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

IdtneFS, entered ners. MISS flVeTtoH Sdi-
culated, to certainty, that, after this, Har-
ry would escort her home but what was
her indignation TO see him, when the SER
vice was over, hurry out befose her. She
heard, aftcrward, that he had been seen TO
join Bertha, but she was hoo vexed and
proud 10 look for herself. However, she
went home in ill-humor, rose the next day
with worse one, and continued to grow
more bad-tempered until evening.
Suddenly she looked up, and addressed
her confident, Miss Brooks, who sat at one
side Of the Fireplace. They had been
talking about Bertha, and the conversation,
after FIVE minutes silence, was now res
sumed, ...... ..t ...
"The girl is fool" she SAID, 'to i'm
agine, as ] hear she does, that Harry is Sc
rious, Her father was nobody, at least
only a mechanic, and his father before him
used to chop wood for my grandfather; and
now she goes about, from house to house, at
fifty cents day, making dresses"
"a rretty bride for young lawyer"
replied Miss Brooks, with a scornful laugh"
'But hear she has her head filled with all
sorts OF romantic notions; and fances be-
cause she is pretty that some great prince
will drive up to her mothers cabin, some
of these days, and ask her in marriage."-
And, at this ironical picture, both ladies
laughed.
"She is coming here tomorrow, 10 alter
one Of my dresses" said Miss Tiverton,
''but l've great mind TO send her away,
telling her she won't do. ! never did trust
her vel to make up anything new; and the
last dress she altered don' wear, it's such
fright" ......
Miss Tiverton knew this was an untruth,
and that uutil she had begun TO hate Ber-
tha, there was no dress she liked better
What will not an envious spirit do?
"Stay," said Miss Brooks, ga bright idea
has struck me. Keep this s,uck-up man.
tua-maker, by all means, and we'll have
rare fun with the romantic little fool
Well write her letter, as if from Harry,
full Of expressions Of passionate attachment,
and concluding with an offer OF his hand.
She'll receive it here, before us, and we'll
see how ridiculous she'll make herself
Oh! it will be great sport" ....
The cruel and inhuman proposition thus
made was eagerly accepted by Miss Tiver-
ton, who saw in it an easy way to crush
and humble Bertha by making her ridicu-
lous.
"What an April-tool she'll be-" said the
heress, with an almost sardonic smile
"To think of her going home and telling
her mother that Harry has offered himself
and then Of the ieers at her when her folly
is found out. We must manage matters,
however, so that we cannot be suspected" !"
"Never fear that" said the companion.
81 am excellent at initiating handwritings,
and, if you've single scrap OF Harry's, Pll
write letter that he'll almost pronounce
his own, it shall be so like"
"l've several notes of his" said Miss
Tiveron, and she produced more than one,
all written in answer TO invitations. And
then pen, ink and paper being brought, the
two coniederates sat down TO their nefari-
Gus task.
The next morning, punctual TO the ap-
pointed hour, Bertha made her appearance
at the Tivertor mansion. Any one, whose
heart was not steeled against her, would
have been won over to loving the orphan
girl, by her gentle manners and kind heart.
But her present employer only hated her
the more for her good qualities. 1t was a
painful morning TO Bertha. In hundred
ways she was made to feel her dependent
position, by the pitiless Miss Tiverton and
her companion. Alas none can be SO
cruel 10 woman as those OF her own sex.
About midday knock was heard at the
door, and a letter was left for Bertha
Miss Brooks herself had answered the sum.
mons, and brought in the missive.
"This was left, just now," she said, Civ.
ing the letter toss superciliously into B-y.
tha'S lap, "by strange boy, who asked il
the mantua-maker was working here TO-
day. ] see it is addressed TO you" AND
then, with an insolent laugh, she added
"you must have very impatient correspnn'
dents, miss"
When Bertha's eye fell on the letter shs
blushed crimson and became excessively
agitated. She did not, however, open tn,
missive, but laying it on the table beside
her, went on with her work. Her hant
trembled perceptiby. After cruelty en-
joying this agitation for awhile, Miss Tiv
erton said coldy,
spray open your letter, miss; and neve
mind US. II may be, you know, love-let
ter, and very important" And she gig
gled, looking at Miss Brooks.
Again Bertha blushed crimson and he
voice was low and tremulous and said,
"Thank you'll can wait"
"No, insist on it," said Miss Tiverton
"Come let us 60 out of the room, Mis-
, Brooks, since the young lady," and she pro
nounced these words ironically, "canno
read the letter unless she is alone" m
, She rose, as if to go, but Bertha, with
; proud effort, picked up the letter, and beg
: ging her 10 be seated, proceeded to open il
The fact was that Bertha had recognize
T the handwriting, and hence not only he
7 confusion, but her unwillingness to rea
e the letter before prying eyes. Only ono
0 before had she received note from Harr,
and then it had been couched in but half
: dozen lines. Those lines, however, ha
y been dearly treasured every word and LEI