Bessie Bradford's Prize

ent occurrence, it was usually Maggie, when she was revolving in her mind some grand idea, either as the subject of a composition, or some of the schemes for bus

y tossing and uneasy until she thought the night must be almost gone. Then suddenly, as a bright thought c

led, "is it almo

radford, coming in, "it is only ha

ma," answered her little daughter. "I t

ainly time that you were asleep. Have you bee

e had a very nice thought which I believe will help that se

ther looked in again to see if she

all ready for school, and not seeing for the moment that any one

girls on their way to school, leave them at Miss Ashton's, and then proceed on his way down town. They always con

y have the pleasure of escorting two

from the other side of the room; and Bessie, turning, saw the tall form of her Uncle Ruthven st

"fifth wheel" could never be de trop; and she sprun

uncle," as Bessie had once called him, a wonderful hero, and the most entertaining of mortals. So Maggie was as well pleased as Bessie when she heard by wh

nd tried to keep him a little behind. Observing this, and rightly conjecturing that she had something to say to her father, Mr. Stanton

sister and uncle were out of hearing, "papa, you know that y

do so," answered her father. "You have been a dear, patient chi

ed that her daily lessons at school were sufficient for her without the extra labor which music lessons and practising would involve. This decision had been a disappointment to her

e, but throwing back her head to look up into his face with her clear

, I think," answered Mr. Bradford, wondering wh

and thoughtfully said Bessie, who was not remarkably quick at figures. "That would tak

swered he

quarters and a half longer, will you let me have the hundred dollars

you possibly want of a hundred dollar

other person's secret. And that person is so very deserving, anybody ought to be very glad to do a kindness for that person, and she cannot tell anybody about it-onl

nt style, pleading too, with eyes and voic

l in whose behalf Bessie was pleading now. He had heard during the past week of Lena Neville's unaccountable depression and nervousness, and of her refusal to disclose its cause; knew that his little daughters had spent the previous afternoo

but so far as he could judge, she was upright and perfectly straightforward, and with no little strength of will and purpose; and petted as she was b

He had, even in the short period of the Christmas holidays, when Percy had been much with his own boys, marked the weakness of his character and the ease with which he was swayed for either good or evil, according to the temptations or influences presented to him; and he now fel

nowledge of the circumstances he could not, of course, judge how this might be; but his pity and sympathy were strongly moved for Lena; and she was, indeed, unselfish, little heroine that she was, deserving of any kindness or rel

gathering tears in her eyes, he felt that he could not altogether resist her, and he added, "I think we shall fin

ld and ought to, but she thinks not; and I feel quite su

nd you are a dear, generous little girl, to be willing to do this; f

this, papa; oh, quite, quite mo

an encouraging pressure to the small hand within his own,

nd his brother-in-law had left their two young charges at Miss Ashton's door an

my suspicions. I fear that I am perhaps too much inclined to yield to her plea, while I am not satisfied that it is wise to do so. But I am not sure that you will be a very u

proposal, and of whither

"and these music lessons have been the d

. Of course, there is no necessity for her to do that; she shall have her music lessons. But the question with me

p like yours," said Mr. Stanton, extending his hand to his b

resolved that he would cast scruples to the winds and tell Bessie she should have the sum she had asked for. But although he would not tell he

e left home-to attend to after he parted from his brother-in-law at the door o

ng it behind him when Bessie came flying down the stairs and precipitated herself upon him like a

hould wish to take farewell of the remainder of my family before I am altogether

s, a series of the little ecstatic squeals Maggie was wont to give when she

nymous, for we know you did it! There was nobody else,

ke off my overcoat and to si

while the two little girls seized upon one another and went da

" said Mr. Bradford, pretending to soliloquize. "It must be so, else why this wild excit

FOUND MY WAY INTO A P

sy chair where he was speedily held captive again by two pair of arms piled one above t

se compliments, but really I am ignorant why I am pa

squeeze and a kiss, planted directly upon his right eye. "You have lifted the most dreadful weight

way, too, papa," said Bessie; "send

he weight?" sai

, and you needn't pretend that you don't," said Bessie. "No, y

ered her father; "but really, as it is, I cannot take credit to mysel

l beautifully done up, and-oh! I know you, papa-my name written on the parcel by some one else, so I wouldn't k

able to say that I had been so generous and given so much pleasure; but I must disclaim the

ade. To avoid these-truth compels me to state-Mr. Bradford took an ignominious flight, for, saying that he must hasten upstairs to dress for dinner, he put aside the detaining arms which would have kept him till conjecture was satisfied, and once more assuring his little girls that he had absolutel

le circumstance of the gift to the former to the general household, mamma alone

morning-room after they returned from school, when Patrick

ctive air about such parcels which stamps them at once as mines of delight, and Maggie had littl

s a generous giver, and when he did a kind action it was carried out munificently; and the wr

is from," said Maggie, seeing an env

en Bessie drew therefrom a new crisp one hundred dollar bill. For a moment both she and Maggie stood speechless with surprise; then the color sur

turning to her mother, she said: "It is my sec

iced with her in the relief which was evidently afforded by this gift, the removal of th

ng all responsibility therefor. The mystery thickened for all concerned. Who c

is money to Lena was

ss

and Maggie, to whom she had confided that the secret existed. Mystery and management and all concealment were hateful to her; and as has been seen, she was no adept at the

d independence of the latter would rebel, even in such a strait, against receiving pecuniary aid from

eping it or converting it to her own use had for one instant entered Bessie's mind; to her it seemed Heaven-sent, and as if destined for the very purpose for which she had been longing for it. To the bonbons she fe

it, and then privately enclosed therein the precious hundred dollar note; and the next morning on the way to school with her own hand she posted it in the letter-box on the nearest corner. Lena was not to know whence or

Bessie to have this accomp

ver again let any one tell me a secret which I ma

ut revealing it had been more of a cross to her than can well