The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-02-20

her was protracted weakness. from
which in time she would recover
promised to speak among his patients
for pupils. His two little grand
daughters headed the list, which soon
ran up to six.
Once every six months letter came
from Mr.. Forester, the father of the
babe, and with it check for two humid
red dollars.
The years passed by; years of bitter
tears, passionate longings, until thew
numbered seven. Had it not been for
her blossom, Baby Belle, she would not
have had the courage to face them.
One morning she was surprised by
a strange gentleman calling to see her.
She went into the little parlor thinking
it must be some one who wished to pro.
cure teacher.
She recognized her visitor.
"Mr. Forrester!'
"Mrs Godfrey, am pleased to see
you so much improved, " he exclaimed.
as he took her hand.
Eyes, l have improved" she re.
sponded, with sigh. 81 can scarcely
realize that am the same weak, Grip.
pied creature who came here seven
years ago. But l must call your boy"
A little boy with bright, healthful
face, came bounding into the room.
This is your papa, she said to the
child. -rs
He gave one look into his fathers
face, and then sprang into his out
stretched arms.
At that moment Belle, fair4aired
child, with dark, starry eyes, entered
the parlor,
is it my papa, tooP" she queried.
mo, my child"
"When will he Gomez want to see
him"
Bertha turned away to hide her tearsi
how was she to answer the child?
Mr.. Forester noticed her emotion
and thought how faithfully she must
have loved her husband.
He tarried at the hotel, each day WIS.,
iting at the cottage to see his boy. The
time passed away rapidly and still he
tarried, not saying whether he wished
to take his child away with him or not
At last he came to the cottage very
early one morning and sent his boy
out to play.
81 wish to speak to you, Mrs. God
frey" he said. II have just received
letter summoning me back to Cali
fornia. do not wish to go alone. l
have learned the same lesson that you
taught my boy-I love YOU
''Stop stopr' she pleaded. 81 can
hear no more. L know [ can trust
your honor to keep my secret-I am
not widow"
He looked at her in surprise while
she briefly told her story.
"Believe me, " he said, impressively,
''that you have been misled. l can not,
for moment, entertain the idea that
your husband was guilty of such inf
deity. That woman and her daughter
purposely drove you away"
Impossible! He loved her first-he
wrote her that letter.
Mr. Forester was too delicate-minded
gentleman to say more about his dis
appointment.
Il will not take Charley away from
you" he observed. "You are all the
mother he ever knew, and little Belle is
as dear sister to him."
Later he babe the children goodbye,
who wept at his going, for they would
miss him very much.
After his departure life went on as
usual for month or so. Then her
servant informed her another gentle
man wanted to see her.
She hurried into the parlor, and then
staggered against the wall almost life.
less; before her stood Godfrey Wester.
welt!
''Berthar' he cried, and, stepping
forward, pressed her to his bosom.
Bertha, my wife,"
After their first great Joy of meeting
had somewhat subsidized, Bertha told
him why she had left him.
Your aunt told me you were dis
couraged. Your looks confirmed it.
was afraid | would indeed become an
invalid for life, and was almost frantic
Then she had always told me how
much you had loved your cousin before
you met me, and this letter proved that
you had not forgotten her"
She produced the valentine which
Ophelia hadreceived on that long-to-be-
remembered 14th of February.
at is base forgery!' he cried indig-
nantly, as he read it over. Bertha,
how could you believe such a thing?
| looked sad and worried because was
on the verge of bankruptcy, and did
not wish to worry you because you
were so i'll. Happily tided over, and
my aunt and Ophelia still remained in
the house until a year after your disap-
pearance. Then aunt came and told
me the gossips were busy; If did moi
marry OpheIia they must leave! l told
them to leave, that l should never
marry again. was about to sell the
house, give up my business and 60 is
California. They left in high dungeon
and yet never connected you going
with them. was sure you had gone
insane and was drowned.
"And how did you find mep" she
queried.
"Mr Forester told me. have been
acquainted with him for years. He
suspected the truth when you told him
your history; he had known of my loss. y
Godfrey and his wife, with the two
children, started for California the next
week. Before he left he wrote to his
cousin, informing her that he had
found Bertha, and characterizing her
wickedness as it deserved.
Ophelia is Ophela Brent still, and
she has not received a valentine since