New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-09-19
Il suppose Mr.. Gerome Is t.
therep''

'.Why not?" Bertha asked, arrang-
ing the hyacinth bells in rich blue
cluster for the waist of her dress.
Mrs. Crawford closely watched the
slowly-crimsoning cheeks.
''People say he is sweet on you. Ber-
tha."
''Well, then, people had better mind
their own business, Bertha flashed
back.
Bertha Demorest,'' Mrs. Crawford
went on, II have come to warn you.
Beware of that man-beware of himw
"What do you mean?"
''Just this-Mr Gcrome is married
man,
what utter nonsense!" Bertha cried,
angrily and incredulously.
lit is not nonsense, and know it."
Mrs. Crawford said. 81 have seen q
letter from his wife-do you hear that,
Bertha Demorest?-fromh his wife, writ
ten to him.
.'Did he show it to you?'
Slightly discounted, 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 the duty of all young people
like you and me, to punish his falsehood
and deceit"
''Mr. Gerome is nothing to me-"
Bertha said. "Good morning, Mrs.
Crawford! You will have to excuse me;
am rather in hurry
And when Mrs. Crawford was gone,
she locked her door and sat down and
cried until her sweet face looked like q
drenched flower.
''And thought he was so true, so
grand, so good!' she sobbed. "Oh,
how could he-how could he deceive
me SO wickedly?"
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, rs she sat alone on the ter
race.
"Bertha!' he exclaimed reproachful-
ly, ''you promised me faithfully you
would be at the picnic, and [ find you
here. Why did YOU
said haughtily.
Gerome bit his lip.
"'Miss Demorest, if it pleases you
better" he said with half smile at
what he believed to be display of
girlish dignity, "why did you deceive
me so?''
''Why have I deceived you" Ber-
tina flashed; ''why have you deceived
me?'
Il don't understand what you mean"
lit strikes mo you are remarkably
difficult of comprehension. However,
l will put the question to you rs plain
~ as possible. Mr.. Gerome, why have
you never spoken to me about your
wife?'
''For a very good reason. wouldn't
be apt to speak about what | haven't
got"
"You are telling me II deliberate false
hood. You are married man, and you
have been playing u treachcrous part
all this WHILE
"a married man. he said, his voice
thrilling with incredulousness; "you
are talking in conundrums. am not
a married man, and have been play
ing no trcacherous part-to you, least
of all, Bertha, my little golden-haircd
darling
And then what did Bertha do but
begin to cry in the most undignifed
fashion.
''Then what did Mrs. Crawford
mcan?" she demanded.
Geromc set his lips tightly together.
"Ah! Mrs. Crawford has been talking,
has she? What did she say?''
''That you were married.
''She must have been crazy between
spite and Immature" Gerome exclaim-
ed angrily; II shall not allow her tongue
to wag after this fashion. Bertha, will
you walk down there with me?''
AS q consequence of this invitation,
Mrs. Crawford was considerably start
led by the appearance of Mr.. Gcrome
and Miss Demorest, rs she sat darning
the household linen in the dining room,
and secretly bewailing that no one had
invited her to the picnic.
''Mrs Crawford Gerome said alb
ruptlv, as he entered the room, ''what
is this story you have been telling Miss
DemOrest about me?'
81 told Miss Dcmorcst no story; l
told her only the truth.
''What is the truth then? Suppose
you tell me.''
THAT you re u married man, a viii
lain. dcceiver! There now"'
Eyes? Show your proof, if you
please" Gerome requested calmly.
II can do it. A letter from your own
wife upstairs, in your own room, on
your table"
"a letter directed to me?''
IA letter addressed to Mr. Frank &C.
rome"
And then Mr.. Gerome laughed heart
lily, while his lip curled with sneering
expression.
Exactly. But there are more Frank
Geromes than one in the world; for in
stance, my twin brother Frankfort, to
whom that letter was written by his
own wife.
Possibly, if you had taken the troub-
lie to read the whole, instead of part
of what was not intended for your eyes,
you would have seen that the letter was
sent on for me to read, solely because
my sister-in-law, Julie alludes play
fully in its pages to the loss of Frank
lyn's' heart to this young lady at my
side. will show you the letter, Ber-
thai
''But | would not read it, she said,
lifting her adoring blue eyes to his face;
II don't deserve to read it. How could
l be so wicked as to believe a syllable
against your
''As for you, Mrs. Crawford Ge-
rome went on, Il can only recommend
to you to follow out hereafter what
might have been called the Diamond
Rule'-mind your own business.
After all, Bertha went to the picnic,
and in Mr.. Gerome's buggy, behind his
bay trotter; and best of all, far and
away, as his betrothed wife.