Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-09-15

| L
! Swered these questions to myself by climbing
on quietly and quickly. / could not help it.
In FIVE minutes | stood by Bertha's side She
had not heard my approach. Proud woman
as she was, she had not been too proud to
weep. The tears glittered heavily upon her
long lashes. She made no vain attempt to
conceal them. She met my glance steadfast-
". .--..--.. .
Bertha" said in choking voice, :" did
not think to find you here"
. F." Or you" she answered. "See, the mist
lies as heavily over the valley as when we stood
here last How little the scene is changed p
And how much everything else +" inter
rupted her wildly Bertha, it may be mad
ness or sin, but must speak love you bet
ter than my SOUL always did love you but
not with such passioa, such despair as now. Is
it too late? Must it be too late ?"
She looked at me moment in wonder, in
sorrow, her dark, searching eyes questioned
me Then her lip curled.
Would you be twice a traitor, Frank OS
| borne ?"
No ~ answered edimpetuously. al would
not but return to my true allegiance Nelje's
pride would be wounded, bat her heart would
not suffer much Aud you oh Bertha. you
did love me-you do love me. Do not wreck
your life and mine"
Frank" said she quietly, yet earnestly,
this is worse than folly, it is sin Tomorrow
you will he the husband of another. What
right have you to speak to me of love True
did love once, but that dream is past If
yon were free to-day could not trust nv hap
piness to your keeping. Forget me, or thiuk
Of me only as kind, well.wi>hing friend"
Is there no hope, Bertha ?"
But | could not so give her up The hour
had come had dreamed of through nv long
conyaIeScence | stood with Bertha again up-
on that hilltop where had meant to tell her
my love | must plead with her a little longer
Scarcely knowing what said. | assailpd her
with prayers poured out nv very soul at
her feet But she only looked at me with her
dark, wstful eyes, aud returned the same firm
repr0achful No. At last | was silent. i saw
il was of no use. | had myself cast away nv
pearl Of great price. | must be co1teuted
hereafter with the glitter of nv lost brilliant.
Well | said, humbly and sorrowfully
enough, i do not deServe !oa, You are right,
Bertha. But give me your hand once more,
a you did that morning Friends claim that
much, Bertha"
She laid her fingers in mine. They did not
iremoe, but they were very cold. She said
with deep, pathetic earnestness:
God bless you Frank Osborne I. who
know you so well, believe that you are sincere
IN the words yoH have spoken 10 me this morn
lng- But you must think such thoughts no
longer. Frank. happiness only comes TO Us
in the right. Your duty is to Miss IrecOn.-
Fulfil. il | coujnre you. You have 4 womau's
happiness 10 your hand You must answer to
God for it. | eOnjure you to make her future
bright. Trust nothing to her light heartedneSS
i | tell you no woman's heart is light enough 10
/ bear up under any want of love from the man
for whom she has given up all things Do your
duty and yUu will fnd comfort even vet. Good
4 bye. Frank"
! She turned away. and once more, as on that
morning, ! watched her Slight figure tripping
down tile hill. Her step was firm Her heart
mnst have been strong. She did not once look
back. / watched her till could see her 10
4 longer And then | turned and looked mOodi-
+ y over the valley. Already the mist had
parted. aud before the suns 6erv eve the val
/ lev lay u7shrouded. undi>gu,sed, as our souls
must stand some day before His eve. at whose
word the first sun rose and the last sun set.
thought of the solemn import OF BeFtha's words
| had indeed duty to perform. could lay
lT bUgieu Of Sia aud punishment on no Others
shoulders II was no. Nellie I-etoa'S fault
that | had turned away from Bertha ard ask
e,i her 10 be nv wife I owed her nv lire now
She ShoaId have IT, ! kaelt upon the hill side
| barred my forehead 10 tie cool bEerz. uf the
. September morning | cried ont TO heaven
:Or strength, I think ms prayer was heard.
The next day | vas married. We l-fl Rye
field at once, and for three years l did not re-
lura there
do belie7e-thauk God for this CLEAN of
comfor,-;hat l made Nellie happy 10 her
own way she was fond of ne Size lo-cd Socie-
", nirth and fashioH-shc had them all
placed no restraint upon her pleasures. though
| never accompanied her Often she has re-
turned from some gay p2rty late a night, aBd
found me sitting IN nv study. She would
bound into my lap, AZ such times 9jih her fine
chjid-Eke abandon. tell ire what fue time she
had who hai talked 70 and coa.plimented
her, and then asked Righ com.cal ar OF self
I satisfaction, if | vas not PgoaIo, such hand
some little wife
You know | am handsome. you provoking
teasing, clever old fellow. now don't vou = vas
Z usually the conclusion to the haTan-ue and |
( would alxays give he= the confirmation she CO
ye1ed. Thank God, she never know now lone
s II nv soul was in those da7s-Aow my heart
. pired for compauionship how my spiri, pant
ed for q kindred spirit 70 share It's doubts. its
seeking after the In6uity Thank Gcd that
7 the lark il the meadow vas lot g.adder or
meFrier than she!
I She had been my wife more than txo years
when she went olt one cod night, with her
! fair arms and meek uncovered, and oaly an op-
, eracloak thrown over them as she drove to
/ gay party. | had demonstrated. but she had
pleaded 70 De allowed TO hare her own wsy,
and | could usTer bring myself 10 cross her in
/ snrfhinr-T Hnnd nsrer InnE .. h. -ithnr.