Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-04-13

cit is not yet too late Paul, if you
really admire Zaldee Raym md, 80 en-
Enthusiastically"
'Bertha ~
Miss Wyman laughed strange, un-
natural sort of laugh. Up to this mo-
pent her ips.had never tasted the bitter
cup of jealousy; now it seemed as if the
draught was maddening. How dared
Paul Fordham, her betrothed lover, to
speak in terms of commentator of any
woman save herself
1 Bertha was one of those unfortunate
creatures who have what is termed ga
high temper" and all her life it had
been unbridled. She had never learned
the lesson of self-control, and it was
too late to begin now.
Miss Wyman went up to her own
apartment earlier than usual that eve
ming, not because she was particularly
weary, but because she wanted to pun
ish Paul Fordham, who was fond Of
moonlight and sentiment and delicious
July evenings, for his unwarrantable
notice of her aunt's dark-eyed compan-
on.
As she sat at the window, brushing
out the wavy, feathery gold of her
magnificent hair, the sound of voices
on the piazza below arrested her atten-
ton. She listened moment, holding
the golden masses away from her head,
with her scarlet lips half apart. It was
Paul Fordham and Zaidee Raymond.
! "I thought So" she murmured under
her breath. cit would be no bad
speculation for the poverty stricken
widow to vile Paul Fordham and his
wealth into her nets. knew she was
artful, despite her innocent, childish
ways; but if she comes in collision with
me she shall be crushed-crushed as I
would strike noisome insect to the
ground.
She sat there, silent and motionless,
for well-nigh half an hour then there
came soft tap at her chamber door.
"Come in,n said Bertha Wyman.
And Mrs. Raymond entered.
81 beg your pardon for disturbing
you, Miss Wyman, but were you aware
that you had left your bracelet on the
piazza floor. Here it is"
at takes you and Mr. Fordham
some time to discover the loss of a
bracelet, said Bertha, tauntingly. ]
am really sorry to have given you the
trouble of 50 heightened search"
Zaidee Baymond's cheek flushed
painfully.
eff you would but allow me to con-
fide in you, Miss Wyman, she falter-
ed, drawing step or two nearer to the
naughty Saxon beauty. "Mr. Ford
man has told me"
Il do not wish to become the re-
pository of your confidence, said Ber-
tina, with chilling abruptness, "nor do
/ care what Mr.. Fordman chooses to
tell you. Good night And she mo-
toned Mrs. Raymond imperatlvely
from her presence.
81 should have struck her in another
second, she murmured to herself,
tearing the tiny lace frill away from her
throbbing throat, as if its slight press
ure impeded her free respiration. 81
have seen the nurses shrink away from
me, as a child, when my temper rose.
There was murder in my eyes, they
said. think murder came into my
heart, when | stood there facing that
treacherous black-eyed woman. Let
her beware how she ventures to come
between me and mine
Unconscious Paul Fordman! If he
could only have known, as he paced up
and down the dewy lawn, smoking his
cigar, the thoughts that were passing
through the mind of his lovely betroth-
cd
Bertha, he said, the next after
noon as they stood together by the
great, spicy sweetbrier bush, edo you
know l had quite chat with Mrs.
Raymond last night2
a am aware of it, F." answered Ber-
tina, indifferently STOPPING to gather a
scented spray.
"And, by Jove, Bertha, the little
creature has had the most romantic
life, to,
II dare say, said Bertha, turning
abruptly away. "The breeze is too
strong out here, think would rather
go back to the library "
ter bewilderment.
I" suppose that means she doesn't
want to talk any more about Zaidee
Raymond Well of all Incompetent
sible creatures, woman IS the most
incomprehensible! They're leagues and
leagues beyond my penetration, the
whole race of them. | supposed she
would be Interested, and here she snaps
my head off before l get out dozen
words. y
And Paul followed Bertha to the IL
brary, confused, and not altogether
pleased, at the arbitrary decisiveness
of the beautiful blonde.
1t was about a week al.erward that
Bertha Wyman was coming home from
a long walk to distant farm house,
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