Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-10-19

"
tiously beamed for the last two seasons
each fondly hoping to be the finally favor
ed one.f c..s-0 q ~
But. to the secret chagrin of each. b
still maintained the same quiet courtli
ness of manner towards them all. HI
seemed quite as Indifferent to their hear
affairs, as he would have been to the py
ramids of Egypt. Thiswas the gentleman
Lena was bending all her energies to en-
snare and bring to her feet, before the
present season closed. r.st. ~.
Clara was an intimate friend of both
the girls, and she was invited up stairs tc
see the dresses, which had Just been sent
home. Their beauty she warmly expati-
ated on, but Lena would not allow her to
leave until she had told her of Bertha's
wonderful fit of economy, and laughingly
said she should certainly take her opera
glasses with her to the ball, that she might
descry some interesting. poor, young gen
tlelnan, with whom she knew her sister
must have a secret understanding, and
for whose benefit she was carrying out this
whim of prudence. ,,-..-,.-f.'- '..,-..f-. (
The combined entreaties of all the trio
could not induce Mr.. Gregory to accom-
pany than to hrs. Langdon's. He plead
ed = headache and fatigue. This was {
cover to the real reason. His business
affairs were daily becoming more entang-
led, by means of several heavy failures
Of parties owing him to a great extent.
and all he could see before him was ruin
and disgrace, but he would keep his fore
bodings to himself until after the fete was
over. when. if he found no means of extri-
eating himself, he would make clean
breast of the whole thing to them. M
Hugh Ainesly was quite attentive to
Miss Lena that night, who looked very
queenly in the gay throng, and his atten-
tions were received with deep satisfaction
to herself. Nor was the less interested
Bertha, who had laid no siege to him,
overlooked.
He inquired at once where her father
was, as he had not seen him there. To
her reply that he had resisted all entreaty
to come, from great fatigue, he uttered
prolonged '.Ah." and fell into reverie.
Hugh was thinking of the vague report
he had heard on Wall Street, that morn
ing, that the Commercial House of Gre
CORY & Co. was fast tettering towards
a
The next morning, at an early hour,
Hugh called at Mr. yGregory's counting
house, and offered him loans to any "a
to help him through the financial
crisis that was upon him. Mr.. Gregory
had done the same deed. years before, for
Hugh's father, and he. (Huglr), kindly
pressed the favor back upon him, which
was accepted with tears of gratitude in
the eyes of the panic-striksn merchant.
AS Clara and Hugh sat at dinner, the
next day after the bali, discussing the COS
tunes brought out there, she related
Of economy.
us that so, Clara p he asked. "Was
she as self-sacri6cing as that? But she
looked as sweet as rosebud in her dress,
# it had been worn three times" Then
ne told her, in confidence, of the state of
Mr.. Gregory's affairs, and the reason
which had probably deferred Bertha from
he outlay for a new dress. ''She is no.
Die girl, Clara. and I'm afraid We couldn't
number many like her amongst that gay
assembly at Mrs. Langdon's. Surely all
IS not gold that shines. -
A week after this, the footman at the
brought a card up to the parlor
ior Miss Bertha, and the gentleman is
waiting below in the drawing-room."
Bertha glanced at the card. and saw
Hugh Ainsley" inscribed thereon.
"Did you say this was for me, John?"
'he asked, thinking it must have been in
tended for Lena.
aYes. ma'am. He said "Miss Ber-
sha," replied the servant.
Lena pouted at this she had thought
ne had made mistake. ann an angry
frown clouded her face as Bertha decend-
ed to the drawing-room.
"Was it l you wished to see, Mr.. Aims
ey?" she asked, after saluting him.
at was you yourself. Why? permit
me to enquire"
81 thought it might be one of Johns
olunders, and that sister Lena was the one
said Bertha. '-@T
"No. Miss Bertha, it was you, with
whom 1 have special business" he said,
at the same time watching the sudden en-
Iargement of her blue eyes when he said
business"
"For several years, Miss Bertha, I've
been searching in the circle of my acauain-
bances for q noble. true-hearted woman,
to ask to become my wife. have just
been fortunate enough to find her, and
have now come to ask her if she will bear
nv name, and share with me my earthly
lot. Bertha, you are the chosen one, and
my hea rt's best, purest affection L lay at
your feet. Will you answer me 'yes?" =
Give me time to think, please, it is SO
she stammered, covering her
face with her hands to conceal the blush
es.
s.You shall have three whole months to
to consider the subject; then shall de-
mand an unconditional answer" said
Hugh, driving the hands from her face,
and pressing them te his lips.
In three months Bertha decided to say
eyes," and their engagement was announ-
ced to the gay world. Another three
months and the gay world was invited to
their public wedding in church. After
much coaxing, Lena was prevailed upon
to be Bertha's bridesmaid, but it was
bitter disappointment to stand in that
place. instead of next to the groom.
In after years she learned that Bertha's
''Old Ball-Dress" had turned the scale in
favor of her. and won Hugh Ainsley. He
that the daughter who would
sacrifice her own desires for the sake of les
sening the burden weighing upon the
shoulders of her father, could not fail to
make true wife. er
IIabeas Corpus.
n. ii. Wilhitc, charged with the muir
IL. =: -Ilrl:Aa Ca.,ntu &C ptorcn IIildrefh