Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-28

/ said. ..Ah, doctor, it is because l love
her 50 that | would spare her all i can
She is worthy of better fate than to fade
! awav for wretch like me. You will
write.''
Il will write,'' he said. ''Stay-come
to nv little office with me- We shall be
Quiet. and let me think. A woman can
tell the story better than /, especially as
| il is touching and not quite true. have
a nurse here now who can break the news
tenderly. believe. if any one can. She
has waited on you for day or two. saying
yery little. / forbade that. But her
hands are soft, her touch kind, think"
"God bless heri She is as gentle as
mother,r | said. Eyes, let her write
the letter"
He took nv hand in his and led me to
the room he called his office. Then he
left me a moment, and when he returned
I heard the rustic OF a woman's garment
following him.
This is the nurse who will write the
letter." he said.
II thank her," said /. ''Be gentle.
madame; my Bettina has gentle heart
..What chall write ?" she asked, al
most in a whisper.
Write that | am dead" l said.
..Write that babe you tell her when her
grief had passed to wed another and be
happy" IA, -.
Happy, and you dead?" she said.
"And she loves your
Madame" said /, 1--WE have proverb
in our country that the dead trouble is
better than living one.' A blind beggar
whom she loved. and who hopelessly
loved her, would be heavier on Bettina's
life than the memory of her dead Bernard.
| can do little now, but l can do this.
Write madame"
The pen moved over the paper. Soon
she said
II have written. Shall l read it to
you?"
answered -
Eyes, if you will, madame"
She began
die, unhappy girl! Your Bernard has
persisted What is life to you any longer !!
He is dead Had he lived, blind or manned,
or helpless in any way, there would be
hope for you. You could fly to him you
could comfort him you could toll for him :;
you could be his sunlight. Alas no such
joy awaits you. He is gone. He is no
longer anywhere where you can find him.
Lie down and die. This is all you can do.
He is dead"
She ended in flood of tears. started
to my feet.
"Why do you write thus ?" | cried.
"Who are you? How do you come by
that voice? Speak,"
Then felt two little hands steal about
my neck, and wet cheek touch mine,
and whisper camel
Bernard, it is |. Did you not guess !?
Do you not know your own Bettina?"
She clasped me closer. | heard the
door close, the doctor was gone.
1.-The good DOCTOR" she said. The
first day of your illness he found letter
you had begun to me, and sent it with
word OF your misfortune, and letter to
one who could bring me to you if | de-
sired to come All! God bless him, he
knew woman's heart better than you
did.
You were so feeble that he dared not
let me tell you who was at first. To-day
you were to know. All, Bernard. to-day.
when you would have written to me that
you were dead. Bernard, how could you
do it? How could you use me so ?"
1T would have been for the best" |
said.
But she clasped me closer.
My life has been dark one ever since ;
but Bettina's hand has led me day by day.
aud the good doctors kindness has been
shown to US in teaching me such work as
| can do. shall never see the sweet face
that remember so we'll. But know its
beauty and its goodness, and the love
light in the eyes too well to forget them.
And know that am dearer to her tor my
misfortune, and am happy.