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


hill top, where | had first my hearts love in
her eyes. ....-
When at length could go out, my FIRST
visit was made to DR.. Green. He had been
so kind and attentive, he seemed to take so
much pride in his success, that l could not re
fuse to take nv first walk to his house. and
drink cup of tea with his wife and friend
she had staying with her. 1t vas with this
friend only that my story has to do.
God knows that did not willingly put NY
self in the way of temptation.
How could tell that in sitting that sum
mer's afternoon in DR.. Green's quiet parlor,
should find a Circe
Miss Ireton," said the Doctors deep sonor-
Gus voice as | entered the room, and before
me rose young, slight figure robed 10 white
with roses in her bosom, roses on her cheeks,
roses in her golden hair, that lay ia ringlets
upon her dainty shoulders, and clustered round
her proud little head Her eyes were bright
and full of smiles dimples played hide and
seek among her cheeks roses her lips were
full and red, and her complexion wonderfully
clear, with quick changing color, infinitely
charming Nellie Ireton was indeed beautiful
Sometimes-even now out of the darkness Of
death, and the grave, that face rises up to me.
and l see her stand before NE once more. in
all her witching loyeliueSs, as she stood that
summer afternoon. If you had seen her then
you would have thought her immortal-that
death and change could never have come 10
that form of grace, those eyes of light.
Miss lreton was a practced frt II was
not in the nature of all things, that any man
could love her as | loved Bertha She could
not have comprehended Bertha's selfabnega-
ton, her herojSm, her entire freedom fIom all
vanity. all desire OF triumph
Aad yet her dominion over the senses was
absolute was born worshipper of beauty
l could not help admiring the airy grace of
movement the sparkling change OF her face
aud the smiles that hovered so archIv about
her lips. Days passed and no fl was entan-
gIed ever more in a spiders net, than in the
meShes of her golden hair Al first | could
see Bertha was simply incTedulouS and aston
iShed. then q wild trouble began to darken the
clear gray Of her eyes All this time loved
her \ single tone of her voice had more
power over my highest nature than all the en-
chantmcutS Of the others and vet | could
not break away from the fatal spell that bound
me- Ny senses were ntoxicated-steeped in
delirium by the Gree. Can you comprehend
the enigma ? Its solution involves the history
of many mans marriage besides his own.
Just at the right time. Miss Ireton brought
q new competitor in the field.
In young law student visiting the place |
found rival Nellie was good t4ctician -
She played Us of against each other most
adrOity, until We wele inspired with all g
gameSteTS eagerneSS TO win. Bertha had now
Withdrawn herself from nv society almost a.
together Indeed. | seldom visited her bat
when | did | only saw her in the presence of
her mother. Every eTening | passed at Dr.
Green's. At last, in one fatal hour. l found
Miss Ireton alone. proposed ami was ac-
ceptsd So far had nv madness lasted but
when | heard her faIteriug yes when the
golden head sunk with fully as much triumph
as tenderness upon mT shoulder when wod
have pressed the kiss Of betrothal upon her
linS. 4 cold Shudier ran through nv veins
closed nv ewes for a moment. IN the struggle
10 re-an nv self command, and there before
nv closed eyes, | saw Bertha stand as she had
stood that morning. | saw ber pale rapt face,
her eyes d.'ated with thought, fixed on the
mist over the valley | heard her inspired
voice
some time. even thus. from all proud
hearts the mist will roll suddenly away aud
we shall see as We are seen, and kuog as We
are known
Alas in vain had the mist rolled away
from that proud heart OF Bertha Payson. show
ing me its hidden Treasures | had rejected
the golden fruit Of HeSperdeS. lgred hv the
fair seeming apple Of S1dom and nov mu>y
wait vaiaIy a, the closed gates of Eden. We
have but one birth aud one death. and the
charmed hour of fate comes but oaee to life.
Ny betrothed was speaking reused nv
self to listen.
Il liked YOU the very first time I saw v0a.
Mr. Osborne and meant to make YOU Ike
NE. You see ! thought it would lie more
difficult, for Dr. Green told ne that you were
haif 10 love with that prcai B+r,ha Payson.
aud meant TO see if | couldn't make you
fancy me in spite OF all
" You succeeded only too well, little char
mer" There was mouruful truth in nv
answer, which her light heart did not usue-
said liked NE, as she was capable OF liking
Her freely expressed preference was sincere.
| should have true wife, aS tue world reck
ous truth aud yet in Gods SIGHT, | should
be unmarried still. We two could never be
made Que.
/ made haste TO announce nv engagement
hurried the preparations Tor NY napl.a!S-
felt that my ouly safety would lie in leaving
Ryefeld as soon as possible. Nov that the
excitement Of the love chase was over. and the
young law Stadelt had suOSidei into the oafeI
friend OF M afisUced could not conceal from
mYself that bad set the seal on M owa mad
folly and condemned myself 10 81 eternal re:
uaavaiiIng despair. / carefully avoided any
opportunity OF seeing Bertha ! would not
hare dared 10 trust myself 10 her presence.
i was the day before ny bridal So far
hsd / traTersed my psth Of thornS | rose
ssFly aud went out Of doors. One more walk
| Rnald hare 70 the bill WHARF the knnxlrHrA