The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-08-19
with such a delightful manP He might

with such delightful manp He might
| improve me in your eyes,"
"Oh, yes, he would do you ever SO
much good" she assured him.
"I'll be on the lookout for him." said
the young man, cheerfully. "Good-
night"
He sauntered down the lane toward
the woods, and Bertha remained stand
ing under the apple tree where he had
Thus employed, and idly pulling to
pieces bit of grass, she did not notice
the approach of another person, until an
aged voice close by her hailed her with,
Good evening, Miss Finch" seeming
almost to prolong Atlee's Goodnight"
which was still in her ears.
1t was Clifford.
She turned her head and greeted him
with decided GOODNESS.
"Glad to see ye at last," he continued,
sitting down on stone. cts awful
warm" And he removed his telt hat,
to sponge out the interior carefully with
q bandana which he produced for the
purpose. "Did you get those pills?
First-rate to brace up with this wealth
er. Good for lassitude, rheumatism,
gout, neuralgy, headache-but l sup
pose you read the billP"
mo, l haven't yet," announced
Bertha, with threatening Eevity.
"Now that disappoint@ me-" said
Clifford. you don't know their vir-
tues. Why, my second wife, she
couldn't get along without them"
"Horrid old wretch y commented his
listener, internally and proceeded aloud:
You mean they saved her lifeP"
"Yes, yes" returned the dealer, de-
lliberately, "they did-as long as she
lived"
"Well, mine seems to be pretty we'll
saved without them," said the girl;
land anyway don't have any of those
troubles that you mention. So l don't
think need the pills"
mot just now, maybe" Clifford ad-
mitted; "buC then you won't always be
so young as you are now, and you're
bound to have rheumatism. You'll be
an old woman before you know it, and
an ounce of prevention's worth pound
of cure"
81 think III wait" said Bertha, find
ing her venerable idol very repulsive
on this second interview; land if you'll
excuse me now, Mr.. Clifford, 1 must go
into the house,"
ITO get the boxp" he inquired. "All
right. But wish you'd wait a minute.
I've got something particular to say to
YOU"
Something particular"
Eyes. Thinking of that young Atlee,
1 made some inquiries, and, as far as l
could see, you are the young lady"
What young ladyp Anyway, Mr.
Atlep has come back now"
''Oh yes, know that. But you never
fancied hi much. and l guess he don't
stand in the way"
81 don't understand what you're talk
ing about"
"That's just what I've come TO now,"
said Clifford. "Tm sort of lonely, but
I've got some property laid by. aud I'm
looking round for wife. What do you
say TO mep"
"You! think you are horrible"
Bertha cried, frankly. AN old, old
man like you, that been twice married,
looking for wife, She recoiled invol-
UNFAIRLY.
There's nothing like an old fellow
of the world" he argued. Then sud-
denly-Bertha could hardly believe IL
true-he dropped ON his knees. "Won't
you have meP" he entreated.
She moved toward the house rapidly,
us ifescaping from a hideous sight.
"Stop! Istop!' cried the ancient
sutor, in q remarkable vigorous voice.
IF you do that III tear all my hair
out"
Something in the tone arrested
Bertha Finch's flight, and she looked
, around. At the same instant the anoma-
lous old man, standing up very tall,
, flung his entire head OF white hair at
her feet, and stood revealed, felt hat in
; hand, as Guy Atlee!
She covered her face in confusion,
6 hut lAA <f l1n-. s,,fo
| laugh the next instant, as he advanced
toward her This is more foolish than
my disappearance" Guy was confessing,
) "but the temptation was too great.
Are you angryP"
= "It was you all the timer" demanded
she, still slightly bewildered.
l Oh" course. The real Clifford died 9
couple of years ago. That day in the
train | was Just going to get out here tC
try my experiment, when | saw you a
e the depot, and you walked right in to 81
5 down next to me-"
Bertha turned hot and cold as she rar
= over the car conversation in her mind tC
r see whether she Lad committed hersel
4 in any way.
"You have rejected me twice now,
: continued Guy, coming very close, ant
f standing in tail humility before her =
once lOr Del0g 100 young, ana once 10
=. being too old. Don't you think yov
e could make sort OF compromise now
and take me apart from my age, as
j.. man who is willing to devote himself t
0 you, young and oldP You are no
t angryw
e NO." said Bertha, looking dow
!, very much indeed. 81 have been foo
ish too, Guy"
She made the compromise. Harper
4 BGsdr.