Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-04-05
SATURDAY APRIL

Win tne enthusiasm natural 10 ner, treated
Bertha rather as friend than otherwise
But though Isabel had been, for several
months, absent IN the city, Harry had not
forgotten Bertha. A walk home with her,
from his iather's, one rainy night, had Civ
en- him an excuse for calling occasionally.
| Unconsciously his visits had become more
frequent. Unconsciously also Bertha, SO
little used to the companionship of one so
elevated in mind and manners, had host her
virgin heart. H
1t had been many weeks now since Rer-
tha first made this discovery, which had
been brought about by long absence OF
Harry from her mothers house. From the
day that she discovered her weakness, if
weakness it can be called, she had resolute!y y
struggled TO forget Harry. But yet there
was frequently that in his manner which
filled her with blissful hope sort of iacit
sympathy with her evinced as much by his
silence, or by look, as by words. In fact,
Bertha was IN state of doubt more embar-
RAISING, and almost as painful as hopeless
disappointment. ...... .....
70 do Harry justice, he was not aware
of The effect his visits had produced. He
had sought Beriha's society because it was
a relief TO him there was something fresh
and soothing in it to his overtasked brain
or weared heart. Of love he had never
thought, Had any one asked him if he in
tended to marry mantua-maker, he would
have laughed perhaps, the idea was so op-
posed TO the somewhat arlsiocratic habits
in which he had been educated. But had
any one asked him if he would marry Ber-
tina, he might have hesitated and it is a
pity some one had not for he would then
have either ceased his visits, or made up his
mind TO wed her in spite of prejudccs.---
Unfortunately no one spoke to him on the
subject, and so. in perfect innocence, and
thinking only OF his own pleasure, he con-
tinued to call on Bertha,
The reader can now understand why it
was that Bertha, when she had opened the
letter, and found that in it Harry offered
himself to her, could not, in spite of the
knowledge that prying eyes were on her,
restrain her agitation. She made power
ful effort TO control herself and succeeded
until she came TO the close but then the
certainty, never yet more than vaguely
hoped for, was too much for the poor girl,
and she burst into happy tears.
Miss Iiverion winked at Miss Brooks, at
which Miss Brooks drew down her face
and both for minute, remained silent, At
the end of that time Bertha hurrledly fold
ed up the letter, placed it in her bosom,
wiped her tears away, and began to stitch
at the dress on her lap. But her torment
ors were not willing to let her off so easily.
"Your letter seems to have affected you,"
said Miss Tlverton, 81 hope it brought no
bad newS.' ... .....
"No," family answered Bertha.
"IpS very imper,inent IN me, / know"
said Miss Brooks, ''but may ask if it was
rery good news, People only cry at very
bad or very good news"
Bertha felt that Miss Brooks wished 10
insult her; but her heart was TOO full to
speak; SO she made no answer. This ST.
lence was mistaken for tameness, and it urg-
ed the two pItileSs women on. nd.
"Perhaps it icaS, as we suggested, love-
letter, after ALL" said Miss Tiverton.
I "1'm sure it was proposal" SAID Miss
Brooks.
"And from Mr., Warwick, of course =
said Miss Tverton, ieeringly. "Thry say
he's desperately IN love with YOU"
Bertha looked up, for an instant, with
eyes flashing Indignantly; and had halt a
mind TO fling down her work and leave the
house. AT this evidence Of spirit the heir
ess fired up.
"Hoity toity," she said, "you are as
proud, miss, as tragedy queen. But lei
me give you a word OF advice, MIR. Henry
Warwick would never marry mantua'
maker"
This insoent and heartess speech reused
the gentle Bertha, at last, TO retaliation.-
She rose haughtIy to her feet, letting he,
work fall on the floor, and said, for the mo-
ment forgetting herself,
"Whcther MIR. Warwick will ever mar
~ me, time will show, but he has, at least
offered 10 do SO, and in this very letter.
As she spoke she held the mIssiye up
Then suddenly recoIlectng that she hat
exposed her secret, she became coveFet
with confusion, stopped, replaced the lette
in her bosom, and bursting into tears, rar
out of the room. As she fled up stairs t.
seek her bonnet, resolved 10 leave the housI
where she had been so insulted, the iouc
and mocking laughter of the two confeder
ates pursued her. ...............
She remained but few minutes, onl,
r long enough 10 vent her first passion o
weeping, and then, hastily drying her eyes
hurried down stairs, hoping, by treadin;
lightly, TO leave the house unobserved.-
But her tormentors were lying in wait 70
her, to give the point TO their bitter jest
| and beard her football, soft as it was. Sud
denly opening the door, as she approached
, they stepped out before her, couriesyir
: mockingly.
Sand so Mr.. Warwick has offered him
4 self to you, in that letter, has hel" sal
Miss Tiverton. "A lawyer to mantua
i maker. 1t looks likely, Jane, don't it
: And she turned sneeringly to her con6dan
!, ''But, perhaps, after ALL" she continued
a again addressing Bertha, SIT would be q
A we'll to wait till Mr.. Warwick comes i
: person, in coach and four, to take p,
9 | 4. AZ 4. IL.