Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-09-06
BesSie'S Mystery

What on earth can all my Bessie?"
was al a surprise party; he stood
| staring by the stair Never had he
l zen her sweeter than when now anezt
The room she shot glanees barbed VII
| poison. feather-shafted deep with
| gloom. Hide and seek her dimples
lencing, peek-a-boo her darting eyes,
l shook the spirit of her lover. like
cyclone made of signs.
| whats the matter, Bessie Owens ?"
Do demanded. daft with pain What's
he matter, Bessie Owens" had worn
| o a weird refrain. She had answered
| with a futter of her handkerchief of
1 silk, diving into 1t her features, like
| swan dives into milk. Mattered never,
never, never what he did or thought
or said. il 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 MaroHn'S,
4 she'd her white face turned to r-eaven
/ as if seeking stray balloons. Or she'd
stare DER her left shoulder at the
ireflies IN the musk, or at blunder-
headed beetles humping daftly through
the Gdsk. She who once had laved her
spirit in his spirits inner deeps.
turned her gaze rrom his souls win
dows, taking not the smallest peeps.
"Oh, my cousin, shallow-hearted,"
quoted he fyom Locksley Hall. 'Tis
a poem Bessie worships; but she 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 French
man; but she uttered not word; and
no sign or token told him what the
| shoulder shrug inferred. Then he
tried 10 be faeetious; told the driving
horse that Bess was 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
dence whispered: That's a horse On
me-"
Then he thought his 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 2lst of June. Was
no time for preparation; so !
found twas up TO me, to either so
without you, or to drive round after
tea. Talk to me; for women talk
| more Oh this day than any other. IT'S
the longest, Bessie Owen, ask your IA
Their, 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 askew, While the dark abyss be-
/ tween them yawned the deeper, wider
grew. Poor Jack made some futile ef-
ort tc perk up and prattle gay; twas
IKE laughter in graveyard, twas
like grinning wnen We pray. So al
last, in feebler spasms, as we've seen
| green-appled kids succumb to pare
goric, straighten out and close their
l lids, so Jack reached spasmodic ST.
ience, and. with eyes suffused with
| tears, sat aud stared at startled Night
| time, and his horses webbing ears.
"Oh, my heart is breaking, Bessie,"
| said he as he helped her light, TO her
| ooiled back hair he said it, coiled so
silent, dark aud tight Look out, Bes-
sic, haolag backwards you've undone
] your tresses' aisls, and a miscue CD
| the fender made you scrape your shape
ly Sims" Haughuiy she lowered
| and heightened, like an empress o'el
slave; "shins are plebeian, they ale
| something no true ladies ever have"
Then a Shrek hysteric, haunting,
| scared the owls and bats; she fell,
| laughing, crying like spirit half in
half in hell. "Jack!" she cried, "avant,
don't aid me, keep your distance; tell
must, or my heart will burst and
1 slay me, knowing of your love and
| trust. Jack Adair, come not anigh me,
I'm unfit for your true arms!"
Another! I will Stay him." said
Adalr, with vague alarms. Tell me,
| Bessie. tell me truly, has another Won
your heart? Though it kills me, then
| forever here beneath the trees we
| part. Trees whose leaves have wills
| pered Ger us, million voiced, about our
| love, While like echoes of our passion,
sobbed the FURNISHED. turtle dove"
Nay, by my soul l swear it, none
nsurps 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,
I you've the switehkeys, please to shunt
me on the right and proper track.
Link the syllables explaining from ne
| tank TO the caboose!" ard the m Tread
man stood waiting, staring at the lit