Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-12-21

that followed, the girl grew to love
everything animate and inanimate round
Poppy Farm.
One evening she loitered in the great
sloping gardens before the verandahed
green shuttered house,
Such gardens
Not the painfully regular Dutch dia'
grams we city folks boast-prim. con.
else, boxhedge-but whole sheets OF
color, fragrant, luxuriant, bIoomful.
A gentleman passing, young, good
looking, grey-clad. paused suddenly
outside the low rustic fence.
A moment more and he had vaulteC
over and was standing, bareheaded, al
Bertie's side.
Miss Worthington, may hope / an
not forgotten ?"
/ "Mr, Carlyn I
She held out little tanned hand, q
hot glow kindling under the big straw
gardening hat.
81 have been absent from West Row
some time, " he said, looking quizzically
Mt the bright changeful face under the
shadow hat "but Mrs. Dent and are
very old frienos.
$50 being terribly behind-hand in my
visits to Poppy Farm, l intend now to
take advantage of the weather and atone
for my neglect"
Somehow BERTHE fell to thinking that
night, as she sat in the shadow of the
rosy chintz curains, of Cordela's last
scornful words
81 suppose you'll have some country
admirers in that almost mythical West
Row, but don't lose your heart. BERTHE.
They're all the same, these rustic
beaux awkward, blushing, stupid"
And then she thought of Reuben Car
lyn's easy courteous manner. his quiet
gentlemanly grace
"And if Mr.. CarIyn is n country far
mer, Mr.. Moon," said BERTHE coolly,
npostrophizing the placid smiling face
IN the sky above her, "I-well, don't
really dislike country farmers, that's all.
And three days later she wrote Cor
della long recrossed letter, saying she
was going to marry West Row boy
and live in West Row for ever"
And Cordelia replied frigidly that
they had always known (Bertie) would
disgrace the family.
"You don't mind being a farmers
wife, pet ?" Reuben questioned eagerly.
Mind
"Of course L mind, sir.
"But when there is no other way of
satisfying O troublesome boy
"By-the-way, when shall I see the
farm ?"
Soon, my darling"
Caleb Worthington chuckled and
laughed as he read Cordelia's letter.
"Pack up, Berthe; we must be home
as soon as mamma
"Our pleasant holiday is over.
''Don't look so forlorn, little one,
Carlyn's coming up too"
1t was evening when the trio reached
the city.
The carriage rolled through the
fashionable thoroughfares and stopped
before great mansion.
Lights cleaned from within, lace cur.
tains huttered at the windows.
Reuben sprang out and held his hand
to Berthe.
BewIdered, she passed with him, her
father following, up the steps and into
the long lighted drawing-room.
A little silver-haired old lady, in a
dark rustling silk, came briskly forward.
"Welcome, my dear.
Don't you know me?
''I'm Reuben's mother"
And then, as in dream, BERTHE saw
her father shaking hands with the dimin-
utive person In black, and Reuben kiss
ing her heartily.
Then as Caleb Worthington caught
sight of Bertie's bewildered face, he
burst into shout of laughter.
'It is all right, Bert but what a con-
spiracy it was to be sure.
"Reuben's the son of my old friend
Jim Carlyn.
"He was badly smitten that day in
my Office, and got up the romantic no.
ton of winning you for love.
"He's done it, my girl, he's done it. y
"And aren't you country farmer ?"
Reuben laughed, and caught the little
wondering face in his white hands.
I'm West Row boy. was born and
lived there, own q nice place down there
to-day but this is my only farmhouse,
little woman.
''Are you sorry?"
"And now you've had glimpse OF
your domain, hurry up, Bert, for NAM
mas expecting us at home" Dried Mr..
Worthington.
And Bertie laughed-a little, happy,
hysterical laugh-and hld her face on
her lovers breast.
"Oh, I'm so glad.
"You naughty papa"
Then, womanlike-
"What will Cordelia say ?"
But BERTHE, so happy in her beautiful