Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-01

Soon
mother had explained gently. They need
care, YOU know"
And Hugh had accepted the charge and
had always been his sisters guardian
When they grew up Hugh saw nothing in
other girls. Bess was his only consideration
Other girls were not SO good looking as his
sister. no one was such q good sport no one
fitted into his schemes Of enjoyment as she
dld. and no one could listen with such SYM
pathy and comfort with such words OF ad-
vice as Bess could The girl was almost as
genuinely wrapped up in her brother as he
was IN her, but she was mfschievous little
thing, and loved to tease him numerically.
And then had come the time when she had
met Franklin Lowry
After that things were different When
Hugh wanted Bess to go out with him she
was going out with Franklin. When Hugh
needed Bess to talk to- Franklin had just
taken her out to show her his newest car.
Hugh often wondered what Bess saw in the
man. Not that he wasn't good fellow, but
perfectly commonplace, and no more able to
give his sister a good time than he was
himself
Finally the time had come when Bess con.
fessed to Hugh that she was going to marry
FRANKLIN How we'll he remembered that
night She had crcpt into his room and had
curied up on the foot OF his bed.
Not that III ever forget you. Hugh" she
whispered, "but Franklin needs me- and I
do love him so much"
And Hugh swallowed up his own sense Of
jealousy and told her how glad he was.
Afterward 1t had been all preparation for
the wedding. and Bess was almost a stran-
ger to him. There had been times though
when She had stolen away to be with her
brother. and Hugh with the knowledge that
she would be home for just a short while,
counted the moments as precious.
Then had come the day OF the wedding.
How wildly 1t all came up before him. The
crowded rooms. the smell Of flowers the
murmur of the people, and then the hush as
Bess came down the wide staircase in her
shining bridal white. How lovely she had
looked and how good. God had never made
SC fair thing.
Hugh had smiled and laughed with sob
in his throat. OF course things couldn't be
the same now. but he must never let Bess
see that he felt different Bess had paused
on the stairway and had thrown her bouquet
backwards TO the bridesmaids who clustered
at the foot OF the stairs, and then she had
run joyously upstairs. Hugh remembered
the look of rapture on her face; 1t was al
most startling.
Bcss was joyous thing filed with the
urge OF life. Her happiness in her love for
FRANKLIN Lowry was almost overpowering to
her. She could not realize how such a Joy
had come into her life, how she had hap
pened to deserve such happiness It all
came over her as she rushed into the bed
room where maid was waiting to help her
into her travelling suit. On the bed lay her
pretty things. the going away suit. and the
little hat the pretty new travelling bag
filled with silver that had been present
from Hugh. Boss looked around for mo-
ment. and then 4 sudden mood of cxultation
came over her. Here on the threshold OF
l. - +,
thank God for her joy.
"You may go out for moment, Ninette "
she said softly. II will call you when I
need you l want to be alone"
The maid smiled and went out. She was
French and knew how the young lady felt
All, how wonderful 1t was to be married to
the man you loved.
And then had come the time for waiting
for Bess to come down. Hugh remembered
shaking hands with Franklin and telling him
to watch over Bess.
Upstairs Bess knelt for moment on the
hearth rug and clasped her hands while she
murmured few words of prayer Her long
net veil blow out softly In the draft from the
open window. and the next minute the flilnsy
material had caught and before the girl
knew it she was wrapped in flames.
Downstairs the rooms were filed with Cos
siping people. upstairs young girl was
struggling for her life. She screamed once,
and Hugh never forgot his mad rush I'D the
stairs and his effort to get into Bess's room.
The door seemed to stick. but he pushed 1t
In finally. On the floor lay blackened
rigure. ominously still and quiet Hugh
picked her up in his arms and carried her
to the he'd. One side Of her face had been
burned away. and he shuddered horribly
Then she opened her eyes and they were
filed with agony.
81 was praying" she gasped, "for joy. you
know. and my veil caught, and" there
was Il pause and her head dropped back
She was dead
Hugh on his knees, his face buried in the
bed clothes, was oblivious to everything.
He stood up finally and looked down at the
twisted, blackened thing on the bed. Then
as he looked around him fiercely he encoun.
tered the calm gaze OF the minister. Its
placid countenance seemed to say:
God knows BEST" as no placed his hand
comfortingly on Hugh's arm.
Hugh flung him off violently.
God" he shrieked out; "God-there Is no
Cod" And with hands thrown up over his
eyes he flung himself from the room.
Afterward had come days when he had no
care for anything except to leave far behind
him the scenes that were so hateful to him.
The horrible affair had embittered him. He
had given up his home and his family and
9 had wandered over the world seeking relief,