The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-08-23
III

lofty ard rpaighfly hnuze. Eat blonde
about twenty years of age, busily en-
rployed with her needle. The furniture
q. the room was clean and tasteful. Ihs
girls whole dress would mot have fetched
many kreutzers;; hut every article fittst
lhsr MS well asif it had cost hundreds. Ele1
fair locks shaded o face frightened by .
pair of eyes of heavenly blue. The
spirit,Uf order, modesty and cleanliness
reignsd in everything around her. Her
features were delicate, like Those of ONE
mobile horn; her eyes betrayed sieepinesf
and anxiety, and ever and anon a deep
sigh rose from the maiien'E breast,
Suddenly steps were heard ON the stair
case, and her face lighted up with JOY.
She listened, and doubt seemed to
shadow her brow. Then came knock
at the door, which made her tremble 30
much that alle almost wanted the cour-
age to say 'Feome in" "A young man,
silabbily dressed, entered the 1oom, and
made a low and awkward bow.
'f1 beg pardon, miss" said he; "tioes
Herr Schmidt live heref'
'"Tes, sir. What is ypur pleasure"
care you his daughter, Berthsf"
g" am"
a"Then ii is you that 4 seek. / am
from your father."
"For heavens sake, where is heH
Something must have Lhappened--.he has
atayed away all might"
Cline misfortune is not very great. :"
."lOh, my poor, poor fatharl what
ahall i hear7"
The young mann seemed to observe
THESE visible remarks of anxiety with
gneat interest; he said" DO not be
frightened; it lis nothing OF great impor-
tance. Your father met last might an
old acquaintance, who invited him to q
tavern. Ihey had supper together; hut
sJhen the landlord came for his hill yunr
father's friend mad decamped, and left
MIN to pay the score. He had mt aufh~
Gent money for this; and now the host
will not let him go until he lis paid, and
declares that unless he gets his money
he willrsend him to prison."
"Io prisonLg" exclaimed the girl.
d" Can you tell me how much tine bill
comes to?"
Three fnrins and o half.."
"OGOdl" sighed the girl, sail have
,tioes Lot amount to more than one form;
hut i win go at once to Madame Berg,
and beg of her 10 advance me the
money"
"Who lie Madame Berg2"
"The niilliner for whom I work.
"Bnt if Madame Berg does not ad-
vance the m0ney--what then?"
The girl burst into tears.
al am afraid she will refuse. 4 al.
ready owe her one form, and she is very
hard"
F0r what purpose did Won borrow
the money you owe herr"
The girl heaitated 10 reply.
Won may trust me-"
" Well, my fathsr is very weak, and
requires strengthening. Iborrowed that
money TO get q quarter of a fowl for
him"
"Under THESE circumstances, ] fear
Madame berg viii NOT give You any. 4
possess nothing. Have yon any yalu-
ables mere. Here lis one form, hut that
lie all upon which we could raise some
money!"
Bertha considered for moment.
~ have nothing" said ahe at length,
Shut my poor mothers prayar+book.
On her death-bed ahe antreated me not
to part with 1T, and there is nothing IN
the world i hold more sacred than her
memory, and the promise i gave her
but still, for my tathar's sake, i must
not hesitate" With q trambling hand
she took the book down from the ahalf.
"Oh, air" said ahe, "dnring many q
aleepless night j have been accustomed
TO enter the secret thoughts of my heart
on the bisuk leaves at the end of the
book. j hope NO one win ever know
whose writings they are; you will prom
Use me thatfp
"Gartainlys Bartha. Twill take care
that your secrets ahall not be profaned.
But nov get ready thst we may CO."
While she Ilett the room to put ON her
bonnet and shawl, Karl Traft, 0for the