The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-07
BENEATH LOVES SUM-

told,
Because the sun shonc 30, seemed pures
gold.
There was hero, hero but one,
Who had his gilded hour beneath Loves Sun
And then, All me! the sunshine died away
And left the hero bare, dull, common clay.
Are you the hero or are you the sun!
word, mon ami, and my fables done.
Il yon must blame, be just and blame the sun,
Erica ceased reading. She laid dowr
shc magazine she was reading, and lean
mo back in her rattan rocker, looked
up ut her sister with bright serious eyes
s.You are the sun, Bertha. All, believe
me, dear!'
Bertha smiled and shook her head
at is a light which shall never die
uway, n sun which shall never set!'
she answered with sweet resolute'
ness.
She was standing in the great bay
window leaning idly against the oaken
casing, tworound, firm arms lifted an
giewisc above her head, two slim clasp
SCI hands, snow-white upon the black
ness of her hair.
The folds of the loose crimson wrap
per she wore suggested-rathe than re-
realed the curves of a figure youthful
and exquisite The small, shabby slip
pers covered feet arched and dainty. A
slender slip of girl, she, with pale,
rcgular-featured face, redeemed from
mere prettiness by pair of magnificent
midnight eyes. Undoubtedly Bertha
WAS the beauty of the family. And a
very large family it was, too.
There was tall. handsome, rollcking
Rick, bronze-haired and blue-eyed;
there were Dot and Dora, the twins, rs
much alike as peas in a pod there were
half dozen younger children, ruddy-
checked and strong-lunged, to all of
whom plain-featured, lovely-hearted
Erie, was father and mother in one.
And Just now she was to willful Bertha
most gentle monitor.
But the bare. dull. common clay
will be there all the same, my pet, she
said. Bertha dropped her hands with II
restless gesture.
NO. quickly, II did not admit
shat"
What a child it isr' Erica laughed
Ieniently.
A has ket of bright-hued WOOL lay over
turned beside her chair. She began
winding up each skein with the order
liness natural to her.
You see we know so little of him, J"
she went on with dubious and deepen
ing perplexity. "Wait! You met him
.hree weeks ago at the Leonards. He
has called here four-Das it six timesP
Yon have gone once with him to the
opera and-you are engaged to him. ]
can hardly realize it, dear 1t is all
so so sudden it almost frightens me. "
+" Unlucky the wooing that's long n
doing y gayly carolcd Bertha. "Oh,
you ridiculous darling!"
\ flood of sunshine poured in N the
window. In its clear light the room re-
minded one irresistibly of an impover-
ished old aristocrat, scedy and out at
elbows. but holding II certain suggestion
Of former magniiicence. A failed velvet
carpet covered the floor, chairs vener-
able and "thready,' broodcd rigidly
erect, and underfoot were rugs so worn
as TO have become snarcful and Nihilis-
Bic. But to carry out the smile even
MI ancient dandy may improve his per-
sOnal appearance with bright tie, n
pair of ncw-tintcd gloves n buttonhole
bouquet; and just now the Brailhwoods'
parlor lost much Of its usual mir of bar
rpn decay thanks to the ruby fire in
Che CRATE, the delightful profusion of
late magazines and periodicals scattered
everywhere, the cluster of dollhouse roses
on the centre-table.
Erica disentangled the end of II skein
OF Berlin, and commenced to wind it be-
fore she spoke again. Then it was in Il
zone of deliberate aversion.
II don't like his face, my pet. For
give me. | don't II is nervous, and
shifting, and restless He never looks
apstraightforwardly to speak or answer.
ihope this dislike of mine is unfounded
prejudice. do sincerely
1T is not like you, Erica" Bertha
cried bitterly aggrievcd. II thought
you would be kind and sympathetic
you had ever loved yourself The fin
gers guiding the rosy strand trembcd
little but went brayely on with their
TASK.
H. | dill, Bertha. -
.'You?"
'Yes. And gave him up"
BAH the girl answered scornfully,
strong with the extravaganza of her
young passion, "You call that love!
That which falters is not love. Love is
undying!'
Her sister smiled sadly. ''Ycs, love
e undying. l would have been his
wife was it not that he demanded of
ne . sacrifice contrary to every law OF
honor"
There is no sacrifice" Bertha inter-
rupted, recklessly. 81 would not make
for the man love. You were cowardly,
Ericar
Erica looked up with quick catch
ing Of her breath. Her bright ball rolled
nnheeded to the floor.
Bertha! listen, dear. Imagine n
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