The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-16
BRssIE's 8 MINER.

Auu ~, SAASJ OuIy IWO VI JOu Cnu
go to Newport with me. 1 am sorry,
but cannot help it my purse is not
that of Fortunates, and already I can
see the end of it. Marguerite and
Ada will of course accompany me,
but don't know what in the world
to do with Bessie /"
Mrs. Ferris sighed deeply, ,as though
her troubles were more than she could
bear.
"I will accept Aunt Hepsy' invita-.
tion, mamma p observed Bessie, a
brown haired, quiet looking girl.
Her mother arched her eyebrows
in astonishment.
go away off to that lonely place !"
she cried. "That is just like you,
Bessie. You have no regard for my
feelings at all. I"
''But, mamma" she demonstrated,
"you cannot afford to take me with
the other girls to Newport, and to tell
the truth, don't care to go; there is
poor old Aunt Hepsy, away in her
lonely home among the mountains,
writing such pitifu1 appeal for one
of her three nieces to pass few weeks
with her. shall have to 60 some
where, or remain alone at home.
Besides, at Aunt Hepsy's I shall not
require single new dress.
"True. Well, my dear, go if you
wish. I will send a dispatch to your
aunt at once, that she may expect
you and I will have your ticket pur
chased that you may start tomorrow.
81 will go at once and pack my
trunk p cried Bessie, animatedly.
II tell you girls, had rather go
among those grand, beautiful noun,
tains, though it is little lonely, than
to wear my life and patience out at
Newport.
Ada shrugged her shoulders
claimed.
Marguerite smiled derisively.
Bessie ran off to her own room to
pack her trunk, and saw nothing of
this expression of sentiment on the
part of her elder sister.
She started the next morning,
reaching the little country town,
nestled amid the green heart Of the
mountains before dusk.
Her aunt's carriage was awaiting
her, and an hours drive brought her
to the huge, old-fashioned country
house, all turrets and gables, where
Hepsy Ferrish, her dead fathers only
sister, an old maid of perhaps so, had
lived for so years.
She wasla little. yellow old woman,
very sarcastic and disagreeable, some
people thought, but she had heart,
a great, warm heart, and Bessie soon
found the way to it.
Aunt Hepsy unbent wonderfully
during the next few days, and al
though the great house was unoccu-
pied, save by herself and two SER
wants, Sally, the housekeeper and
maid, and Jenkins, the general facto-
tum, somehow Bessie had no time to
feel lonely.
Her aunt beguiled the hours with
pleasant conversation there was a
fine piano and plenty of books; then
there were the great grounds to stroll
In, and the pony phaeton with a pair
of high stepping bays. Bessie and
her aunt took long drives together,
and ere she had been there a week
Bessie was perfectly contented and
happy.
A few days after her arrival, Aunt
Hepsy showed her niece the big iron
safe in her sleeping apartment, and
stored away therein, out of sight OF
possible burglars, magnificent SET
of diamonds worth a small fortune,
and great pile of crisp green bank
notes.
care you not afraid to keep such
vaiuables in the house, auntie 2
queried Bessie. In such All out.of'
the-way place I should consider II
dangerous.
Possibly" returned Aunt Hepsy
"But I have great alarm bell in the
tower, and a strong wire connects il
with the bell rope in my room.
In case of danger I would ring the
bell, and DR.. Foster, who lives per
haps half a mile away, our only
neighbor, would come at once, or il
case of his absence from home, som'
of his family would hasten to my re
lief. They are very dear friends o
mine; and-look, Bessie! there il
the doctor now !"
He was gray haired, kind.facet
old man, in whose society they pass
ed pleasant hour.
When he had gone Bessie went III
to her own room. On the way up
stairs she was startled by seeing tn
face of a strange man peering Il
through a side window, lurking il
the vicinity of her aunt's chamber
Bessie's heart beat fast with terror
Suppose it was a thief who woul
hang about till night should come
and then enter the house to rob Aun
Hepsy's safe.
! Bessie kept her own counsel, no
wishing to, perhaps needlessly, alarr
her aunt but when night came
black as Erebus, she determined I
sit up and watch. In the library SD
had discovered a loaded revolver, an
when she went to her own room SD
carried it with her.