Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-18
smith. of Melbourne. and that she 10

Smith. Of Melbourne. and that she 10
expected"
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 have only your word for it.
Where are your proofs!
proofs. Plenty of them. THERE"
And she banged down packet Of let
tiers in Johns handwriting. There"
And she produced "A ring which Mrs.
Paget knew we'll as one she had given
John when he came Of age.
Edith went forward to Nellie.
Bessie. Deny all this. Say you are
really Bessie Smith. and this woman
the impostor.
But poor Nellie could only say:
she says truly. am not Bessie
Smith"
'Then who are you? Why have you
deceived uso Are you engaged to
John?" And hundred other questions
were showered on Nellie as she stood
bewildered. and this was the scene to
which Sydney entered and stood gaz-
ing at speeches
''Syndey" said his mother. In dig
nlfied wrath. we have been grossly
deceived This person Is not Miss
Smith. She is 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 long moment they gazed in one
another's eyes and read the truth.
Then sidney 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"
".'hls is preposterious. cried Mrs.
Pact II insist on an explanation
yes" said Miss Smith. whose tri-
umphant smile at the confession of the
imDostor had charged to a look Of con-
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 in unison.
why? Why? Whatever made you
call yourself Bessie Smith,"
And then Nellie explained the whole
history of how she found she was be-
ing taken for some unknown person,
and how. thinking / o harm, she con-
tinued the deception until it grew
more and more difficult to get herself
out of the tangle. and then turning to
Syndey. the sparkle of her dancing
eyes yelled I'm tender tears, she said:
AT any rate. l have learned the
worth of one cble heart. and have no
fear but that I am loved for myself.
All, Mrs. Paget," Impulsively throwing
her arms round her. "Do forgive me. l
shall be your daughter-in-law after all,
If you Will have me"
And what could Mrs. Paget do (real-
izing that after all her wish was full
filleD than kiss her and forgive her.
Meanwhile. Miss Smith was clamor-
ing to be told of Johns whereabouts.
No one could enlighten her. After some
trouble she was persuaded to depart,
and the family was left to make their
mutual explanations. In time they
grew to look on it as a Joke. and al
most to believe that they had seen
through it All the time.
The village was some Wat puzzled to
find that it was the eldest and 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 -.-as soon talked
out and ceased t. interest.
Nellie made private arrangements
with her lawyers by which Miss Smith
was bought off and persuaded to re-
turn to Australia. She said it was to
make up to John N disappointing him.