The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-01
ANOTHER MAN.

q gray sky above and muddy roads
underfoot The wind tore unsteadily
between the trees and out across the
square. a cold damp wind bringing
with II heavy splashes of rain.
Under one of the trees in the square
close against the railings stood
man and girl.
The girl looked poor and illclad,
with white thin face that had in 1t
q look almost of desperation.
The man was tall and strong and
well dressed, with an eager, keen-cut
face, and he held out his hands as he
looked into the girls eyes.
"If you only would, Bessie" he
cried. I'm we'll off, could take
care Of you and | would-you know
that. I'd give you my life
Bessie drew away, but she smiled
mp at him.
"Yes, know, Tom, she said softly.
"and IL | hadn't promised George"
Tom took sudden step forward
"Is It only because you promisedT
be cried eagerly "Is it only because
you think it's your duty to go to
George that you won't marry me? My
goodness, Bessie, you're not going to
marry him just because you said you
would are you?"
"No. no, but | must go out to him"
she said He wants me. If I'd had
the money | should have started two
months ago. | promised him I'd go
directly he sent for me. Oh, it seems
1pp INN Tom sinpn hp
went It's a year, but it seems much
longer and father hadn't died then,
and-and-'
Tom Standish looked down at her
A year ago she had not been the
poor girl she was now. In twelve
short months many changes had taken
place. She had become poor, he had
grown rich. Her father was dead
and George Fleming, to whom she
had been engaged, was out in Aus
tralia trying to make a living so that
she could go out to him.
Eighteen months before Tom Stand
ish and George Fleming had both
been in love with Bessie Leigh. In
those days her father was supposed
to be a rich man, and somehow, while
Tom hesitated at the thought of pro-
posing to her while he was poor,
George had stepped in and won, much
against her fathers wish. A few
months later he had gone out to Aus
tralia, and a short time after that
Bessie's father died suddenly leaving
her, not rich, as every one expected,
but absolutely and terribly poor.
She would have been utterly adrift
if it had not been for Tom Standish,
and he managed somehow to get for
her post as nursery governess to
some people he knew. If it had not
been for that she might have starved
She had been in the situation for two
months-t was only three since her
father died-and her sole thought
now was to get ont to Australia to
George, who had begged her to go to
him as soon As she could.
That letter was the last she had re-
ceived from him. 1t was long let
ter, full of what he was going to do
and somehow it filled Tom Standish
with distrust.
You haven't heard again, j sup
pose?' he asked.
Bessie iinched little.
NO" she said; Il haven't heard
out I've written telling him what
boat I am going by and-and the date
and all about it, so that | shall prob
ably get letter in a day or two
There's a mail on Wednesday,"
''But supposing you don't hearT'
Tom cried abruptly.
Bessie lifted her head bravely
81 shall go whether | hear or not"
she said steadily.
Tom looked down at her hungrily
Il only she had given such faith to
lim. If only he had been the man
who was waiting for her out in Aus
.ralia.
His brow darkened little as he re-
nembered and doubted. For two
months the man whose wife she was
:oing to be had not written. 1t was
outrageous to Tom and full Of ugly
possibilities. He remembered that
Then George had sailed Bessie's
ather had been alive and-it was
,npposed-rich, and it could have
,een only within the last three
iaonths that he had heard that he was
,ot. Could that account for his si-
ence, Tom wondered? Could the
toor Bessie Leigh who was working
o hard for her living be a different
,erson to George Fleming because Of
Z?
Almost unconsciously Toms fingers
lenched
''But, Bessie" he cried, you can't
20 unless-you know-unless he
;nows and expects you"
Bessie lifted her head There we're
udden tears in her eyes. He could
aot see them in the dark night, but
1e could see how white her face was.
"lle will expect me-" she said quiet
y, "and even if | don't hear / shall
90"
Tom stared al her
BESSIE, Bessie" he cried suddenly.