The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-08-17
EATON, OHIO, THURSDAY. KUGUsT17, 1877
stole the roses from Bertha's cheeks, but

stole the roses from BerthaN cheeks, but
gave her eyes sweeter, tenderer grace,
Rob Morris opened his eyes to see them
looking at him, full Of the glory Of a
pure, deep, womanly love.
He did not recognize the face at first,
and said, "Baby, where Is sheg Then,
seeing who it was that bent above him,
he tried to raise his arms and cried,
"Where am /? Tell me, is it you,
BerthaT
Gently she soothed him, and, as she
pressed kiss en- the wan, thin lips, she
whispered, "Yes, 1t is Bertha-your
Bertha, if you wish 1t, Rob; and you are
in my home"
Her hand had sought his, and, as she
ceased speaking, his weak fingers clasped
it, and glad light made the thin, white
face look beautiful.
"My Bertha, my Berthal how have
longed for thisp he murmured, and
then he again said. "Baby. where Is
shep
"Carrie has her. She is well and
bright, and will soon be here, But you
must not excite yourself, for you have
been very sick"
81 know" he said; "our ship was
lost off Sorrow Reef. Did the boat drift
hereT
She told him how he had come to her,
and how she longed to tell him Of her
love, even If it was just as life ebbed into
death; and, as she spoke, the happy
light in his eyes deepened and flush Of
color overspread his face.
"I was brute to stay away" he
said. II might have known you were
only in fun"
"No; l was wrong" she answered.
But you must be still now, for could
not bear to lose you again." and she
kissed him tenderly.
Love is a good medicine" said the
doctor to himself, as he saw Rob and
Bertha walking along the sands, when
riding into Easthepe, some days after
this. {" l see am not needed any more y
he continued, as he drove close to the
young people, and was merrily greeted
by them.
"0h, yes, you arel answered Rob
I" for you must be here when We are mar
ried.n
"of course, of coursel'" and as
Bertha's cheeks deepened their bloom
the old gentleman smiled kindly and
rode on.
A few more words will tell Rob'sstory
and elese ours.
The ship he was in had lost her reckon
ing by being driven out OF her course
during the gale with which summer
opened, and had struck and gone tt
pieces ON Sorrow Reef This was a
night, aud he had managed to get thu
baby and himself into a boat that fioatet
out from the wreck, and when daylight
came had picked up beaker with ,
little fresh water in it and tin o
crackers.
He had neither oars nor sails, and haS
drifted seaward for some time. He CAV,
the baby the crackers and water, hopin,
that some ship would see them and picl
them up before they were all gone; bu
no sails hove in sight and he grew weake
all the time.
Then the wind changed, and he knew
he was being driven shoreward. Hi
crackers were nearly gone, and there wa
but drop of water left. These he CAV,
to the child, and then sank into dream
less sleep, from which he awakened I,
find Bertha's eyes sending their lovin,
gladness into his. The baby had n,
friends that he knew of It's mothe
was widow, coming home in the shil
as passenger, and she was lost Tha
was all he knew,
i When he finished, Bertha said:
"We can keep her then, Rob, and
should not like to let her go, for Go,
gave her to me when He Brought yol
; back"
i And Rob answered;
"Yes, We can keep her."
Now sunny-haired, laughing littl
maiden sings and romps about flower
scented cottage in Easthope, where MI
and Mrs. Rob Morris reside, and wher
joy, love, and comfort can always b
found.