Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-20
BESSIE.

brought her two boys to the country
for the summer. Il wouldn't let Hal
and Felix associate with her on any
account, If I were you. There's no
good in any Of those Ravens-a vile,
low set.'
Mrs. Enfield looked pityingly at the
brown-faced, bare-legged little gypsy,
who had SUNK around the back door,
a basket of late luscious blackberr!es
on her arm, and the deep flush that be-
tokened how plainly she had overheard
Mrs. Liddington's careless words, still
dyeing her cheeks.
only Bessie Raven!" How often
she had heard that phrase. How Bit
ter a meaning did it all convey to her
ears.
There are no trout there! You
might throw q bait and wait a year.
and you wouldn't get bite!'
1t was deep. solitary rayine, where.
IN attitudes of intense eagerness, Hal
Enfield and his brother Felix were
holding their fishing rods, awaiting the
expected bite, while Bessie Ravens
brown face and big, black eyes, looked
out at them from a natural oval frame
OF bushes and vines, as she held her
basket IN onG hand and her tattered
sun bonnet in the other.
Hal Enfield, a self-suffcient little
RI istocrat, by nature as we'll as by ed
ucatton, drew himself haughtily up.
Il don't know that we asked any in
formation from you," said he, hauehti-
ly. Have the goodness to be about
your business"
Il WON'T" retorted Bessie Raven.
with an ominous flash in her dark eyes.
IT'S free country, amt it? And I've
as much right here as you have!"
Very WE'LL said Hal, rising and
gathering together his tackle. ''Ill go,
then. Come, Felix"
But Felix, the younger brother. had
no idea Of leaving his cool, shady nook.
for whim of Halls.
Hal stalked away in high dudeeon:
Felix remained behind to cultivate the
acquaintance OF Bessie Raven.
III there are no trout here" said he
composedly cycling the brown gypsy
face among the leaves, where do thew
hide?"
iii show YOU" said Bessie, with
alacrity. Just piece further on.
There's lots Of 'em--only everybody
don't know it. Come on"
And the two children spent long
summers morning together under the
green trees
Until just as Felix Enfield was turn
ing to go home, half apprehensive that
he had missed the farmhouse dinner.
he did not perceive that the little gold
cross he wore attached to his watch
chain was gone
"Oh!" cried he, where is my"
He stopped abruptly. For In to- .ery
moment in which he spoke, he per-
ceived ha,f-hidden in the folds of the
bosom OF Bessie's tattered dress. the
CLEAN Of some golden ornament. In
voluntarily he caught at lit was his
own
You little thief" cried he. you
must have stolen it,"
Bessie stood sullen and silent. her
eyes cast down, her bare feet impati-
emily patting the velvet grass below.
She could not deny it-she scorned
any attempt to justify herself.
Bessie" said the boy, slowly, what
made you do it? Don't you know
that it is wrong to steal?"
"Wrong!" cried out Bessie, passion
ately. why is it wrong? You are
rich and I'm poor! You've got every
thing. and I've got nothing! Why
shouldn't I help myself when I've got
the chance?"
Felix Enfield looked at her. Verily
there was more in her creed than he
had realized.
"I'll tell you why, Bessie" said he.
"At least, I'll tell you what I think
about it,"
So, In his boyish way, he unfolded
the philosophy Of meum and tuum.
Bessie Raven listened In surprise.
She had never been reasoned with be-
fore. No one had ever taken the trou.
BILE to explain matters and things in
general to her.
"Oh, Felix" she cried out, with a
great sob in her throat, Il see it all
now. But no one ever told me before.
And father was lost at sea. and mother
had US little ones to take care of, and
somehow everyone's hand was against
is, and we had to fight our way along,
10 got somehow not to care about
lnything."
Don't cry, Bessie" soothed the lad.
Don't fret, that's good girl! Here
AXE the gold cross and keep 1t. l don't
:are much for it."
SO they parted. At home Felix found
nat his father had come to take them
up into the mountains for few weeks
before they returned TO their city
aome-and so he never got the chance
10 tell Bessie Raven good-by.
Ten years afterward! Three and
twenty Is q dangerous age for f,irta-
lions. but Felix Enfield had never been