The sea coast echo., 1902-11-01


very glad to be Independent"
There was some scorn in her tone,
but the naughty lady who listened did
not perceive 1t; and meanwhile Bes-
sic was saying to herself
Roy King has moi written. II he
was not in earnest, ana was only flirt-
ing with the little poor relation of the
house, | shall be glad to get away"
AS she packed her trunk few tears
fell upon its slender contents 1t seem
so hard to think that no one loved
her, that they were glad to get rid
OF her, but she went away next morn.
ing cbeerfully.
Il sat up nearly all night to finish
your lace cape, Regina" she said on
parting from her cousin. II hope
you'll like 1t, and IL any letters come
for me please send them to Madame
Fleure."
She noticed that neither of them
asked her to call.
They are ashamed of their poor
relation" she sighed, never dreaming
that Regina could be jealous of her
Regina, whom she thought so stylish
and beautiful.
How Regina laughed to herself at
the request Bessie had made about
letters, and how charmingly Mrs.
Ramsen received Roy King on Thurs
day.
Bessie had gone home" she said,
ito her native village, you know.
fancy there is a romantic attraction
there-some nice young farmer, be-
lieve."
And Roy King listened and believed.
He was very much in love with Bessie,
but as he walked away he strove to
conquer the feeling. Bessie had given
him to understand that sh3 could not
like him. he thought and had told her
aunt to let him know why.
For a few weeks he went nowhere,
looked at the moon and sighed Then
he began to call at the Ramsen's
again.
Meanwhile, Bessie worked hard,
cried little at night, and of course
received no letters.
who will be an angel and stay
leetle late to ripe this robe?" Madame
Fleurs asked, one evening; at is to
be made over with velvet. All. how
| dctest to make over. But Miss Ram.
sen is good customer, and when she
get married as suppose to Meestaire
King, zen | have her work. II is poll.
tic to oblige one who will be rich. You,
Miss Bessie, you will be so amiablo
to stay"
"Oh, yes" replied Bessie. She sigh.
ed as she took her cousins dress in
her hands.
So she was to be married to Roy.
Well happiness was given to some
people, sorrow to others. 1t was Gods
will.
How well she remembered that
robe. Regina had worn it that happy
day when shc-Bessie, ran to the box
often, hoping to find letter from
Roy. What dream II all seemed.
She thought Of it as She sat alone in
the work room, shipping the stitches
A letter never came, never would
come now, and suddenly, as though
fairy-tales were true, there lay n let
ter in her lap.
The dainty envelope she had dream
cd Of, her name in Roys hand, his
seal upon It.
Am | crazy?" she cried. Then she
recognized the fact that the envelope
had fallen from the pocket of Regina s
dress, and that 1t had been opened,
and trembling with excitement, she
read it through, kissed it and hid 1t
| in her bosom.
How cruel of her!" she sobbed.
She had it in her pocket when pass
ed her on the stairs; know 1t now,
but Satan has deserted her, and she
has left 1t here for me to find And
at last | can right myself with Roy"
1t was hard to sit still and rip Re
glna's dress after that. But she did
it, and only when her task was done
did she sit down to answer that letter.
She told Roy nothing of Rcgina's
conduct, and only said that she wished
to explain that by accident she had
only received his note that day.
But Roy understood the situation.
And so, in a few hours, he was at her
/ side whispering words that made her
very happy.
And before many weeks were over,
Regina, opening a delicate envelope
that had just been dropped into the
post box, uttered n loud, angry cry,
and tossed the cards that it contained
toward her mother.
Impossible! Roy King and Bessie
Benton!" the other lady cried, But
what is this written below the names?"
She put up her eye-glass and read
aloud:
The letter that she watched for
came at last. Family Story Paper.