Show n f f Bonnie Sweet Bessie i j m i J H-f H f c CONTINUED FROM PAGE I The real cause of Bess' Bess late pre pre- preoccupation preoccupation pre preoccupation occupation was the resultant of many different ones She and her mother had been in Chicago now over six years and during all that time had heard no word from their relatives in N New v e York True their nearest kin was a second cousin of Mrs Talbott but until just lately they had never received a line from tram him The nature of the letter was very strange too and all but romantic He informed IJ t- t a his cousin that people from the Old j 1 Country had been looking for one tone Mr Talbott or heirs of In Inverness Scotland who had come to this country about The c cousin thought it must refer to Mrs Talbotts Talbott's husband should husband should should he look the matter up They replied in inthe inthe inthe the affirmative and in course of time w were re informed that if they could arrange to come to New York for even a short time there was a possibility of their becoming becoming becoming be be- coming possessors of a sufficient sum sum sum- the proceeds of a legacy in Scotland to Mr Talbott Talbott- to Talbott to to keep them comfortably but as matters stood nothing could be bedone bedone done without them At any other time Bess would have been simply wild with rapture Here was at last the chance she had coveted all her life of having her voice cultivated and devoting all her time to music But as it was she did not care What was dearer to her now now her her desire to study music or the love she knew was washers washers washers hers for the dearest and b best st of mankind mankind mankind man man- kind She had argued with herself much and long before she would admit even to herself that she loved Jack Richards and even now sometimes the knowledge made her uneasy But she loved him that she knew with all the ardor of which her soul was capable Did he love her She knew not only this that he treated her as though he did To be he sure he never told her so hut then what need he do that Did not his every look and tone and action prove it better than words could Ittis useless to say that from the first Mrs was eager to go She had never cared very much for Chicago and now that she was growing old she was more than anxious to return to her native city In vain she remonstrated with Bess on the absurdity of her remaining here chasing a butterfly in vain she reminded her of the grand possibilities possibilities-be- be before fore her if she would but follow a a m musical sica care career r. r Strange what possess possessed d the 4 girl anyway that she should act so unlike unlike un un- like her herself And Andis is it strange after all She was content content- to be merely passive until Jack should declare his love for her herto hert t to th the world then she would tell him of 1 her good fortune and together they would go to to Scotland settle matters there and she at la last t receive the reward of her long and faithful struggles Beyond Beyond Be Be- yond that she cared not she thought not she loved and the fervor of her love consumed h her r every desire desire ambi ambi ambition r tion Jion pride everything t For months such things had been going on Bess passive yet happy Jack attentive part of the time once in a awhile awhile awhile while neglectful thoughtless so Bess put put- it and Mrs Talbott restless and eager to leave Chicago for good For a week eek past Bess had not riot seen Jack when one beautiful spring day ng from a noon stroll she was surprised to find him in the office looking as she thought rather strange Her face brightened brightened- and she went quickly up to him Why Jack where on earth have you been een lately Its It's ages since I saw you t Ages is a long word isn't it Not so but where have c very you your r been I say f Oh Oh- Ohno no place as usual By the way f B Bess ss Ive I've got a piece of news news- for you t 4 You'll be delighted Im I'm sure Truth is f you know well well hang er er hang it You Your r f see Bess Im I'm Im I'm-I'm Im I'm going to g got get t marri married mar mar- 1 ri ried d desperately I Petrified with with astonishment Bess stood before him Never a muscle t moved she she was simply stunned For a moment she was paralyzed as a result of her conflicting emotions she shewa wa was powerless to utter a sound and it seemed as though she was Avas being gradually gradually gradually ally borne horne away into oblivion Jack began to understand the awkwardness awkwardness awk awk- of his position and and- tried bravely to extricate himself j You see Bess ess the old ld man mail mall wanted r tt me to do it said I was getting reckless reckless reckless reck reck- less and that sort o 0 thing you know Besides hes he's always been stuck on that girl anyway and he told me if Id I'd marry her inside of six months hed he'd make me a present of a round thousand to start with So I came to the conclusion conclusion conclusion con con- I might just as well do it dont don't you think so Bess eh Bess-eh eh Excuse me me Mr Richards you must think I act but but I I I strange was somewhat surprised Believe me I wish you joy Her voice sounded inconceivably strained and harsh She extended one little white hand which he awkwardly grasped only to discover that it was as cold and tense as a hand of clay She raised her eyes to his seemed to gaze through him and with one in intense intense intense in- in tense look of feeling that could never be interpreted by his callous sensibilities passed up-stairs up to her work No song lightened the heavy atmosphere of the press r room Jom that afternoon and when N Nell ell carelessly sly remarked that t to tomorrow td- td morrow vas as Washington's birthday and she was going to dancing matinee for a change Bess seemed not to hear her Jack stood a a. a moment where she had left him II Whew 1 Im I'm glad its it's over But by love Jove ove I believe believe- she believe she did care a little bit anyhow Hang it all though a fellows fellow's got to keep up appearances you know And he sauntered lazily down the street to his club complacent in his thoughts of II having pleased the old man and getting a snug thousand to boot May Maybe be all very well to be romantic and all that sort of thing but a neat little sum like that is not to be sneezed at you know Besides the governor would have kicked like a mule had I mentioned such sucha a thing as Bess and hes he's tickled to death now You bet it pays to be obedi obedient nt and dutiful to your parents Sometime later his engagement to Miss Dorothea Porter a pretty daughter of one o 0 ti i Chicago's wealthiest brewers was an announced announced announced an an- and and on on the side side she she moved oved in the II upper upper set After returning home from work that eveni evening g Bess informed her mother that she would be willing to start for New NewYork NewYork NewYork York any time to morrow if possible The quick mother eye soon detected her strange demeanor but said nothing until after the evening meal when she asked the cause of the sudden change Gradually she drew from her daughter the scene we have witnessed and with witha Vitha a quick mother tact fell to discussing plans for their immediate departure Bess weary and worn-out worn retired early but no sleep came to soothe the aching brow that night Alone at last she unbent her indomitable will and released the bond she had held over her wounded feelings As the force of her sorrow sorow came upon her she wept passionately passionately passionately passion passion- and long until her poor frail body became too ext exL austed to respond to her hel emotions and she could only lay and moan And would you say that her heart was broken Why not at all That night witnessed the death and burial of f fone one womans woman's love never to be What little remained of it was buried deep in one of the inmost recesses recesses recesses re re- of her little heart where it remained remained remained re re- re- re safely tucked away from others other's eyes even those of her mother In a few days they had sold their furniture furniture furniture fur fur- the proceeds of which with their savings were enough to take them to New York Before leaving Bess w went went t tto to the printing office where she had witnessed witnessed witnessed wit wit- so many varied scenes and with calm seeming indifference bade hade goodby goodby goody good- good by y to her friends and work forever She was missed most by N Nell ell who was almost overcome by hy her sudden departure depart depart- ure and declared that the sun sun had ceased to shine and the birds to sing since Bess left Many were the ragged little urchins who now waited in vain for the sunny smiles miles sweet face and tender voice of their Bonny as fiS they had all loved to call her And what about Bess Did she care Who knows For three years year s she applied applied applied ap ap- plied hen elf to study with Vervin uns unswerving energy She had hut but one master art art but butone butone one passion passion music music and the story of Bess' Bess ife rom now on could be be told told by relating her advancement and success in inthe inthe inthe the study of music Her life henceforth was as one continual song but the one w which ich always seemed to suit her best was the sweet simple ballad of Bonnie Sweet Bessie 0 O God in in heaven let me go too And b b- b with my laddie so 0 gude gutte and true As th the tender strains died away away on one could almost imagine it bliss to be bew w wafted heavenward by such exquisite tones She had never been strong and the strain of her lif life soon began to tell o oher oti 0 her her lungs which were affected soon weakened in the unhealthy atmo atmosphere phere of New York Her death was as beautiful ful as had been her life While she was almost too feeble to talk her last conscious utterance was a song Weary of living so weary Longing Longin to lie down and die To find for the sad heart and dreary The end of f the pilgrimage nigh l Some few ye years rs afterward Nell Blake now Mrs Morris went to New York with her husband and while there she hunted up the grave of her idol of long ago Among the many tom tombstones and vaults aults of the famous in Greenwood Cemetery Cemetery Cem Cem- tery she found a plain white slab on which was en graven these words Bonnie Bonnie sweet sweet Bessie the maid o 0 Dundee i Eudora |