The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-05-18

eyes an expression OF offended purity.
| OF outraged womanhood. which ef-
fectuaily auelied him.
Nothing can be said against my
good name. I do not need to shelter u
behind q dishonored shield of a breaker
OF vows and a bully
Without another word she turned and
| left him.
In fury he cried ms she went:
You will he sorry for this tomor-
| row"
That evening important business
took John Tn town. and Edith and Mrs.
| Pagct were once more In dire perplcx-
lily a. to the course their curious case
| or true love" was running.
| Ncilie's spirits rose high. she felt the
| relief OF Johns absence. and she gave
herself up to the pleasure OF being
alone with Sydney once more.
Al times Johns threat returned to
her mind. but she paid little heed To ~.
| 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 horrible feeling that.
after all. the girl whom he now found
he had grown tn love NO dearly was not
quite acting as she should. surely " IL
had been anyone else he would have
said she as flirting with him. and en-
| couraginE him to 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 I will stake my life that she
| In "a undetermined pure girl. whose
white soul has never been sulied by an
| unworthy thought or wish" Which
shows that he had done more than
| stake his life on his bclief--he had put
all his chance OF happiness on one
throw.
The morrow came and even as Mel
lie was turning over I'm her mind the
exact words In which to take ave OF
her hostess. a thunderboit fell In their
midst. The man-servant announced In
a loud tone:
"A young lady wishes To see the
Hon. Mrs. Pagct on urgent business.
She says her name In Miss Bessie
Smith. of Melbourne. and that she IL
expected"
There must b. some mistake. I
think. Please show the lady up.
James"
Mrs. Paget and Edith literally gasped
and glanced at Nellie. VINO stood look
Ing the picture Of guilt.
Mrs. Pagct was the first To recover
herself.
we have only your word for u.
Where are your proofs"
Proofs, Plenty az them. There"
And she banged down a packet of let
tcrS in Johns handwriting. There"
And she produced ring which Mrs.
Puget knew well as one she had given
John when lie came Of age.
Edith went forward tn Nellie
bessie Deny all this Say you are
really Bessie Smith. and this woman
the impoStor"
Hut 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" Aud hundred other questions
were showcrei on Nellie as she stood
bewildered. and this Was the scene TO
which sydney entered and stood gag
ing at speeches.
"Syndey." said his mother. In dig
nificd wrath. I'VE have been grossly
deceived. This person Is not Miss
Smith. She II some impostor."
only one idea occurred To sydney.
Not Miss SMITH" he exclaimed.
turning . 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 u long moment 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 " she viii accept mc I shall deem
myself the most fortunate man on
earth"
sydney" exclaimed Edith. Are you
mad
This is prepostcrious." cried Mrs.
Paret. Il insist on an expla nation
Yes" said Miss Smith. whose tri-
umphant smile at the confession az the
impostor had changed To a look OF con-
stcrnntion 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 tn Mrs. Paget. said:
Forgive mel ann Nellie Seymour"
Nellie Seymour" the two ladies
gaspsd Ia unison.
why? Why? Whatever made you
call yourself Bessie SMITH"
Aud then Nellie explained the Who'll.
history of how she found she WAS be.
Ing taken for some unknown person.
and how. thinking 10 harm. she con-
tinucd the deception until IL grew
more and more difficult to get herself
buA VI Nfttll kuTnlNk Ao
Syndcy. the sparkle OF her dancing
eyes yelled In tender tears, she said:
Al any rate. l have learned the
worth OF one able heart. and have no
fear hut that I am loved for myself
All. Mrs i'sget!" Impulsively throwing
her arms round her. DO forgive me. I
shall be your daughter-in-law after all.
u you will have me
And what could Mrs. Pagct do ireal!
iying that after all her wish was ful.
filledD than kiss her and forgive her.
Meanwhile. Miss Smith was clamor.
ing to be told OF Johns wherca bouts.
No ono could cnlighten her. After some
trouble she was persuaded To depart
aud the family was left Ia make their
mutual explanations. In time they
grew To look on u as Joke. and al,
most To believe that they had seen
through u all the time.
The village was some Hl.at puzzled to
Ind that II WAS the eldest ana not the
youngest Mr.. Pagct who was Ia marry
the lady from Australia. and that the
lady was not from Australia after all.
but was the wealthy Miss Seymour.
out and ceased - interest.
Nellie made private arrangements
with her lawyers by which Miss Smith
was bought or and persuaded To re-
turn To Australia. She said Il WAS Ia
make up To John 1r disappointing him.
Business a Century Ago.