Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-11-20

letting You so hungry. | will 90 down at
once and send them up"
In ii few moments Berth. and Fanny
made their appearance with a daintily pre-
pared breakfast. whlrh they nrran sed upon
II table and drew to the young mans side.
"Dd you rest well. Mr.. Gordon?" asked
Fanny. as she poured out II cup of fra grant
tea.
Roland saw that she knew nothing Of
his gong out, und replied in the utiirma-
tive.
"What world Of trouble must be- he
said. Please be seated, girls, and let me
help myself" he added. This is too
pleasant a home scene to be spoiled by my
luziness."
The girls seated themselves near the
table, and the young man went on with his
talk
"It is strange" he said with n smile.
show the mistortunes OF life are sometimes
needed to bring about ones pleas,ntest ex-
per.ences. Here am, after years of health
and loneliness. in IL pleasant little scene
which only illness could bring about!
Still, am not certain but nv isolation
from society has been entirely my own
fault"
"Do you forget the writer who compared
the world to a mirror?" said Bertha. "If
You make mouths at it you only get ugly
faces back, while Il smile always commands
one in III return
$50 it's better to laugh than to sigh
hummcd Roland. 81 think will profit by
that conparls on. he added But suppose
one lives III front of shattered portion of
this great mirror, as | believe | have all
my life Z"
Then he has only to move." said Ber-
tha "iou see you can't destroy the the
ory in that way
well" s,ii Fanny, 81 will leave you to
your discussion and attend to IL caller l
See making FOR the door"
Left alone with Bertha, Roland immedi-
ately became silent.
"What would she think Of me-" he pom
dered. "if should tell her now Just what
long much to say?''
Miss Bertha he said, after short ST.
lence, "ave we to have any more of Maud
so-day?"
"Why not something else ?" asked Ber-
tha. Il think we did well to leave
the poem just as we did. for the conclusion
is too sad for the bright picture we read
last
"You really believe in it, then?''
"Why shouldn't n" WAS the reply
''True. have never secna love like tho one
the author pictures. but that is no reason
why should believe that such one could
not exist"
"Miss Bertha said Roland, drawing
nearer to her side, "you said just now
that one receives always from the worlt
Just what he bestows upon it-smile for
smile, trust for trust, and love for love
Do you really believe that 2"
Bertha lookcdup in surprise at his ear
nestness.
There may be exceptions" she replied,
with vague idea of what was coming
throbbng in her brain and bringing hot
bushes to her face. "Individual excep-
tions mean. of COURSE
"Ah!' exclaimed Roland, ''of what use
then are the smiles of the world ut large
when one exception may G.rken a life ?"
| Then. overcome by the strength of his
love, Roland did IL thing which he had fully
made up his mind not to do--at least that
day or that week. He walked unsteadily
. over to Berthas side. took one un-
resisting band in both of his, and made
/ passionate love to her
| "Don't run away from me-" he cried, as
Bertha started as if toarse from her chair
IL beg Of you to listen to me now if my
voice never reaches your ears again. l
!
one may live Il lifetime in day. When
my eyes first fell upon you | loved you,
Bertha. Don't start. l believe that all
love is born in minutes time. only others
have taken longer to make the one they
love ready for the declaration. But don't
, think of that now; /; you will know in time
why | speak now instead of waiting If
there is any dearer feeling than that Of
friendship in your heart for me. pray you
! to tell me now--to pus aside all wonder at
a declaration that may seem like romance
because it is histy - aud tell me the
truth ?"
Bertha was a true hearted girl. There
was very little of the sentimental in her
composition. She knew that the young
man before her had awakened feelings in
her heart which had until now lain dor
mant still she was hardly content to sur
render her affections entirely at such a
hesty demand.
81 ,cill icll you the TRUTH she sud, her
cheeks sufused with bushes. You have
| been frank with me, and | will be frank
with you m return. A girls heart cannot
be won in day-;,t least not in real life.
| can't tell you that love you. but like
you verymuch. and the future can only de-
termine what that may lead to-
The shnpely head bowed lower and lower
as the malden)y bushes deepened in her
face. and when she finished speaking her
eyes were fixed upon the carpet at her feet
| 81 thank you for your womanly frank
ness. said Roland, still holding her hand
''Only don't keep away from me now. |
couldn't bear to think that have destroy
ed the one sweet dream of my life by u
haste which circumstances placed entirely
beyond my control. Oh Bertha. my dar.
ling, wont You, can't you tell me that l
may hope for the very best2"
In his excitement he would have caught
the blushing girl i'll his arms, but she
sprang away with LITTLE laugh and stood
by the window looking out into tao
street.
"Therc." she said. "you are like every
one | meet now ycu have mystery which
you will explain t,ye and byes Don't say
another word. I won't answer single
question until know why you made such
haste"
And she left the room. leaving Roland in
q whirl OF thought
Notwithstanding the careful answer hc
had received. the young man was, in a
measure, happy.
"She is az sensible as she is lovely" he
thought, as he ponderel over the reply he
had received. II love her all the more for
that. l wonder if she will come again, to
day?"
In few moments Fanny came up to
take away the breakfast things. Roland
saw by her face that Bertha had told her