Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-01

mastner mas SEQ, Bridget, II L were
poor man I wouldn't git so many notes."
How he will laugh yis, this is
splendid" and away she trotted off with
her chosen valentine. But it happened
she didn't amuse her master as much as
she thought, he recognized the familiar
hand writing, he read and re-read, like
one dazed, the poetry attached, which
ran thus:
Your valentine I'm sure to be.
If you will give your gold to me;
do not ask your heart you see,
For have none to give to thee.
To the great disappointment of Bridget
her employer failed to give her the val
entine, and without eating any breakfast
he repaired to his study where he re-
manned locked in during the rest of the
day. AS he sat there, the picture of
despair, he muttered, "And this from
Bertha, and she could tell me she was
going to send me valentine. Oh to
be so wronged, so treated by one on
whom | have lavished the alteration
| should have given to my Maker But
why. tell me She surely must wish
me to break the engagement; I think
| will go and see her. No, I will not
she does not know her father is about to
fail. 1t is his work he is forcing her
to marry me and she loves some one else
Yes, now think of it, old Peters
heard him say his child was going to
marry so well, and 1, poor fool, felt fat
tered. How could she act so deceitfully :?
But those were her cruel words, L am
going to send you valentine that will
prove my real feelings for you I'll
never see her again, I'm off to Califor-
MIA to night"
He rang the bell for Bridget, who was
startled by his white face. Pack up my
things; I'm going away for a long time,
something unexpected has happened.
Take care of everything and get some
one to live here with you, and never tell
where I am gone" How his heart ached.
Only last night he was so happy. eyes,
she intended those words for warming
when she said she was afraid we would be
separated. Oh the false creature, and
yet it will take long to vanish every
thought of her, but no other woman will
get me or my money. MOI I'll leave it
to dear, faithful Bridget, who would
never do me an unkindness. Well,
will not murmur, better to find it out
now than after we were married"
AS Richard sped on his way, going
farther and farther from her, Bertha sat
waiting for him. Too lovely she looked,
adorned with his favorite colors, and eyes
frightened by expectation She loved
him above everything on earth, and as the
hours passed and he came not she grew
restless and walked to the window, she
never forgot that night. Midnight found
her still at the window, and so earnestly
had she watched that portion of the
street he was accustomed to cross, that
her eyes seemed fixed. The next morn
ing she appeared at breakfast haggard
with loss of rest.
"Why, my daughter" the old Judge
said, "You look as though Richards
sudden departure was not unknown to
you"
Father, what did you say, am I 60
ing crazy, Richard gone, where, what
for {? Oh! father, do not drive me mad. +"
my dear child, calm yourself. -
Richard has gone, but where no one
knows he left only the woman to take
care of his possessions with the unsatis-
factory message to his friends that he did
not know when he would ever come
back"
"What does it all mean Oh father,
can you not find out 4? Is there no word
for me? We parted with the sincerest
assurances of each others devotion"
"My dear child, the only explanation
can give will be to you the announce
ment of fresh troubles 4 am bankrupt.
The mines in which ! have risked my
all, have ceased to yield, and we are
penniless not homeless, for little cot
tage in the suburbs, which belonged to
your dear mother, we will be oblige to
live in. and will, Of course, lead very
obscure life. old Peters told me he
heard Richard asking if it was true about
the mines, so, dear child, that seems the
most reasonable supposition can make
Father, the life you speak Of | will
gladly fly to, as | will never trust man
again but believe Richard, so contemp-
tible, | never will. / fear he has sus-
tanned some loss which impelled him to
leave, knowing if be saw me, | would
interpose. Surely in few days will
hear from him when everything will be
cleared" this to her father, but in the
privacy of her room Bertha yields to her
worst fears He: heart was crushed
One idea intruded itself, that he was
Disguised With her valentine as she knew
bis opinion upon the relations which
should be maintained even when en-
gagged.
But then we we're TO have been mar
ried so soon. 1t is all so strange, and
can never guess"
The magnificent residence was aban-
doned and Bertha spent her days 10 per-
feet retirement, now passive and per-
fectly resigned 10 her fate, which she felt
was inevitable. She was more beautiful |
than ever, for the eyes which we're al
ways so bright had now dreamy look.
which will become Der picture face. It
was Valentines day again and she too
was thinking sadly Of the past. Not a
word bad she heard in all the FIVE years
from her idol, Richard Alcott.
CHAPTER III.
Richard had arrived home as sudden
ly as he bad left. On answering the door