Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-11-02


she could complain. He had taken Kate
Carter to the concert because Eugene
Parks had told him that he was gong ts
take Bessie and. Of course, Tom thought
Eugene must have the engagement with
Bessie.
Well" said Tom to himself at the
dime. guess viii take Miss Carter.
have as much right to flirt as you, Miss
Bessie Barton,r
And he had taken Miss Carter TO the
concert, and Bessie had gone with Eu.
gene.
Although the music was fine, and the
costumes elegant, Bessie never enjoyed
anything less than that concert; and yet
she was very fond of music Tom did
not enjoy it any more than did Bessie.
and there We're never twomore miserable
creatures in the world than Tom Pierce
and Bessie Barton, though Tom did not
show it as much as Bessie.
So that is what they had quarreled
about-at least what Bessie founded her
complaint upon.
"Oh. Tom, Toni" sobbed Bessie as she
leaned her head against the back of tie
bench, and held up the finger on which
there was now no little pearl set ring,
and then tucked it away as if to hide Il
from sight. ~Ia am hateful little thing,
and I've sent you away. 0h-o-oh-oh
DO come back. Tom, and will never be
cross and hateful again-no, never!"
But Tom was on his way home, study.
Ing how he could make his little sweet
heart herself again. "She is such ieal.
ous hearted little creature, unused Tom
And there is where / will strike. Til
sail around among the girls with all my
colors flying, and with Miss Carter
especially, and perhaps i may discover
her better qualities and throw away my
dislike for her. Bessiel Bessie! Yol
obstinate little goose!"
Tom did as he had promised himself.
Bessie seemed perfectly reconciled to all
OF Toms maneuvers (Which reconcilia.
lion, she thought, took some of Miss Car
ter's pleasure out of her supposed con.
quest), and quite generously resolved to
pay Tom back by encouraging Eugene
Parks until he actually proposed to heI
and was-refused.
Some weeks after the little summer
house scene ball was given at house OF
Judge Smith. Eugene Parks was to
be Bessie's escort, and Tom, of course,
would take Miss Carter. Tom had dis
covered her better qualities, and was get.
ting so he liked her very well indeed
and he made it no secret; but he could
never love her nor any one as he did Bes.
sic.
Bessie put on her very prettiest dress.
md wreathed her face in smiles-most
deceiving smiles. She was so beautifu'
and gay that night that all the gossips
whispered to each other-"she doesn't
mind Tom Pierce's desertion. They say
she has accepted Eugene Parks.
Tom overheard the remark, and as he
gazed at Bessie, looking so happy an6
gay, he wondered if Bessie really did no,
mind it. At last he could stand it M
longer. Eugene Parks seemed suddenly
smitten with Miss Carter, and was waltz
ing with her. Tom was, at the time.
disengaged, and so was Bessie, who did
not care to dance any more until the last
waltz, and was now talking with Judge
Smith.
Tom walked over to Bessie and the
judge, and nodding apleasant good even
ing to each, and asking if he might join
their conversation, took a vacant seat at
Bessie's side.
How Bessie's heart throbbed. She wac
sure Tom could hear it beating. Judge
Smith was not as dull as some people said
he was, for, guessing at how matters
stood, he asked Tom to "please entertain
Miss Bessie, as he must go to Mrs Smith,
whom he saw frowning at him and look.
ing awfuliy jealous.
"Bessiel"
"Oh, Tom, Toni" and everything was
settled then and there and the little pearl
set ring replaced on Bessie's finger.
Tom and Eugene, in some way known
only to themselves, managed to arrange
the program for going home, so that Ton;
would be Bessie's escort, and Eugene
Kate Carter's; and thus they went
through life. Several months after the
ball Tom and Bessie were married, aad
their wedding was soon followed by that
of Eugene Parks and Kate Carter.
Bessie Pierce and Kate Parks lived ad.
joining each other, and they were always
he best of friends, for Bessie had discov.
cred many excellent qualities in Kate's
character, and, as she confessed, her dis
like for her was founded only on ieal.
ousY