The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-11-22

little rippling laugh, something like
that he used to hear, to make music in
that long-silent world of his.
And Bessie waited and waited. Twice
see went down to the wicket and listened
for Johns coming, but only the cold
winds talked Of coming desolation in the
naked boughs overhead. "llc always
comes before nine o'clock, She said, tear
fully; "but tonight. of al nights, be is
50 late, poor brothers
The old clock on the stairs struck ten
and, listening, Bessie heard footsteps
and voices. A great lump came into her
throat-''it couldn't be Ashley?"
''Bcss, this is my wife, Muricl," OK
claimed John moment later. his face
shining with joy as he pushed the
blushing Muriel into her sister-in-laws
arms.
1t wns all so sudden and unexpected
for poor, lonely-hearted Bessie. She
had been thinking of other and Sadder
things, and the turning of the tide as il
set toward SUMMER shores made her
heart dumb.
1t was not Ashley; not the wandcrcr
from over the sea, but then it was an
other lost We and John was happy
A strange feeling crept over Bessie
Anderson. She put one arm around the
fair bride and held the other out i'm
ploringly toward her brother
John" she gasped, with white. quiv-
ering lips, I'm glad for you and Muriel:
but it's all so sudden--so sudden. If you
will excuse me will 60 to my room for
awhile
She turned away and went upstairs.
leaving the astonished two standing in
the middle of the room.
In moment John tiptoed after her;
he could not bear this. "Forgive my
want of thought, Bessie" he pleaded;
81 didn't think you cared 50 much"
Il am glad for you" she said in
voice that seemed any thing but glad;
real glad, John, but"
Here are letters interrupted her
brother, thinking she intended to refer
to Muriel's seeming neglect OF him:
'some thank offerings, Bessie"
She to k the mail from his hand with
trembling fingers and passed up the
staircase with face as pale as death.
80, dear" murmured John, as he
Joined his wife below. II didn't think
she'd feel that way about it."
Brother is happy and why not 1?'
questioned Bessie, as she lighted taper
and turned the key in the door. Tears
plashed down on the letter she opened.
o. it was such a glad yet such miser-
able Thanksgiving Eve. She hoped
there might be good news in the we'll
filed sheet.
"Why! whose handwrite-why, who
," Then, 70; quiet Bessie Anderson,
she acted little strangely. She rose,
walked across the room a time or two
before she read the missive. After that
she gathered up the other lctters un-
opened and put them away in an abb
stracted manner. With far-away.
happy light coming across the tear
stained face the overjoyed girl knelt
down by the window in the moonlight
and whispered: II thank Thee, Father.
Tomorrow will indeed be Thanksgiv-
ing"
Going over to bureau presently she
opened drawer and took up long,
filmy white vail, shaking out its folds
and sending cloud of quaint perfume
the apartment. Then with a
smile she lifted from its resting-place
beautiful silken gown, smothered in a
of starry lace, and laid it over
the chair nearest her.
As If by programme, Bessie went from
one loving care to another until she
slipped the cleaning circlet on her fin
ger and went downstairs to welcome
Muriel.
With such happy light in her eyes
that John felt his heart bound in re-
,ponsc, she repeated: 81 am so glad for
you, both Of you" nodding to them.
81 hope you will forgive me for being
10 strangely overcome. You did sur
prise me so."
''Of course" said John.
Certainly" said Muriel, little mys-
,iaed.
In the morning Bessie put her hand |
IN her brothers arm, saying: "We will
rave wedding to-day, too, If you don't |
mind"
"Why--who?"
John looked down into the blushing
ace and received q revelation from the |