The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-07-24
BGSSie'S Mystery

What on earth can ell my Bessie?"
mourned the heart Of Jack Adair It
was at surprise party; he stood
staring by the stair Never had he
seen her sweeter thar when now aLent
the room she shot glanoes barbed with
poison. feaiher-shafted deep wiIh
gloom. Hide and seek her 5imples
dancing, peek.e-boo her tsrtnr cy-c
SHOOK -..y spifit OF her lover, like a
cyclone made of s,sks.
What's the matter, Bessie owens 2"
he demanded, daft with pain Whats
the matter. Bessie owens" had worn
to a weird refrain She had answered
with a futter OF her handkerchief of
silk, diving into Il her features, like a
swan dives into milk. Mattered never,
never. never what he did or thought
or 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 II seeking stray balloons. Or she'd
stare DER her left shoulder at the
hrefiies in the musk, or at blunder-
headed beetles humping daftly through
the duck. 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. 'Tis
poem Bessie worships 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
that has poisoned me for your"
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 riddle he would
give q 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 "Neighl" But the maiden
never Uttered; Ike Egyptian sphynx
sat she, while Toor Jack in falling ca
dence whispered: That's horse on
me"
Then he thought bis sudden sum-
mons for her company that night.
needed explanation, and he sought to
set the matter right This Maroon
surprise was got up very late this
afternoon. Twas remembered they
were welded on the 21st Of June Was
no time for preparation; 50
found twas up TO me- to either go
without you, or to drive round after
tea. Talk to me; for women talk
more Oh this day than any other Tis
the longest, Bessie owen, ask your fa-
ther, ask your mother"
But she got her from the buggy at
the door OF the Maroons, silent as the
spectral burglar when he "burgles"
after spoons. Twas the same when
driving homeward; sat she with her
back aHkew, while the dark abyss be-
tween them yawned the deeper, wider
grew. Poor Jack made some futile ef-
fort to perk up and prattle gay; twas
like laughter in graveyard, twas
like grinning when We pray. So at
last, in feebler spasms, as we've seen
green-appled kids succumb to pare
goric. straighten out and close their
lids, so Jack reached spasmodio ST.
lence, and, with eyes suffused with
tears, sat and stared at startled Night
time, and his horses wobbIing ears.
"Oh, my heart is breaking, Bessie!"
said he as he helped her light, to her
coiIed back hair he said It. coiled so
silent, dark and tight. Look out Bes-
sic, baClng backwards you've undone
your tresses' pins, and a mlscue on
the fender made you scIape your shape-
ly shins" Haughtily she lowered
and heightened, like an empress DER
a slave; "shlns are plebeian, they are
something no true ladies ever have"
Then a .,hriek hysteric, haunting,
scared the owls and bats; sPe fell,
laughing. crying like a spirit half in
half in hell. "Jackl" she cried. "avant,
don't aid me, keep your distance; tell
| must. or my heart will burst and
slay me, knowing of your love and
trust. Jack Adair, come not anigh me,
| I'm unit for your true armsl"
Another ] will slay him" said
Adair, with vague alarms. Tell me,
Bessie, tell me truly, has another won
your heart? Though II kills me, then
/ forever. here beneath the trees we
/ part Trees whose leaves have whis-
I pered Ger us. million voiced. about our
/ love, while like echoes Of our passion,
sobbed the FURNISHED turtle dove"
Nay. by my soul I swear It. none
usurps your image there," and, with
hand on heart she stood there. In The
attitude Of prayer
Then by the great horned spoon
/ that fed Mahomet," said poor Jack
you've the swltchkeys. please 10 shunt
me on the right and proper track
/ Link the syllables explaining from the
tank to the caboosei" and the railroad
man stood waiting. staring at the lit
tie goose.
We'll you came just after supper
unexpected. dearest Jack Keep away
now, or III have 70 switch you on an
other track. trd-and I'd been eat
ing onionsl ca, I'm gle lrs out. irs
through"
"rd rot known IT, whispered Jack,
then. nd been eating caions. tool
/ Kansas City Star.
Necessary Preliminary.