Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-08-28

is adamantine. All how little did
know of the future at which I then
peeped through the golden glasses
OF hope and love.
We crossed the sea in safety. ]
stood, at last in a strange land and
among strange people; but | found
them kind. l found work at once.
Living as we Sayoyards lived at
home, | spent little. Week by week
the heap in my moleskin pouch grew
greater. Twas gloriously happy. ]
wrote joyful letters to Bettina. 1t is
little totell, but, ah, 1t was SO much
to feel and to do!
Ayear passed. twelve long months.
One more year and that would slip
away like the beads upon the rosary
Fof one who prayed for blessings. ]
could take her hand in mine when
they were all counted. / would press
my lips to hers-all would be forgotten
but our meeting, and while lived
the old people should share our hap
| piness.
With such thoughts as these in my
mind Ientered the great factory
where | worked, one day. said to
myself as threw off my jacket.
AT noontime / will write to Bet.
tina"
What do we know of noontime at
dawn What de we know of night
at midday? Nothing.
remember thinking this. / re-
member a sudden flash, 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 great, warm,
soft hand that held it very tenderly
| | tried to rise. | could not.
Where am l ~ | said /; my voice
was low and hoarse in my own ears,
!" Who is this ?"
1T is the DOCTOR said the voice
I" Be calm. my friend.v
ais it night ?" / asked.
"It is night,n said the voice.
Why do you not light lampY
He made nc answer.
@What has happened ?"
"Do you not remember 7"
81 remember noise"
at was an explosion" he said
after pause. "You were hurt
Many were killed outright"
Doctor" l said, els it night ~
alt is night" he said, solemnly.
"But only for me-" l said. 81
know it. l am smitten blind.u
"Try to be calm, my friend" he
whispered. at is hard, but try to
bear it,"
What can we do but bear what
God sends upon use But | did not
bear it well. Can you wonder? AL
was gone-all my hopes of life, and
even all that | had won in the past
year. Some wretch had stolen the
little mole-skin pouch from my
bosom. I was a beggar and blind
/ lived, and at last grew strong
again.
One day as | sat by the hospital
window | formed a resolution.
said to myself: l can at least be
brave enough to spare Bettina
lsomething; and | viii do it, though
my sufferings should be increased
by the act. / know that if she knew
the truth she would grieve bitterly
and remain true to me. l know
that if I were sent home, as the doc
tor says / might be, she would be
constant forever-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 I am dead, and then, when
she has grieved a while, youth will
triumph; she will marry the young
farmer who loves her so truly, and
is good as we'll as rich, and she will
only remember poor Bernard ten
derby as one who loved her in the
past, and the young Bernard is
really dead. The blind beggar is
not the same man.
j The good doctor shall write me a
letter, and so as he passed ! called
to him and told him all.
cit will be best for her," I said
+" 1t will set her free. She will grieve
bitterly, / know, but her other lover
will one day blot out my memory
Tell her | died with her name on my
lips-I do. As | die, heart ani
soul, here before You 1 have but ont
thought. 1t is Bettina.T
And you think she does no
love you as well?" he said.
"She loves me even as ! Low,
her." l said "Ah, doctor, it is be
cause | love her so that / woult
spare her all | can. She is worth,
of better fate than to fade ava,