Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-25

" receding, ..but I'm afraid there is some
mistake. NV name is not Zebedee and
the lady for whom am looking is some
years older than you"
Bertha Hooper started back. colorlng
and confused. and as she did 80 a fat,
comfortable looking old lady came trund-
ling along the platform in an India shawl
! and boa of Russia sable worth its weight
in greenbacks
"Charlie e khe cried, thought never
should find you. Is the carriage here p
..All here and waiting. Aunt Effie, ;" re-
sponded the young man but he still hest
tated a second as Bertha Hooper stood.
with averted face and motionless figure in
the shadow of the building.
"Can be of any service to you! he
asked. eff you are expecting friends
who have failed TO meet you"
ANYBODY here by the name of Bertha
Hoo-ooper shouted s,entorian voice,
and tall, raw-looking lad with lantern
also lighted with red glass-rushed
shuffling around the corner.
Zebeiee himself Zebedee. red-haired
and stumbling and awkward as he had
been in the old fox and geese days.
"Oh - said he, catching up his lantern
so that the scarlet birds wings flashed
out like a spit OF hame-scarcely more
scarlet. alas, than Beriha's own face
Here you be J.! I'm little late, for the
roads is so ALFRED bad, and | couldn't
start the pony out of a walk. Come on.
How de do? Be you very cold ?"
'.Zebedee." said Bertha, clinging al
har ;psc
"who's that gentleman with-with the
other lantern?"
'Eh ?' said Zebedee. That teller
with the old lady in patchwork shawl ?"
Yes"
"It's Charley Harcourt, the squir's son."
said Zebedee. Just come from Turin
parts -
"Zebedee," said Bertha, with curious
little sound between laugh and sob.
put me into the cutter, quick; and drive
me somewhere don't care where Be.
cause"
En-" said Zebedee. staring at his
cousin. as he packed the buffalo robe
around her before touching up the laggard
old pony.
because" added Bertha, in species
of desperation, 81 took Mr.. Harcourt for
you land Rugged him, and kissed him"
''Is that all P" said philosophical Zebe'
dee. 'he won't careH'
No" said Bertha, "bCt she'll !"
You amt crying, be you ?'' said Zebe-
dee noting the culver in bis cousins voice.
How can | help itp" walled poor
Bertha. 4
.'Twarn't no fault o. ourn'," said Zebe7
dee. consolingly. l.
..Of course it warn't." said Bertha, III
patiently. How was to know that every
lantern at Montcourt had a red glass door
to ftp"
And poor little Bertha cried herself to
sleep that night.
The next neutrality-suspicious. Day, all
showed up into glorious drifts everywhere
Mr. Harcourt drove over to the Higgins
farm house. The young lady had drap'
ped fur glove on the platform, and Mr..
Harcourt lelt it his duty to restore it to
her. And, moreover--here Mr.. Charley
Harcourt hestated lttle-he hoped Miss
Hooper would excuse him f r being so
stupid as to allow her to fancy him her
cousin.
Il ought to have explained sooner"
said he.
"No you ought not,' said Bertha.
The fault was all mine"
81 don't recognize a fault anywhere"
said he And if I am pardoned-'
"Of course you are?" said Bertha, roster
and prettier than ever.
ain that case, am commissioned by
my mother to ask your aunt's permission
to take you over to help us finish dressing
the church in time for morning service.
My horse is waiting
MAY 90, Aunt Almira P" said Bertha.
with sparkling eyes.
"Of course you may" said Aunt AL
mira.
And so poor Zebedee was left out in the
cold
What was the end of it all? There is
but one sequel to stories like this. when
youth and bright eyes and human hearts
are concerned. The next Christmas Eve
Bertha Hooper and Charley Harcourt were
married. But the bridegroom persists in
declaring that Bertha did the first OF the
ove-maklng.
And Bertha only laughs.