The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-03-17
BEAUTEOUS BESSIE.
PLAYS PIANO IN THE CHILLY
PARLOR'S SHADE.
Harry visiteth tho Maid-Jealous Rival
days for Harry. Jumping 1T
His Throat-In Return Gets
S0rely SmOte.

After supper to the parlor went q
modest little maid; she was looking
for her lover, and some eagerness be-
trayed. She was seated, as she wait
ed, at the instrument and played.
And her plastic hands careening DER
the polished iv'ry keys brought I'M
conscious into music bits of nameless
melodies; tho an air of expectation
was observable in these.
And he came, her gallant lover,
through the wild, tempestuous night;
when could zero such hero ever
hope to fill with fright. He the clerk
upon the corner, handsome Harry
Horner, hight.
Most effusing, most confusing, was
her rapture as she rose; most trans
porting was her posture as she stood
upon her tOes-as she kissed the cold
icicles from the down beneath his
nose.
.'Oh, my honey, oh, my Harry"
gurgled she in girlish glee.
''Oh, my beauteous, blissful Bes-
sie,'' babbled beatitic he.
They were happy, oh, believe me,
in superlative degree.
But a villain. at that moment. was
a-plotting in his lair; was a-plotting
and a-planning, as he tore his raven
hair Then strong idea struck him
almost knocked him off his chair.
Il will have her, will win her,
though his life-blood must be shed;
and his murder for that matter, can
not make my hands more red
But spirit CHANGED to hear it
hear the things the villain said.
''He would win her, would this vii
lain, though the boy might have to
die? | will fool him, will foil him,
even though the fur should fly" said
the spirit most emphatic, as he weird
~ winked his eye.
1t was midnight in the city; it was
midnight everywhere, from the vii
lage in Ohio unto Denver debonair;
and the villain slightly shivered in
the cold and icy air. He was crouched,
this wicked villain. in dark and
deadly place; and his heart was hot
with passion, you could see it in his
face; yes, it glittered in the darkness
it was lurid in this case.
In his hand he clutched weapon,
there was murder in his mien; but
the spirit stood beside him. in the
darkness all unseen.
II will foil him. said the spirit,
with a cOuntenance serene.
1t was midnight in the city: it was
midnight everywhere, from the vii
lage in Ohio unto Denver debonair;
all except in Bessie's parlor, for the
time was backward there.
There was pallor in the parlor just
about a month before; for Bessies
pa, he passed law, and with an oath
he swOre: when it strikes ten,
your Harry then must go back to the
store"
Love laughs at clocks as we'll as
locks; for after that, you see, the par
Tor clock it licked away as merrily as
could be, and when ali other clocks
struck twelve it tinkled ten with glee.
''Oh, the time has come, my dar-
ling, till tomorrow we must part
In his desperate detection close he
clasped her to his heart, and from out
her bonny blue eyes trickling tears
were seen to start.
Il am haunted, oh. me Harry, with
presentiments distressed sure some
evil will befall us; my prophetic souls
oppressed"
In disconsolate dependence hung
she, chung she on his breast.
But he kissed her and dismissed her
mournful lachrymary fears, and dis
PEELED her sad fore holdings as he
muffled up his ears. He, with glad
some, loving laughter, in the dark
ness disappears.
He was whistling. was our Harry,
as he passed the fatal spot; and the
villain leaped upon him from the
shadow like shot. One quick blow
and all was OVERHEAD the spirit then
forgot?
Well, | rather reckon not.
Oh, the spirit stayed the weapon
just moment-'twas enough, for our
Harry smote the villain, la Corbett,
rather rough; yes, he plugged him
and he slugged him, for the boy was
up to snuff.
And the villain, it is stated, as he
lonely lay in bed, with his spirit dis
located, many tears of sorrow shed.
Then he gave them half his fortune
and life secluded led
Harry Horner, on the corner, is as
hand some as of yore. He's quit
clerking, he's quit working, as he
used to heretofore, for the proud,
triumphant Harry is a partner in the
store. And his wife, the winsome
Bessie, keeps carriage and pair;
keeps cOachman and footman, and
a maid to do her hair.
And the spirit that preserved them
wears an animated air. = Chicago
Inter Ocean.
To- pn