Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-03-12
That Talbot Girl"

BERTHE Talbot sat upon the great fiat
stone that formed the doorstep TO the
side entrance of the Newton farmhouse,
picking currants. and Frank Desmond
lay upon the grass watching her.
''Bertie,' he said presently. do YOU
know that your lips are great deal
redder and prettier than those cur
rants?"
The girl colored furiously and COM
pressed her lips forcibly, but made No
answer.
Then he laughed.
why don't you answer me- Berthe -
The girl flashed look from her an
cry eyes, and asked in low angry
tone
''What do you expect me TO say"
"Y on might at least thank me for NV
complimentary lady would do that ~
But | am not lady" cried BERTHE
bitterly and passionately, land you
don't mean those things when you say
them to me-you know you don't"'
But do" persisted Frank, admir-
ing the flush in Bertie's tanned cheek
and the angry light in her gray eyes.
But do he repeated again, more
earnestly, lazily getting off the grass
and seating himself upon the stone be-
side her. "Berre,'i he continued,
when he was where he could talk to her
in whispers. ''why do you always laugh
or get angry when tell you that you
are Pretty, and that like you.'
Because" said BERTHE, fiercely. "no
one else tells me that I am pretty. or
that they like me, and know you are
making fun of me-"
Il am not making fun of you, BERTHE, ="
Frank whispered, with an intonation
that made Bertie's heart beat so hotly
and tumultuOuSy she almost feared her
companion could hear it. II do think
you are pretty, and what is more | love
you, and in token of it | am going to
take kiss-a lovers first kiss. Don't
make noise please, or you will awaken
some of the ladies from their afternoon
siesta There, that was the first kiss,
he said, when he had withdrawn his
arm from about her waist, and his lips
from their long, clinging touch to her
trembling ones, ''but it shall not be the
last by great many, darling"
And then. while she finished picking
the currants, he talked to her so ardent
ly of his love that BERTHE. innocent as
she was, could not but believe it.
By-and-by gay voices commenced to
sound upon the front porch, and some
one came bustling into the darkened
dining-room behind them. and Mr..
Desmond joined the young ladies, after
winning Berries promise to meet HIM
by midnight and moonlight under the
walnut tree in the field adjoining the
farm-yard.
BERTHE, havn't you finished those
currants yet:' cried Mrs Newton,
sharply, coming to the dining-room
door.
.Yes, ma am" answered the girl,
gathering together her pans of fruit,
and taking her way towards the kitch-
was supremely happy.
All. how soon some blissful allusions
are doomed To be shattered.
Late that night, when all her work
was finished, and nearly every one
about the farm had retired, BERTHE
crept to her little attic room, over the
back kitchen, and knelt down by her
open vine-screened window, hers.arm
folded upon the sill, to wait until she
should hear the clock below strike
twelve.
As she knelt there, along the lane
that ran close by that side of the house,
Frank Desmond and Miss Stonor wers
walking, the lady holding her thin
draperies from contact with the dew
with fair hands sparkling with jewels,
one great flashing diamond telling
story, that BERTHE mad she been less in
nocent of the worlds way might have
read.
II wish You TO understand, Frank
Desmond Miss Stonor was saying,
THAT l will not tolerate any Irritation
on your part with that Talbot girl
How can you talk so preposterous-
ly, Grace? As if / would flirt with a
servant girl.''
.'WelI, as it happens, Mr.. Desmond,
saw you sitting on the doorstep beside
her this afternoon, and must confess it
looked suspiciously like fiirtation.''
81 was only amusing myself with the
little igroramus," laughed Frank;
Il hope you are not getting jealous.
Grace, and imagining that | am about
TO fall in love with that girl?''
"Jealous OF you?" echoed Miss Sto-
nor, with contempt that made Franks
blood tingle, but which he dare not re-
sent since he had wooed the lady for
her money. "NO, indeed, But very
young and pretty girls are occasional
ly made the victims of young mems
citations for anything bnt laudible
reasons, and slnee we are engaged. [