Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-07-31

make very pleasant companion during
long winter evenings.
'Now Eta, ia that the best you have to
say for such mani You had better think
twice before you try to flirt with him."
''lndeed, my mind Is quite made up, and
intend to make him propose before re-
q IN home"
Time rolled on. Dame Rumor had il
that Horace Lester and Eta Mayfair were
surely engaged; but Horace also paid at
tention to Bertie, and continued to divide
his time equally between the two While
with Eta he was very gay, and sometimes
little sentimental; and she used to wonder
why he did not propose. Instead of the
fii-sation she at first intended, she had
given him tile warmest love OF which her
shallow nature was capable. With BERTHE
he was always gentle and kind and by
and-by she too began TO care more for hlm
than she would have confessed. She fought
against her love. thinking he was engaged
TO her friend.
Affairs were in this state when an uncx-
pected event cut the Gordian knot
: The whole party were out horseback
riding. Horace, as usual, divided his atten-
tons pretty evenly between Eta and Ber-
tie. They We're laughing merrily, when
suddenly Bertie's horse took fright at some
object on the rearslde, reared and then
started on mad gallop. Horace whipped
up his horse, and endeavored TO overtake
her, but had not gone far before he saw
BERTHE fall to the ground, where she lay
perfectly stih. Springing from his horse,
he took her in his arms
20 Berthe Speak to mel Say you are
not dead" '
She opened her eyes for a moment and
smiled at him, then relapsed into uncons-
ciouSnesS.
BY this time the remainder of the party
had come up, Eta loud in her profession
of grief, May cried quietly w
'Oh, Horace, she is not dead, is shel"
asked Albert. .. .. .....-..E
mo, she is not dead, only stunned, re-
piled he. ''But we must get her home as
soon n possible.
They succeeded in obtaining a convey
ance from neighboring house, and were
soon on their way back. Mrs Ray met
them at the door, greatly alarmed, having
seen them advancing at distance. They
conveyed BERTHE 10 her room and summoned
a doctor, who said she would be quite we'll
in few days.
As Bertie was playing the invalid, next
morning, looking very lovely in her white
wrapper, the bell rang, and the servant an
nouncel Mr.. Lester. AS Horace entered
and saw her looking so pale, he exclaimed.
''Oh, BERTHE, my darling! If you had
been killed what should / have donel"
BERTHE looked surprised, and said
'Really, Mr. Lester, this liz strange ian
guage for you to use to me-.
''Bertle, BERTHE Don't you know love
youG"
''Are you not engaged to Ettaa | was
under that impression.
Then let me say il was false one.
Miss Eta is not lady would chose for a
wife; but you are my ideal of what wo-
man should be, darling, and if y"u will be
my wife | am sure you will never have
cause to regret it. Will you, Bertief"
She did not answer him in words, but he
read favorable answer in her downcast
face, and sealed their bethrothal with a
kiss.
AT that moment Eta stood in the door
way; she turned very pale, and then went
away as silently as she came.
The next morning she received tele-
graph TO the effect that her father was not
expected to live, and he desired her pre-
sence immediately. Of course every one
was very sorry for her, but they were
in their hearts glad that something called
her away.
When summer had heightened into Au-
tumn, and the leaves were gold and brown,
there was double wedding in the pleasant
little church. Horace and Albert. were the
grooms, and BERTHE and May the Brides.
BERTHE never knew, until her wedding day,
that she was going to marry rich man.
In after years, when Horace and BERTHE
had grown gray in love and harmony, they
received letter from Eta, asking for
charity. Her father, on his deathbed had
exacted promise that she would marry
friend of his who was very wealthy, which
she did; and he, speculating largely both
with her wealth and his own, had lost all,
and then died leaving her penniless and
friendless. Horace brought her to their
home, and both he and BERTHE treated her
as a sister until the end of her days, which
indeed were not many.