St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-06-04
THE POWER OF LOVE.

Do fott loNC ilC ihttN'' W. 'h.
Bertrace, as you did last Friday 2
These were the concluding word .
of a letter which Bertraee HouGhan.
a fair, graceful girl of nineteen, held
in ber hand, on one finger Of which
sparkled n diamond ring-the
pledge of Herbert Hanufn that he
would love and cherish her forever.
What n dear. silly old boy he is,
to be sare," Bertrace said to her
self, and a merry laugh rippled
through ner pearly teeth aud
flowed gracefully out over the ripe,
red lips that seemed made only fcl
kissing, although there were dark
stories ID lat in the HoY!ihaI house
hold that when the dried beef jar
was fuuud empty enc day, Bertrace
had only smiled in her languid
way, and said something about try
ing to keep up with the procession,
if it took all the dried beef in town.
Her parents were rich but honest.
and loved their only daughter with
iaai, trusting. passionate love
that had no bounds; her every wish
WAS law. and yet, Knowing tins. sll"
would often shrink from letting her
wants be known, SO retiring was her
nature. Once Mrs. H,ulillnn dis
COVERED Beltrace standing beside II
marble Pysche that ornamanted the
parlor bay window, au,i silently
weeping.
What is the matter, cLild?" said
the mother, coming 10 her
daughters side and kissing her.
"Can you not trust me with your
yri.f?"
Yes, ma mma," said the girl, look
ing at iier with tear-stained nose.
willie bright smile iliuminei her
cuuntenan:e, like the sun Shining
,lurins the shower, Il have always
trusted You. Iwant pair of striped
stockinss" "-and blushing deeply.
she hid her face i'll her LIotlIer )
bosom.
From that moment they under
stood ZACH other perfectly. 1t was
II beautiful picture 10 see them to-
gether III the house, more like sis
ters than mother and daughter.
Their lives knew no shadow. and
they held up old Mr. Houlihan for
whatever they waited i'll TIE way .f
clothes. There were no other chil-
dren. Bertrace had the track all to
herself
She had met Herbert Hanafn Mt
Il fair held under the auspices Of the
United Italian Benevolent Sorieties.
and loved him deeply. They Were
TO be married IN tue fail. 1t would
save coal. Mr. Hou;ihan said. but
Brrtrace only l;,ushed Il little light,
sunny, ,hree-ior-ten Gems laugh.
and said her darling papa was quite
too awfully quite.
1t was Juiy. From cloudless
sky the sun belt down with pitiless
fury upon Il railroad. Near by
was grove from whence proceeded
sounds of l.ughter. A train stood
on siding. Three brakelnen Were
asleep i'll the front car. This train
had brough. the excursionists to the
grove. 1t was waiting to take them
b ok. Come with me TO the grove.
Bertrace Huulihan is the center of
II merry gloup. In her hands she
holds custard pie.
Some one calls. She places the
pie on Il Chair, and turns 10 see
what is wanted. Herbert Hanatin
joins the party. I'm tired" he
says, aud sits lowh i'll the chair. In
s,lhctively he feels that mistake
has been made. IF it is discovered,
he says to himself. Il shall be over
whelmed with rilicule, and lose
Bertrare. She could never love II
man with custard pie on his
pants"
Bersrace again joined the party
and greeted herber. afieetioua.e'y.
She was abont to ask for the pie,
when look from Herbert told hei
all. "Would I betray him for a
paltry pie ?" she murmured. mo,
not Tor a whole bakery"
Herbert was saved. SucL is the
power of love.
you're sister 'Me!ia feller. ain
you r. asked the little tro;ter. not
yet ont of dresses. well. what lC
YOU think about it?" WAS the leply.
ing question. with a redness of the
lace that nearly matched his hair
81 fink, said The little one, "thal
mamma talks Il fully bout the
margarine on your hair grttin' the