Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-05-19


good name. / do not need TO shelter il
behind a ~dishonored shield OF a breaker
of VOWS and a bully
Without another word she turned and
left him.
In a fury he cried as she went;
You will be sorry for this tomor-
row"
That evening important business
took John to town, and Edith n Mrs.
Paget We're once more i'm dire perplex-
ity as to the course their curious case
of true love" was running.
Nellie's spirits rose high, she felt the
relief of Johns absence. and she gave
herself up TO the pleasure OF being
alone with Sydney one more.
At times Johns threat returned to
her mind, but she paid little heed to il.
Tonight she would enjoy herself, to-
morrow she would announce the termi-
nation of her visit. and then either
write or explain. or come back in her
true character and beg forgiveness.
Poor sydney was divided between
rapture and a horrible feeling that,
after all. the girl whom he now found
he had grown to 10y so dearly was not
quite acting as h should, Surely II 1t
had been anyone else he would have
said she 'as flirting with him, and en-
~couraging him 10 love her. and that
such conduct in one who was pledged
to another was most reprehensible. He
paced his room for many hours that
night. and his inclusion was:
Mother may have been mistaken and
so may Edith. John may be telling
lies, but / will stake my life that she
is a undetermined pure girl. whose
white soul has never been suited by a n
unworthy thought or wish Which
shows that he had done more than
stake his life on his belier-he had put
all his chance OF happiness on one
throw.
The morrow came and even as Mel
lie was turning over in her mind the
exact words In which to take | ave of
her hostess, a thunderbolt fell in their
midst. The man-servant announced In
a loud tone:
"A young lady wishes to see the
Hon, Mrs. Paget On urgent business.
She say her name is Miss Bessie
Smith, of Melbourne, and that she Is
expected"
There must be some mistake. I
think. Please show the lady up,
James"
Mrs. Paget and Edith literally gasped
and glanced at Nellie, who stood look
ing the picture of guilt.
Mrs. Paget was the first to recover
herself.
I'VE nave only your word for 1t.
Where are your proofs
"Proofsi Plenty OF them. There"
And she banged DOWN a packet of let
ters in Johns handwriting. There"
And she produced n ring which Mrs.
Paget knew we'll as one she had given
John when ne came of age.
Edith went forward to Nellie.
Bessie Deny all this. Say you are
really Bessie Smith, and his woman
the impostor."
But poor Nellie could only say:
"She says truly. / am not Bessie
Smith"
Then who are you? Why have you
deceived us? Are you engaged to
John?" And a hundred other questions
We're showered on Nellie as she stood
bewildered. m this was the scene to
which Sydney entered and stood gaZ-
ing at speeches.
"Syndey!" said his mother. in dig
nifed wrath. I'VE have been grossly
deceived. This person is not Miss
Smith. She is some impostor.'
Only one idea ccurred to Sydney.
Not Miss SMITH" he exclaimed.
turning a radiant face to Nellie. Then
you are not engaged to John?"
NO" she replied, and then the room
was empty. and held only the two, as
for q long momen they gazed in one
another's eyes and read the truth.
Then sydney drew her hand through
his arm, and, turning to his mother,
said;
Whoever she may be, I love her,
and If she will accept me / shall deem
myself the most fortunate man on
earth"
Sydney exclaimed Edith. Are you
mad?"
"This is preposterious, cried Mrs.
Pa~et. II insist on an explanation"
Yes" said Miss Smith. whose tri-
umphant smile at the confession of the
/ fr,NnofAn bod rba sanra.I 70 n lNAly.a 80 aata
~sternation at the foregoing scene.
You had better prove yourself re-
spectacle or the police must be called
in
Nellie ignored this remark, and, turn
ing to Mrs. Paget. said:
Forgive mel am Nellie Seymour
Nellie Seymour" the two ladies
gasped i'm unison.
why? Why? Whatever made you
call yourself Bessie SMITH"
And thcf; Nellie explained the whole
history of how she found she was be-
ing taken for some unknown person,
and how, thinking 10 harm. she con-
tinued the deception until ii grew
more and more difficult TO get herself
out OF the tangle. and then turning TO
Syndey, the sparkle of her dancing
yes yelled in tender tears, she aid
A any rate, / have learned the
worth of one >ble heart, and have no
fear but that i am loved for myself
All, Mrs. Paget!" Impulsively throwing
her arms round her. do forgive me. /
shall be our daughter-in-law after all,
il you viii have me-"
And what could Mrs. Paget do (real-
izing that after all her wish was full.
filed h kiss her and forgive her.
Meanwhile. Miss Smith was claInor-
ing to be told of Johns whereabouts.
No II could enlighten her. After some
u she was persuaded to depart
and the family was left to max their
mutual explanations. In time they
grew to look on il as a joke, and al
most to believ that they had seen
through il all the time.
The village was somewhat puzzled to
find that ii was the eldest ana not the
youngest Mr.. Paget who was to marry
the lady from Australia, and that the
lady Was not from Australia after all,
but was the wealthy Miss Seymour.
However. the wonder a soon talked
out n ceased u interest.
Nellie made private arrangements
with her lawyers by which Miss Smith
was bought off and persuaded to re-
turn TO Australia. She said II WAS TO
make up To John Or disappointing him.