely you did it. 1 don't know how
to thank you"
She stopped. He was holding her hand
very tightly, and the hand, she knew, was
| throbbing as if there was a steam engine in
| it. She tried to release it, but he held il
tighter still.
feYou have my hand, Mr.. Bracken, "::she
| said, looking him in the face. What she
saw there made her look more quickly to
the floor.
''You have my heart, JESSIE" he said
with an earnestness that made her hear
! throb till she was we'll nigh choked. The
"hvaway" girl was very bashful now. She
was trembling all over. But she did moi
try to take her hand away. Ali that little
hand; it was his hand now, and her hear
was with it. They were happy-indescrib
ably and supremely happy.
All human joys are feeting. They were
reminded of this fact by hearing the Latch
of the gate lifted. Messrs. Beldon anc
Carson entered, accompanied by a very
pretty young lady. Charley's hair stood OF
| end.
1t was Nellie Leonard.
When Jessie Carson was about to intro,
! duce them, Nellie remarked that sht
thought "Charley and do not need an in
PRODUCTION" and Charley was sufficiently
recovered to stammer with something abou
having 'met the that lady before"
During the rest of the evening he sat in
corner and confined his conversation t.
monosyllables. He was thinking. At night
he told Beidon all.
"Go to sleep. Charley" said that indiVi
dual, ''put your trust in Beldon, and h'
will fetch you through"
Comforted by this assurance, he resigned
/ himself to the denizens of dreamland with
out further remark.
When he arose at noon the following day
| he found that Bracken and Nellie Leonard
| had taken walk together, as had also Mr.
Carson and his daughter. Charley sue
ceeded in finding the latter couple. jessie
had informed her father of what had hap
pened, and her father had finally consented
! to their marriage. Consequently, a few
minutes afterward, when they met the othel
couple in the woods, she said:
"Allow me to introduce Mr.. Charles
Bracken in new character, as my future
| lord and MASTER
"And allow me to introduce the future
Mrs. BeldoR," said the gentleman of thai
name, presenting Miss Nellie Leonard.
! As soon as he recovered from his amaze
ment, Charley advanced and held his hand
out to Nellie. 'We were both untrue al
loyers,' he said, 'but as friends we will be
the opposite"
"And the trip to Europe?" said the
artist.
"WeIl put that off year."
"Are you not anxious to admire the works
of art there?"
'I prefer nature" Charley said, signif.
cantlY, taking Jessie's hand again.
PITTsBURG. November q, 1889.
nr