The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-03-30

4 !
BILE and the creamy chocolate and delicate
rolls remained untouched. Then Bertha,
old purse, Barbara, went up and iound her
flushed with fever. So after that, for more
than three weeks Dr. B. came twice day tC
Glough Hall. And all that time Bertha lay
ldslirious. and again calling mother! mother!
IN plieous tones, and entreating them not to
send her sway. 20
Old Barbara understood what il all mean
and whispered it in the ear Of the kind old
doctor. Ater that, when the tones came
pleading and pathetic, ne would draw his
hands across his eyes aud whisper
Poor child! il she goes away from here,
know where her home will be-
And that waS what he and his good wife
up for SO late, late the night before, talking
about.
Poor, motherleSs thingP and Mr.. Blyth,
wept with pity tor the poor orphan lying so
III at Clough Hall, and thought of be Annia
lying so white and still in the village church
yard. She shall have Annie's room she
said softly to her husband. 1t will seem
as il God sent her to com fort our hearts for
her lossn
So when Bertha came out of her delirium
and grew stronger, day by day. DR.. Blyth
| told her very ntly, very tenderly, that rer
home should be with thsm-that she should
come and take their dead Anue's place. -
Mrs. Blyth was there, too, and bent her kind
face over the Palld one o Bertha's and kiss
ed her very tenderly, as q mother would
have done.
Bertha could only weep, and, thsnk them.
Foor child! no place would seem like home
her but Clough hall.
| CHAPTER H.
1t was near the last of December, and Lilo
mel had not come yet.
Bertha was recovering, but slowly. Doctor
| Blyth said she needed change of climate !;
that the New England winds were too
rough for so delicate flower as she. Cougb
was dresry, lonesome place to Bertha now,
for she was too weak to go out. DR.. Blyth
and his VIE rode over every day or two
but the long December evenings were pass
ed alone mostly in her own room, for she
had terror Of going through the long, dark
halls alone.
1t was the night before New Years. 1t
came on cold, dark and stormy. Bertha W as
asleep on the sofa by the library fire. She
had read Gill Bias till her head and ewes
ached. then finally went to sleep while
watching the fickerius shadows on the
wall.
And that night, the storm and darkness
Lionel came home. f
Old Barbara met him in the hall, and stars
ted at the sight OF his pale, anxious face.
The words trenbled on his lips. NV
mother but one look in Barbara's face, and
he understood all.
She led him to ths room where his mother
died. told hlai OF her illness and death Of
Bertha's sickness and the cause, and OF DR..
BlYh's offer of a home; and all the time
Lionel sat with his face buried in his hands,
and with mosns Of anguish quivering on
bis lips; but when she told him that Bertha
was going away, was going to leave Clough
Hall for him, be started up.
where is she Barbara? Take me to her!
| must zee her!'
The old nurse led him to the library door,
and opened it softly.
Hush! she is sleeping! and Lionel Clough
went in and looked tenderly, reyerently, at
the thin, pallid face pressed against the satin
cushions. She looked SO beautiful SO limo.
cent, lying there.
He took low seat near her, and wrapped
the rich, crimson shawl closer around, and
took in his own one OF the soft, white
hands.
She awoke at last aud saw Lione's face
bending over her. ..r .a.
Bertha darling' and his arms were around
her neck and his lips pressed to hers.
Il am not dreaming" she asked as he
gently released her; it is you Lionel, and we
have looked for you so long,
Yes, Bertha, but did not get the letter
that told Of nay mothers illness, until about
three weeks ago. ....-
4 am too late, too late' There was deep
anguish in, thai tone. ....
And you have suffered 80 much, Bertha,
poor child, and he turned his pale, haud
some lace to her again.
The lips quverei in spite OF herself, and
faint reply trembled there too amt for Lilo
mel to hear; but he drew words OF com ort
and sympathy.
A soft fash came 10 Bertha's cheek and a
sudden hope to her heart, but it was checked
in an instant. 1t seemed almost sacrilege to
think of such a thing now, and she glanced
at her sable robes.
4 have seen Barbara Lionel said, 'and she
has told me all; and SO, Bertha. yon are go
ing to leave the home that has sheltered you
for so many years? Is your hears in this
my child"
She did not reply, but lifted her white an,
guishsd face that bad been resting on her
hand, and he needed no other answer.
Then will you stay. Bertha? Do you
think my love aud protection can make this
home as happy for you as ths one you will
find at Dr.. Blylh's? I do not ask you to
stay as my sister, Bertha, but as my
wiie?'
There was low cry ofioy from BerIha's
lips that thrilled his heart with strange
happiness and ho took her tenderly in his
arms, and told her how he had always loved
her, and that he knew Of Ada Vane's heart
lessness long ago ; that she never had been,
nor ever could be anything to him and
then he urged her to become his vile at
once, to give him the right to cherish and
protect her.
But Bertha had objections to that. 1T
would be wrong she SAID, so soon after his
mothers DEATH
1T would be No disrespect to her memory
he said, and gave many good reasons why it
should not be deferred
So when the New Year came in, bright
and clear, the old gray>hairsd clergyman
from Deerbam came over. and there was a
quiet wedding at CIough hall No one but
Dr. Blyth and his wife, with their kind, hap-
py faces and the old servants witnessed the
ceremony. The DR.. and his wife were q lit
tie disappointed, that after all, Bertha's home
would not be with them.
But perhaps it is all for ths b,st,' Mrs.
B!yth said to her hu banl on their wsy home
that night.
ANY way. she was satIfisd that to the in-
mates OF Olough Hall, il had bsen happy