The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-02

ed at your lovei To-day am an old woman,
while you may still pass for young man
See what you have been saved
And it was at this moment that the mem
ory of the old love changed to new shape
and his new love dominated him. Yet
even at that moment, he was dazzled and
confused by the strangeness Of his position.
He had been rejected because he was too
young and now he might be repulsed be-
cause he was too old.
Just then Bertha entered the room, sslut.
ed him, and sitting down by her mother, he
saw them side by side, and his memory and
his new experience played strange havoc in
his brain and heart.
Stay with us the day, Philip, if you WILL
said the lady. we are quite out of society
here. We do not even dress for dinner, and
Mr.. Hare has expressed desire to make
your acquaintance. He has heard of you,
and l believe, admres something scientific
you have done
He accepted the friendly offer, and in ten
minutes he found himself at home, after the |
rare manner of those homes where few are
admitted to break the calm of secluson, are |
so treated that they never wish to 60 away
again, except for the convenience and free
dom of their hosts.
The lady of that primitive home being |
called away to family duties, the task of en-
tertainng Philip fell upon BERTHE.
Utterly unsophisticated, and having lived
II
her position by no means an awkward one.
On the contrary, she was delighted and
quite ignoring all sense of their short &C
quaintance, she threw herself, hea and
soul, into the pleasant task of showing him
her faith her-in-law's house and grounds, the
labratory his puritanical library and his va
rious scientific contrivances.
And you love him very much, Bertie p
Ye-es, she said hon' silly enough q love
him, but am little afraid Of him, because
he thinks Puritan blood the best in the
world, and, therefore, he cannot think me as
good:: ::as his own children--not that he lets
me see he thinks this, but l know it must
be so'
you must feel dull ..in this place, he
said.
The little fingers were busy with the but
tons of his coat, as she answered, Il dare say
it is very ungrateful and stupid on my part,
Philip, but how can help it, if I must be
gay and happy? When Mr.. Harre talks of
the massacre of 300 years since, look at the
roses and think how they have bloomed 300
, times since then, and cannot help fancying
that it would be better to forget all about
! that wickedness
But, Bertie'-by this time he found him
self growing to use the diminutive of her
) Christian name with complete familiarity,
for it is astonishing how fast we sometimes
l mentally travel-'but, BERTHE, memory some
. times is very delightful quality
t Yes, she said, when the the thing re.
Q membered is delightful
Suddenly, growing hot all over, he made
a up his mind and he said 'And would you
feel like an intruder in my house, Bertie%
y She shook her head,
Q No. she said.
And do you think in time-s little tim,
that you could love me "
f He said afterward he was so afraid of losin,
e her, that he was greedy to speak.
n She looked up in amazement.
+ why, l have loved you all my life'
s All your life, BERTHE p
/ Yes mamma taught me to pray for yol
as soon as l could speak and it seeme'
Is quite natural that you should save me wbel
ia | was on the rock. When mamma wrot
and YOU did not come to see us, / erie
J., dreadfuly, and so did mamma and, Phil
IL ip, | think if you went away and did nc
n see us again, that should never, never lov
IS any one else
9 'Alone-all your life Heaven forbid
= he said.
ir But you have lived all alone since yo
were man =
e And | have been very desolate some
times
le And | dare say | shall when you G
g away
But am l to 60 away?
III will you stop?' she asked
~ lhcIe was Sieal, e"eoi '6h' ~ isi "a
N nocent eyes as she asked the question.
e. Then-tben she was once more lifted
his arms.
lg All . but not to be set down on the sho
s. of life and left with an address card.
:; BERTHE has never learned the true solutic
ne of her mothers early association of Berthe
I'd life with Philip Hessitone.
y But Berthe is very happy and, as the II
Ill suit of her happiness, she has become one
Ii the most desperate match-makers in Il
world. Therefore, hope you may me
RS. her, and, above all, trust her, for her instin
er teaches her who will be happy with who
CHI and already she counts three capital match
ad as due to her management.
ny She is the most desperately -determin
woman in the world, and certainly one
to the happiest.