New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-09-19
HER PAINFUL DUTY.

Wide Awake.
HER PAINFUL DUTY.
Through the Elusive glitter of the
warm, golden July moonlight, the last
impression that Bertha Demorcst re.
ceived was that of :. tall, graceful fig.
ure vanishing through the dusky gloom
while his goodnight words fingered
pleasantly with her:
Remember, Bertha, if you are not
at the picnic tomorrow shall not care
a fig for the whole affair. Don't forget
that you have promised me that you
will be there
II am not in love with him." Bertha
said to herself, as, returning to the par.
lor, she sat down in the tender dusk,
letting the curls droop over one slender
hand that supported her head as she
mused and dreamed. ''Of course l am
not in love with him. she thought,
feeling the warm blood flush to her very
temples at the word. Il have only
known him q month. I wonder if he
really cares so much whether or not
go to the picnic?'
She was fair little girl with bright,
blonde hair and heavenly blue eyes, and
Mr.. Frank Geromc, the handsome young
engineer who had come to Westvale to
attend to putting in the machinery in
the great block of mills recently erect.
ed, thought her the lovcliest creature he
had ever seen in his life, and particu.
larly this evening, as he went home.
ward to the picturesque old farmhouse
where he was temporarily living, and
whose majordomo was Mrs. Cornelia
Crawford.
Cornclia Crawford and Bertha Dem.
crest were both women, but there all
analogy ceased. Bertha was seventeen
l-Cornelia was forty; Bertha was fresh,
fair and u maiden-Cornelia, faded and
q widow.
"a delightful evening, Mr.. Gcrome, y
Mrs. Crawford gaily said rs he came up
the steps.
| eyes, he :tssented.
And then Mrs. Crawford edged her.
self q little to one side.
''Won't you sit down and enjoy the
moonlight little whiIe?' she asked
persuasively.
Thanks" he said. II am in hur-
ry."
And rather dissatisfied with the in
different success of her attempt ut so
ciability, Mrs. Crawford turned to an.
| other of her boarders, who was sitting
inside the window.
81 suppose he prefers cigar in his
own room to the society of ladies'" she
remarked.
"But maybe he is in q hurry to 60
and see Bertha Demorcst. They say he
is making up to her.
Bertha Demorest!' echoed Mrs.
Crawford scornfully. "Why, she is a
mere child, with yellow hair and great
big blue eyes! Nobody could see any.
thing in her to admire"
swell, you know there is no account
ing for taste. What say is only what
heard, and l have heard that they are
engaged, or next door to it.
II don't believe word of it,'' Mrs.
Crawford said encrgctically
THAT is as you please
But whether or not Mrs Crawford be.
lieved the rumor. the tidings annoyed
her; and when Mr.. Gerome had gone
out later she went upstairs, ostensibly
in her character of clearinghouse
keeper, to see that Mr.. Gerome was
well supplied with towels and fresh wa
ter, but really to prospect about lit
tie.
She never looked for the good for
tune that befell her. She had thought
it just possible that Mr.. Gerome might
have written 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 hus-
bandm
As if every muscle in her body was
suddenly changed to iron, Mrs. Craw-
ford became straight and rigid in an in
slant
ooh, my!'' she gasped. .Don't let
me Judge my fellow-creatures too rash
ly. Let me look at the signature. Oh,
dear! oh, my gracious! if it actually
isn't Your own loving wife, Juliet Oh,
how faint it makes me! To think-to
think he is married man!
Chow thankful am I never cncour-
aged his sinful attentions! Well, Ber-
tina Demorest will have her own bold
ness to thank for this. I always knew
that girl would come to harm, with her
mouth always on 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 Craw-
ford never yet shrank from duty
All, if poor little Bertha Demorest's
skin had been less like 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 dis
tractingly pretty as only 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 %
see me, Mrs. Crawford?''
Eyes. Going to the picnicp''
Yes Bertha returned wopdeylf