Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-12-07
EBENsBURG, DECEMBER I, 1854.

wise than as favors conferred upon the person
who had saved the child and lent the money,
:. you are gross; you are evidently an ignor-
ant man, who has forgotten himself and his
position. There" continued he, writing up
on card, sis my agents address, sir Take
your claim to him. and let me never see you
in this house again." With these words he
issued from the room as magnifcently as he
| had entered it.
/ All this was nothing to Edgar. He had
gauged the man before. But Bertha! Was
she changed too? Again he had set his faith
! upon woman, and was he deceived? Would
she not probably steal to see him again He
! paused, Gstened-no sound. Why did he ex-
pect It? He bad marked her hesitation. He
saw the blush Of confusion With which she
welcomed him, as if she was too proud to meet
him heartily, yet too young to be wholly un-
| grateful Was she coming? No! He took
his hat; descended the stairs wrapped in sor-
| rowful mood, and In minute more found
himself in the street.
And had Bertha forgotten him Not quite.
Her confusion at meeting him, was in truth,
only natural She saw the insult her father
intended, and almost sank with shame at the
double ingratitude with which the friend of q
less fortunate period was treated. The hall
door had already closed behind him after his
departure when she despatched her servant
with the following note -
DEAR Nh. Whoever else may
be ungrateful, do not doubt that there is one
in this house who can never forget you. So
long as you value this assurance. believe it.
BERTHA"
Edgar walked moodily along. He thought
Of what unadorned merit has to suffer in this
world and as his thoughts grew warmer, and
his indignation rose higher. he walked the
faster Bertha's maid would much rather
have been Bertha's mistress A steam engine
could not get her to walk out of what she con-
sidered becoming pace nor esnld all the
world have induced her to run. Perhaps she
might have made little more haste had Ed
gar been lord or even a sir but, as it
was, she saw him gradually increase the dis
tance between them till he entered the Park
She pursued him, but in vain. Giving up
the pursuit, she resolved to return home; and
as Bertha had ordered her on no account to
come back without having delivered the let
ter, she further resolved to say that she had
done SO.
Bcrtha's mind was accordingly composed,
and in due time she betook herself to her toi-
let In less than an hour she was dressed
for the evening, and the carriage being an
pounced, the FitxsimoRs drove off to Lady
Harriet Temples. Thete was dinner party
and also an evening party: they joined both (; |
but what was Mr. Fitzsimon's confusion to find |
himself sitting Uis-a-ris to his friend Edgar
Had the fellow lent her ladyship money too ? |
No; he was too much at home to be merely |
there on tolerance More than that there |
was an evident Difference paid towards him,
and-what was it possible that Bertrand |
Fitzsimon heard aright!- Lord Edgar'-'my
lord'-.your lordship.'
.s And where, and in what incognito has |
my fitful cousin been for the last six months ? |
What have you been about, sir?" demanded |
Lady Harriet.
Looking for honesty and truth" replied
Edgar.
:" hope you found them, my lord?" In
quired Sir Charles Wilmot, with laugh.
II am not sure" he answered /" perhaps,
yes possibly no."
Did his eye wander towards Bertha as he
said this? She thought SO, and her heart |
beat rapidly. She thought of the letter. She /
rejoiced that he had received it before she had /
become acquainted with his true position.
Not for the whole world would she have writ |
ten it had she believed Mr. Edgar to have been |
Lord Temple And yet was it not strange |
that he should not address single word to
her,-that his eyes should not be turned to- |
ward her; that after dinner he should neither |
seek her out to dance with him, or ask her to |
sing one of those airs which had been such |
favorites with him before? Hours passed |
away !; and finally, Mrs. Fitzsimons bade her |
hostess goodnight. The husband and Bertha
followed the example. Lord Edgar was stand
ing beside Lady Harriet. Fitzsimon bowed |
to him, most gracious bow, which the other |
acknowledged by the slightest inclination of
his head But on Bertha he did not waste |
glance. What could it have meant 2
.sWe shall be happy to see your lordship."
said Mrs. Fitzsimon, from whom alone the in |
vitation could come with any grace.
ST shall do myself the honor of calling"
replied his lordship, in tone tlnged, as Ber-
tha thought, with sarcasm. But he took no
notice other.
Bertha slept little that night, and the NOR
ming found her pale and weary
1t was at two o'clock, as her maid was about
to give herself an airing in the Park, which
she did about the same hour generally, to dis !
affecting dnties of her position, that the hall
door opened. and Mr.. Edgar gave his card to
the porter, inquiring for Miss Fitzsimon The
card was handed to the maid, which, when the
maid read it, produced revulsion in her
economy that no permissible language can ex-
press Turning round, and bowling at each
step she took-lost in maze Of wonder and
admiration, she led him to the drawing groom,
and was about to hurry to her young mistress
when the thought of the letter occurred to her.
Fortunately she had not burnt it. Withdrew
ing it from her pocket she presented it with
fr;uuopbaut air as if she had been pursuing