Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-27

ford scornfully. "Why, she is mere child
with yellow hair and great big blue eyes
Nobody could see anything in her to adj
mire."
"Well, you know there is no accounting
for taste. What l say is only what [ heard
and 1 have heard that they are engaged, OF
next door to it,"
81 don't believe word of it !" Mrs. CraW.
ford said energetically.
"That is as you please"
But whether or not Mrs. Crawford believed
the rumor, the tidings annoyed her; and
when Mr.. GerOme had gone out later she
went upstairs, ostensibly in her character
of boarding house keeper, to see that Mr.
Gerome was we'll supplied with towels and
fresh water, but really to prospect about a
little.
She never looked fer the good fortune
that befell her. She had thought it just
possible that Mr.. Gerome might have writ.
ten or received love-letter, and possibly
laid the torn fragments conveniently in his
waste-basket.
| But it was not scrapS-it was an open
letter-yes, actually an open letter on the
table, the envelope addressed to Mr.. Frank
Gerome, and the sheet beginning, "My dear
Frank-my dearest husband" !"
AS if every muscle in her body was sud-
denly changed to iron, Mrs Crawford be.
came straight and rigid in an instant.
ooh, my!' she gasped. "Don't let me
judge my fellow-creatures too rashly. Let
me look at the signature. Oh, dear! OH
my gracious! if it actually isn't Your own
loving wife, Julien Oh, how faint it makes
me! To think-to think he is a married
man!
"How thankful am I never encouraged
his sinful attentions Well, Bertha Dem
how, hnl fn o,,ly
for this. I always knew that girl would
come to harm, with her mouth always on a
broad laugh, for nothing in the world but,
to show her teeth, just because they happen
to be white and regular-false teeth like
as not.
eyes it's my duty to warn that girl--my
painful duty; but Cornelia Crawford never
yet shrank from duty"
All, if poor little Bertha Demorests skin
had been less like a rose-petal, her eyes less
lovely blue, Mrs. Crawford certainly would
not have taken such fervent pleasure in
performing her ''painful duty"
Bertha was all dressed for the picnic the
next morning, and looking as distractingly
pretty as only q blonde can look in pure
white muslin, when Mrs. Crawford was
shown into the room.
"Ah, you look very nice, Bertha but
remember that all flesh is grass"
eyes, I know it. Did you wish to see
me, Mrs. Crawford?"
ayes. Going to the picnic?''
EYES," Bertha returned WOnderingly.
81 suppose Mr. Gerome is to be there"
"I-I believe So"
'"Then don't you CO."
"Why not ?" Bertha asked, arranging the
hyacinth bells in a rich blue cluster for the
waist of her dress.
Mrs. Crawford closely watched the slowly
crimsoning cheeks. ..
"People say he is sweet on you, Bertha"
"Well, then, people had better mind their
"Bertha Demorest," Mrs. Crawford went
on, 81 have come to warn you. Beware OF
that man-beWare of him !"
"What do you mean?"
"Just this-NIr. Gerome is 4 married
manw
"What utter nonsensen Bertha cried, an
grily and incredulously.
cit is not nonsense, and | know it," Mrs.
Crawford said. 81 have seen letter from
his wife-do you hear that, Bertha Demo
rest from his wife, written to him"'
"Did he show it to yOu:"
Slightly discomftted, Mrs. Crawford was
yet not to be routed.
"No matter about that. 1t is enough that
/ saw the letter. And, Bertha, as it is my
duty to warn you, so it is your duty, and
me, to punish his falsehood and deceit"
"Mr. Geronc is nothing to me-" Bertha
said. "GoOd morning, Mrs. Crawford
You will have to excuse me-; | am rather
in a hurry"
And when Mrs. Crawford was gone, she
locked her door and sat down and cried until
her sweet face looked like drenched flower.
"And thought he was so true, so grand,
so good !" she sobbed. "Oh how could he
how could he deceive me so wickcdly"
Miss DemoreSt was not at the picnic that
day, and Frank Gerome searched about the
grounds until it was quite too late for any
possibility Of her arrival and then went to
see what had changed her resolution of the
night before, and found her looking very
cold, and white, and lovely, as she sat alone
on the terrace.
"Bertha ~ he exclaimed reproachfully,
"you promised me faithfully you would be
at the picnic, and / find you here. Why did
yOu-"
"My name is Miss Demorest," she said
haughtily.
Gerome bit his lip.
"'Miss Demorest," if it pleases you bet
ter" he said with Il half smile at what he
believed to be a display of girlish dignity,
'Wny ulu you deceive me 50 ~
"Why have | deceived yOu!" Bertha
flashed "why have you deceived ME ?"
81 don't understand what you mean"
"It strikes me you are remarkably diff
cult of mprehension. However, | will
put the question to you as plainly as posi-
ble. Mr.. GerOme, why have you never
spoken to me about your wife ~
"FOr a very good reason. | wouldn't be
ant to speak about what | haven't gOt.''
"You are telling me a deliberate false
hood. You are a married man, and you
this WHILE"
GA married man !" he said, his voice
thrilling with incredulousness "yOu are
talking in conundrumS. am not a married
man, and have been playing no treacher-
Gus part to you least Of all, Bertha, my lit
tie golden-haired darling"
to cry in the most undignifed fashion.
"Then what did Mrs. Crawford mean ,"
she demanded.
Gerome seths lips tightly together.
"Ah Mrs. Crawford has been talking,
has she ? What did she say::"
'"rhat you were married"
She must have been crazy between spite
and ill-nature." Gerome exclaimed angri-
ly 81 shall not allow her tongue to Wag
after this fashion. Bertha, will you walk
down there with me"'
AS a consequence of this invitation, Mrs.
Crawford was considerably startled by the
appearance of Mr. Gerome and Miss Demo
rest as she sat darning the household linen
in the dining room, and secretly bewailing
that no one had invited her to the picnic.
"N1rs. Crawford" Gerome said abruptly,
as he entered the room, "what is this story
you have been telling Miss Demorest about
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