The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-11
. folks. I guess you'd be sur

poor 1ClHS, 1 guess you oo sA
prised.'
Pussy" said Bessie, when she
was alone with her confdante, web
have to go without sugar in our tea
tonight, for I've given the last gram
to that hateful woman; but, dear,
you do not need sweeteEing as much
as she does"
Several weeks went by. Bessie
could not help thinking of the last
words Miss Cover had said to hel
that rainy Friday afternoon: =" Ef
you followed your ma some Friday
when she went to visit them poor
folks, guess you'd be surprised. =
The Yernacular of the Ignorant
woman came back to her again and
again. What could she have meant2
What could the surprise be, for Judg,,
ing from Miss Covers tone it would
not be pleasant one. Bessie was
possessed of the old sin, curiosity.
She had realized for long while that
her mother was keeping some sad se-
cret, but until now it had been
enough for her to know that her
mother did not wish to tell her.
Everything that mamma did was
right, but now -
She was angry with herself for let.
ting any insinuation that odious old
maid had dared to make affect her.
One evening her mother did a very
strange thing; she left Bessie all
alone and went to see her friends.
The next night she went again.
Forgive me, dear, for leaving you;
and may be gone until very late, as
one of the family is dangerously i'll.
Shall not get some one to stay With
YOU? I cannot bear to leave you
alone" she said, when she kissed
her good bye.
"No, no, mamma, I'm not AFRAID.
and Tabby is company for me, ;" said
Bessie, and then burst out impetu-
ously: But 0, mamma, do let me
90 with you, do, do. / know l should
not be in the way, and perhaps IA
be a help"
Another kiss and tender embrace
was the answer and the mother has
tened away.
The third evening Bessie's curlos-
ity mastered her. AS soon as her
mother left the cottage, she threw on
wrap and followed:
II shall die if | do not find ouf
what this secret is that is weighing
on my poor mothers mind and wor.
ryins away her life" she cried, and
hurried on block after block until
the destination was reached, and
Bessie saw where the poor family
lived.
The surprise was complete, and
turning she fed home sobbing aloud.
The only information she hao
gained was that her trusted and non
ored mother had deceived her.
What mystery lay beyond the gate
which her mother entered she kne"
not. She had not dared to pass 10
after her.
:. When the mother returned the
little clock on the kitchen shelf was
striksrzs4xslxe- but. Bessie did not
hear-tftt-and-tI,e mother did not heed
it. The former lay prone upon the
bed, deep in troubled sleep; dressed:
even to the dusty shoes which had
carried her on her errand, the latter
knelt by the bedside and pressed hel
cold face TO her daughters fevere6
cheek. In Bessie's hand was clutcheo
an old.fashioned case containing 8
photograph. ,..,
Her fathers likeress. Poor little
girl" exclaimed the mother.
Neither Bessie nor her mother reac
the newspapers much; in fact they
seldom bought one. Miss Cover
must have known this, too, for one
morning she came running across
the garden, waving the morning
paper in her hand. Bursting into
the kitchen like whirlwind, she
painted: 20, Bessie. where's your
ma? Hev you read the paper?'
"What do you mean, Miss Cover
what paper?" questioned Bess'e,s
mother.
Here, look" cried Miss Cover.
pointing to an item at the head o.
one of the columns.
Bessie glanced over her mothers
shoulder, and this is what she READ: