Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-03-25
BESSIE.

mad brought her TWO boys 10 Tue cum
try for the summer. Il wouldn't let
Hal and Felix associate with her ON
any account. If l 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 skunk around the back door,
a basket of late luscious blackberries
on her arm. and the deep flush that
betokened how plainly she had over
heard Mrs. Liddington's careless
words. stiI dyeing her chicks.
Only Bessie Raven" How often
she had heard that phrase. How bit
Ter meaning did it convey to her ears.
There are 10 trout there: You
might throw bait and wait year.
and you wouldn't get bite:
1t was a deep. solitary ravine. 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 one hand and her tattered
sun bonnet in the other.
Hal Enfield. Il selfsufficient little
ar!stocrat. by nature AS well as by edu-
cation. drew himself haughtily up.
Il don't know that We asked any in
formation from YOU" said he, haugh-
tily. Have the goodness to be about
your business
II won't" retorted Bessie Raven.
with an ominous Hash in her dark eyes.
Its free country. amt It? And I've
as much right here as you have"
Very WELL" said Hal. rising aud
gathering together his tackle. Ill go.
then. Come. Felix
But Felix. the younger brother. had
no idea Of lea wing his cool. shady nook.
for within Of HATS.
Hal stalked away in high dudgeon.
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 they
hideI"
I'll 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 a long
summers morning together under the
green trees.
Until just as Felix Enfield was turn.
ing to go home. half appreheusive 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 the very
moment In which he spoke. he Der.
ceived haif-hidden in the folds of the
bosom Of Bessie's tattered dress. the
CLEAN OF some golden ornament. In
voluntarily he caught at tit 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 imn,.
tiently patung the velvety grass below.
She could not deny it-she scorned any
attempt to justify herself.
Bessie" said the boy slowly. "whst
made you do It? Don't you know thar
1t Is wrong to steal?"
"Wrong!" cried out Bessie, passion.
ately. why IL 1t 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 chanceT
Felix Enfield looked at her. Verify
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 l think
about It,"
SO. in his boy!sh way. he unfolded
the philosophy Of meum and tuum.
Bessie Raven listened IN surprise
She had never been reasoned with lr.
Tore. No one had ever taken the iron.
Die TO explain matters and things in
! general TO her.
"Oh. Felix" she cried out, with ,
great sob tn her throat. Il see It ali
now. But no one ever told me before
And father was lost At sea, aud mo,he,
had US little ones to take care of. and
somehow everyone's hand was against
US. and we had to hght our way along
SO l got somehow not to care abou,
anything"
Don't cry. Bessie" soothed the lad
Don't fret. that's a good girl. Here
take the gold cross and keep it. dom,
care much for it,"
SO they parted. At home Felix found
that his father had come 10 take then,
up into the mountains for few week
before they returned to their CITY boms
and so he never got the chance to toll
Bessie Raven sood-by.
len years afterward. Three and
lfsWenty 10 . dangerous age for air,..