The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-24
WORTH TRYING.
% SSpERTHA, have you not heard
I'D from Phil lately?"

y
have waited for him now two years, and
none of his letters have been at all en-
couraging."
Bertha twirled her empty tea-cup in
her saucer, to charm the tea-leaves into
the right position to tell her fortune.
"The world was not made in day.
you know, papa"
But, Bertha YOU don't know what
you're talking about. Girls are always
unreasonable. Here you are twenty. three
years old, and with less and less prospect
of marrying. Constancy is all very well
but there can be too much of good thing.
Remember how many good chances you
have thrown away since Phil left you and
went up to London, to make his fortune
he said, but he doesn't appear to have
done it yet"
L" lie would if he could, papa"
"There is Mr.. Granger, now, who
would be glad to marry you, and put you
in better position than either of your
sisters. A most respectable man, too, by
all accounts, He spoke to me yesterday
and said he would have offered himself
before this, if you had not been 50 shy
and cold. 1t would be a shame for you
to refuse him if he did ask you"
{" | certainly shall refuse him, papa. A
pretty husband he would make for me
fifty years DID, at least; and very pretty
wife should make for him, marrying
him for nothing but his money. I'm not
afraid Of being an old maid. l can earn
my living"
A little later in the day Bertha was
told that Mr.. Granger was in the house
and her father insisted that she should 90
and hear what that gentleman had to say
for himself.
" And what's more,' said Mr.. Clark,
if he should propose, and you refuse him
I'll never forgive you"
But Bertha knew her father better than
that, she told him.
She had never seen this Mr.. Granger
before, that she was aware of though it
appeared that he had seen her, or it is not
at all likely that he would have desired
all at once to marry her.
lie talked to her for some time on vari-
Gus matters, and she found that he was a
well-informed man, and as pleasant and as
affable as need be.
After while he said
"By-thc-by, Miss CLARK, when | was
in London, two or three months ago, |
met friend of yours-Mr. Philip Ira
vers."
Did you, sir?' stammcred Bertha,
feeling all of a tremble.
eyes," he replied, "a worthy fellow
but rather unfortunate in life. He told
me himself that it might be long time
before he would dare venture on taking
a wife"
Poor Bertha sighed from the very bot
tom Of her heart.
There was short silence, and then
" Miss Clark" cried Granger, so loud
ly and suddenly, that the young lady
gave little scream and great jump,
Miss Clark, | have recently been made
a partner in firm, which l had enriched
by my judgement in various gigantic
speculations. | can say with truth that |
have an income of five thousand a year
which amount have every reason 10 be-
leve will speedily be doubled"
You are fortunate man." said Ber-
tha, envying him just a little.
Il shall be miserable man, Miss
Clark, ifyou refuse to share my fortune
] do not expect that you should love an
old fellow like me all at once, but it might
come to that after marriage, for 1 would
spare no pains to make you happy"
Bertha told him that she was much
obliged, and all that, but her heart was
already, and long since, given to another
" 1t isn't, | don't believe it," cried Mr..
Granger, jumping up and seizing her
round the waist
Bertha screamed, and into the room
came her father.
What's all this noise about 7" deman-
ded Mr.. Clark,
"Take away this man." said Bertha
with great dignity.
How, sir, said Mr. Clark, "havc you
dared to insult my daughter Then III
pull your nose"
Immediately he seized the offenders
proboscis, and it came off in his hand
hb 'hO ohHo ihspdhb gray WIZ was
hurled to the other side Of the room, and
there stood Philip Travers,
Mr. Clark laughed, and as soon as
Bertha was able to speak, she said, re-
proachiuly:
Oh, Phil how could you?"
i wanted to try you little, Bertha
wanted to be sure that you loved me
still, poor as | might be-"
&. Wbot Il, ,.o,, e,,.,.,o.. 7 .a.,-.1 1 T.