The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-06
Bessie's Mystery

| seen Yer SWecleF IMAM WNeu now amen
the room she shot glances barbed viii
poison feather-shafted deep with
gloom, Hide and seek her dimple!
ianclng, peekaboo her darting eyes
shook the spirit Of her lover. like Z
cyclone made OF signs.
What's the matter Bessie Owens p
he demanded, daft with pain Whats
the matter, Bessie owens" had worn
to weird refrain. She had answered
with a lutter OF her handkerchief OF
| silk, diving into it her features, like a
swan dives into milk Mattered never,
| never, never what he did or thought
| IT said, II he ever came a-near her,
| promptly she turned away her head.
All the sweet road through the wood
land on the way to Host Maroon s,
| she'd her white face turned to heaven,
| as If seeking stray balloons Or she'd
stare Ger her left shoulder at the
firehies in the musk, or at bmnder-
headed beetles humping daftly through
the dusk. She who once had laved her
spirit in his spirits inner deeps,
turned her gaze from his souls win
dows. taking not the smallest peeps.
"Oh, my cousin, shallow hearted,
quoted he from Locksley Hall IT'S
poem Bessie worshlps. but sne shud-
dered that was all Tell me, tell me,
Bessie Owens, look at me and tell me
true, has some fatal word been uttered
Shrugged her shoulders like a French
man; but she uttered not a word: and
no sign or token told him what the
shoulder shrug inferred Then he
tried to be facetious; told the driving
horse that Bess was a riddle he would
give bag OF oats to guess Can you
guess herr then the pony whinnied
high carol gay. DO you notice"
poor Jack murmured, "he has prompt-
ly answered Neigh" But the maiden
never Uttered; like Egyptian Sphynx
sat she, while POOR Jack in falling ca
denee whispered: That's d horse ON
me-"
Then he thought his sudden sum
L. !
needed explanation, and he sought 10 |
set the matter right This Maroon !
surprise was got up very late this |
afternoon. Twas remem bered they |
were welded on the 21st of June. Was |
no time for preparation; so !
found twas up TO me, TO either go
without you, or TO drive round after
ca. Talk To me; for women talk
more Gu this day than any other. It's
he longest, Bessie owen, ask your IA
her, ask your mother"
But she got her from the buggy at
he door OF The Maroons, silent as the
pect.al burglar when he "burgles"
lfter spoons. Twas the same when
irving homeward; sat she with her
,ack askew, while the dark abyss be-
ween them yawned the deeper, wider
rev. Poor Jack made some futile ef-
ort tc perk up and prattle gay: twas
Ike laughter in a graveyard twas
Ike grinning when We pray So at
asst, IN feebler spasms, as we've seen
reen-appled kids suCcumb TO pare
oric, straighten out ana close their
Ids, so Jack reached spasmodic ST.
ance, and, with eyes suffused with
ears, sat and stared at startled Night
line, and his horses webbing ears.
"Oh, my heart is breaking, Bessie"
aid he as he helped her light, to her
oiled back hair he said il, coiled SO
Ian lrls a ssF1tr a.
lie, taCing backwards you've undone
oar iyesses' pins, and a miscue on
he .eloer made you scrape your shape
y shirs." Haughtily she lowered
nd heightened. like an empress DER
slave; "shins are plebeian. they are
no true ladies ever have"
Then a shrek hysteric, haunting.
cared the owls and bats: she fell,
rughing, crying like a spirit half in
alf in he'll "Jack!" she cried. "ayant.
ont aid me, keep your distance: tell
must. or my heart will burst and
lay me, knowing OF your love and
'ust Jack Adair, come not anieh me,
N unfit fof your true arms,'
Another ] will slay him" said
dalr with vague alarms. Tell me.
essie tell me truly, has another won
our heart? Though il kills me. then
lrevgr here beneath the trees We
art Trees whose leaves have whis-
-rei Ger rs, million voiced. about our
we. while like echoes OF our passion,
'bbei the Furnished turtle dove.
Nay 10y nay soul I swear d.. none
5urps your image thcre,' and. with
and on heart she stood there. in The
titude ot prayer.
Then by the great horned spoon
lat led MahJmet. said poor Jack, {
fou've the swiichkeys. please 10 shunt .
e On the right aud proper track.
ink The syllabies explaining from The
nk go the oab1ose," and the railroad \
an stood waiting. staring at The H. ,
e goose
Well. yoI came just after supper,
sex nee ted. dearest Jack Keep away, y
w. or lll have To switch yOu ON an {
her track And -and-Td been eat /:
X onions, oh. I'm glad It's ont. It's
lroiehi"
I'D rot known %. whispered Jack,
len. IA been eating onions. too Z
srer. fis.. ef.r