The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-10-28
DISAPPOINTMENT.


Bessie sat on the door stp', her
shutdown drawn over her face, her
chin resting on her hand, a d l0ol-
ing the picture Of woe. really be
lieve thare were tears in her eyes,
though she would not allow them
to fall. Now Bssie was naturally of
u bright, happy disposition, usually
wearing a smiling face, ard going
about her tasks with sing on her
lips; but this morning she had real
cause to be sorrowful, for fer long
cherished hopes had ben dashed
aside. and left her with only sddi-
tional duties to perform.
Bessie was an orphan girl, and
had lived with her maiden aunt
since her mothers death which oc.
CURED when Bessie was only eight
years old, her father having died
several years previously. Aunt
Nancy was very kind to the little
giil and had doe all in Der rover
to I'll the mothers place, and felt
repaid by the real If ction Bessie
manifested toward her.
Mrs. Without had been a very fine
musician, and Bessie inherited her
talent for music; even as a little
child she was familiar with the
piano, she could pay remarkably
well for one so young. Since her
mothers death she had had no
musical instruction; but having q
% fine piano of her own, she faithful
ly continued::he practice, and could
now play as well az the majority of
girls at her age. But it had been
for q long time her highest ambition
to become a fine music teacher, and
Of course for this she must have
the proper training. Her aunt
could not very well afford to give
her the desired edcc .ti,r, but told
Bessie If she would help her through
the summer, 80 she would not have
to hire aservant, by fall she hoped to
let her take music lessons from the
best teacher in the town.
SO Bessie had been very industrious
all summer, helping her aunt with
all her w;rk, and ut odd times she
would do little jobs of needlework
for the busy mothers, or sometimes
she would bake cakes for them when
they could not find time; and they
always paid her we'll, for she did her
work we'll. Aunt Nancy had given
her the motto, "What is worth do
ing at all i, worth doing WE'LL" and
she had tried to follow it.
Now, to-day YVES the first of
September, and all arrangements
had been made for her to begin her
lessons this week. Early that
morning she had gone to the post
office for the mail, and was handed
letter for her aunt, postmarked
Boston" ard her curiosity was
greatly aroused to know from whom
it could be, and the nature Of its
contents; but when she reached
home she found her aunt on the bed
suffering intensely from a spralned
ankle, the accident having occurred
during Bessie's absence. She had no
idea what to do for her, so went as
fast as she could for the doctor.
When he had examined it, he told
Miss Freeman it would be long
time before she could walk on it
again, as it was very bad sprain.
When he had gone, she called
Bessie and told her what he said,
and that now she would be obliged
to have a servant, for she would need
some one to wait on her, and could
not think of keeping her out of
school, though the music ! ssons
would have to be given up for the
present.
SO this was the cause of tSessie's
woeful face, as she sat on me front
doorstep thinking of it alE She put
her hand into her p1tket for her
handkerchief, and. there lay the
letter which she Rad forgotten all
about, She Jumped up and ran o
her aunt wui it. 1t proved to be
from her uncle, John Freeman, her
mothers AMI Aunt Nancy's ,ly
brother, and he wrote to say that he
and his wife and daughter Ethel
ha@been travelling, and were now on
tReir way home. As he hal not
seen his sister for so long, he could
not 90 back north without making
her q visit, 90 would bs there the
following Saturday. B ssie had
never sen them, aud it see'ord too
bad that they should b, c Mug just
when Aunt Nancy was Grip pied
and she would have to be hoas,-
keeper.
However, che went. about her
task with ss cheerful a face a, she
could, and did not m.ntion her dis.
appointment again; for she knew
her aunt was as sorry almost, as she
herself was. Aunt Nancy told her
that she would have t. wait until
after the visitors left before enter.
ing school.
Saturday morning dawned bright
and clear. Bessie was up early,
hurrying about with broom and
dust putting evsryth'n : to rights,