The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-03-16
SELECT STORY.
JACKS MARY.

Il was young, was fair, | had once
not care, sang Bettina Lyons in
| doleful tone.
"Yet you pined like a slave, not by
the sad sea wave exactly, but at the old
farm, broke in a merry voice.
so did, Glare, and often wish my
self back again
what and leave all your bright pros
pects?
If you mean visions of the future as
they present themselve now, yes, if |
could take up the old, happy dreams of
the past again
But you cannot make me believe
that you would forsake your brilliant
prospects and return to the hum drum
life you Quilted
Il would indeed, for cannot even
think of my brilliant future, as you term
it, without shudder
Come, girls, if you are going to the
fair it is time you were dressed, said
Mrs Chalmers, entering the room where
the two cousins were seated.
Aunt Winnie, ! wish you would
leave me home. | am not in the mood
for pleasure today said Bettina.
Il did not bring you here to NOPE
You had plenty of time for that in the
country. When you have secured your
own comfortable home you can NOPE
in it to your hearts content, but not
now
'One would think that securing a
comfortable home was the end and aim
of women's existence. | am heartily
tired of being preached to about settling
in life, and to tell you as | told you a
hundred times before, Aunt Winnie, |
will not marry for the sake of home.
Mrs. Chalmers looked at her with Sc
we're disapprobation. ....
4 gave you credit for being reason
able woman, Bettina not a wayward
child she said
'Of course, Tn wayward for claiming
the right to think for myself on the sub
ject of matrmony.'
THAT will do, my dear: remain al
home and return to the farm tomorrow
if you choose; have no desire to in
fuence your conduct. Come, Clare, you
at least; are always ready to please me.
Yes, auntie; l am quite prepared
and will only detain you while / put or
my bonnet and gloves, was the prompt
reply.
Bettina spent the afternoon commun
ing with her own thoughts, which were
far from pleasant ones, q will be tru'
to my own love whatever may betide,
she was singing, when her aunt anG
cousin returned
'Oh, Bet exclaimed the latter wher
they were alone, we had a lovely time
but Aunt Winnie was disappointed, sh
is so anxious about your future, yo,
know
Now, Glare, hush; don't you begin
sermon. | get enough of that from
auntie. have been questioning m
heart this afternoon, and have determin
ed that no one shall persuade me t.
marry man do not love for the SAX
of a comfortable home. What comfor
could | find in sitting down by his fire
side with longing regrets for the pres
ence of another? | would be actin!
false to myself and false to Mr. Wethel
lis, and although | do not like him h
deserves better fate than that
But if that other person doesn't Car
for you?'
q never said he didn't care for me
and Bettina's eyes flashed resentfully
'An ugly old cousin whom he is pledge,
to marry stands between us, and tn
worst of it is she doesn't eveI preten,
- to care for him. Their parents concoct
ed the match when they were too youn,
to understand anything about such mat
ters. Fred would give up everything
friends, home, fortune, if | would con
sent, but how can | when the failure u
her pet scheme would break his lad
{mOther's heart. My coming out of tn
affair heartbroken is of no consequence
for | am oGl y.a poor girl, who is expect
ed to marry the first man that offers
comfortable home
Did you ever see this cousin?'
NO, replied Bettina, wiping he
eyes.
Then how do you know she is oil
and ugly?'
Il know she is older than Fred, and
think she must ..be awful homely, els
he would have learned to care for her
"A very logical conclusion, laughe
Clare. Perhaps the assertion that sh
does not love him is based on one,
But am sure she doesn't love him
interrupted the other eagerly. 'Ho
could she hide it it she did? Fred kne
that loved him long before we talke
about it, but you see he felt in hone
bound to his cousin, and knew it VIZ
not right to speak of love to me.
lie evidently overcame his scruple,
Pa observed Clare.
. Yes, after he was perfectly convin
- ed that his cousin didn't care for hin
= Indeed she told him so.
Under such circumstances, if she is
true woman, she would conceal h
| love, even though her heart were breaI
| ing,
| Bettina looked quickly
| 'Were you ever in love, Clare? 81
| asked.
| Glare flushed little. 'You dor
! suppose would tell you, even if l wer
\ do not approve of parading such ms
| ters before the world
1 'Oh, perhaps you are one of the kin
4 who would let coneealment like
a worm'-What is the rest of it? Som
: thing about damask cheeks; only yo
- cheeks could hardly be called damas
for you are usually frightfully pale
Glare smiled good naturedly,
Il trust | am one of the kind wi
wouldn't make goose of myself, a
fret about n man who didn't caro 4