Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-16
LOVE AND TRIAL.

had no brands with which TO scare it off.
In Bettina's cottage, where she sat and
spun while her childish old grandparents
nodded in their chairs beside the fireplace, all
was as clean as it could have been IN palace;
but she had hard work to fill those two old
mouths and her own also. There was no one
else TO do it.
The lady at the great hou>e bought her
flax, and paid well for it. But, after all,
Bettina had but her two hands; and two little
brown hands cannot do all the worlds work.
| used to say to myself that the time should
come when Bettna should not work at all
| when would work for both, and for the old
people, also That was to Ire when we were
married Bettina and had been betrothct
| two wears We were bctrothed still, and no
nearer marriage, though | had strlven with
all my strength.
Wait patiently" Bettina said to me some.
times What does it matter: We love each
other; we trust each other; let us be content.
But / could not be content. Others who
were as poor as rs We married, and left their
| native land together to seek better fortunes
elsewhere Bettina would gladly have shared
nv fate, whatever it might have bccn but the
| old grandparents bound her to her cottage
and her birthplace.
As for me, felt that if / would ever win
Bettina must leave Savoy and go 10 Amer
lea, where SO many of our country people had
already gone, and whence they wrote letters
that made our hearts beat with hope for the
future In that happy land | might realize
my dreams told Bettins so, and though
she wept she said
$50 Go, Bernard and will pray for you.
! 1t is all girl can do"
At last | had money for the voyage; had
saved it LITTLE by little for two long years, and
now tn, parting hour had come.
1t is hat we may he with each other al
wavs SC he day that We part now" said.
Her 1 sars fell over my check We pressed
each o.her in a long embrace. All, If only
| time could have been stopped in his flight at
that moment, leaving us in each others arms,
| At last | tore myself away, and, blinded by
my tears, set Off upon my journey.
/ had no fear that Bettina would forget me.
| knew that the rich young farmer who 50
| often rode many miles 10 see her longed for
her love- and wooed her with all the art he
had hut Bettina loved me, and love is ada
mantine. All. how little did | know of the
| future at which | then peeped through the
| golden glasses of hope and love.
We crossed the sea in safety. l stood, at
| last, IN u dAii'he S1i'hAAtN
ueople; but | found them not unkiud. |
| found work at once. Living as We Savoy
ards live at home, spent little Week by
week the little heap in my moleskin pouch
grew greater | was gloriously happy. |
wrote iovful letters to Bettina- She answered
me As hopefully. 1t is little 10 tell, but, ah!
| it was so much to feel and to do!
! A wear passed by-twelve long months
/ ha xxppli la a.
| The months would slip away like the beads
upon the rosary of one who prayed for bless
| ings should feel her hand in mine when
they were all counted I should press my
lirs TO hers-all would be forgotten but our
meeting, and while lived the old people
should share our happiness.
With such thoughts as these in my mind
entered the great factory where worked one
| iay. said to myself as l threw off my
| Jacket:
AT noontime will write TO Bettina-"
What do We know of noontime at dawni
What do we know of night at midday!
| Nothing.
| / remember thinking this l remember
| crossing the long room. remember a sudden
flash and crash, and the oathS of men, and a
| girls mad scream After that nothing more
until a sense of pain awakened me and |
| found myself lying in the dark, with my own
hand, cold and clammy, lying in a great,
warm, soft hand that held it very tenderly.
tried to rise. | could not.
Where am r. said and my voice low
and hoarse il my own ears. Who is thisi'
1t is the Doctor said a voice. BE calm,
NY friend"
is it nightf"I asked.
1t is night" said the voice.
why do you not light lamps"
| He made no answer.
What has hnppenedT
do You not remember
Il remember a noise"
| 1T was an explosion, he said, after pause.
"You were hurt There We're many killed
outright"
I Doctor" said, lis it night"
| 1t is night r he said sOlennly.
But only for me-" said, Il know il. l am
smitten blind"
Try 10 he calm, my friend" he whispered
| 1t is harCi-but try to bear it"
What can We do but hear what God sends
upon usi But | did not bear it well. Can
| YOU wonder! All was gone-all my hope of
life, and even all that had won in the past
year Some wretch had stolen the little mole
skin pouch from my bosom. was a beggar
and blind. Iprayed to die, but l lived, and
at last grew strong again.
One day, as | sat by the hospital window
formed a resolution. | said to myself: | can
| at least be brave enough to spare Bettina
something; and | will do it. though my suf-
! ferings should be increased by the act |
| know that if she knew the truth she
| would grieve bitterly and remain true to me
| know that if | Were sent home, as the doctors
| say might he, she would be constant for
| ever-she would even marry me, and try to
! feed me as she does her helpless ones. That
| shall never be- / will send her word that |
| am dead, and then when she has grieved Il
| while youth will triumph; she will marry the
| young farmer who loves her 80 truly, and Is
! good as well as rich, and she will only re
| member poor Bernard tenderly as one who
| loved her in the past, and young Bernard Is
really dead This blind beggar is not the
| same man.
| The good doctor shall write me letter, and
| so as be passed called TO him and told him
all
1t will be best for her." | said. 1T will
set her free. She will grieve bitterly, know
| but the other lover will one day blot out my
memory Tell her died with her name on
my lips-I do As die, heart and soul, here
before you, have but one thought. 1t is
Bettina"
And you think she does not love you as
well!n he said.
She loves me even as | love her." l said.
| -Ah, doctor, it is because | love her so that |
would spare her all | can. She is worthy IF Il
better fate than to fade away for a wretch
| like me. You will writel"
Il will write, he said. "Stay-come to my
| little office with me. We shall be quiet, and
let me think. A woman can tell the story
better than !, especially as it 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 very little forbade that But
her hands are soft, her touch kind, l think"
God bless herl She is as gentle as a moth
er," said. Yes, let her write the letter"
He took my hand in his and led me to tie
room he called his Office. Then he left mo a
moment. and when he returned l heard Che
rustic of a woman's garments following him.
This Is the nurse who will write the letter, I"
he said
4 thank her" said l. "Be gentle, madame