Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-14
Why Bert Stayed Home.

drawing herself up proudly, and
looking grandly superb, as only a
beautiful woman can look when
angry.
There was very percePtible sneer
in which she addressed the miserable
man at her feet-miserable because
he knew he had, inadvertently,
offended the one girl whom he loved
as he thought no other man ever did
or could love.
Very unIover-like they had quar-
relied. AS rule, their misunderstood
ings were patched up within a brief
time after their occurrence, and Her
bert Adams was invariably the one
to take the first step toward con-
citation.
They loved each Other-there was
no doubt about that-but on this
occasion Bert Internationally made
some remark-nO matter what-in a
joking manner, that was instantly
resented by the fiery Helen.
But, my dearest Helen" he be-
gan.
DOn'tcallmeyour dearest Helen, .
she interrupted with blazing eyes; 81
am nothing toyou, and don't want
you to speak to me, not even to look
at me, ever again"
''Never2" queried Bert, in a pacify-
ing tone.
"NO, never. You consider me in
teriOr to you, and are always finding
fault with meand-and tryingin 9th
er disagreeable ways to show your
superiority and-and" then she gave
vent to herpent-up feelingsin burst
of hysterical sobbing-''I guess-we
had better let it all end-right
here. l don't love you and never
did, only yOu-yOu made me believe
did. hope you will succeed some
body that will ever be willing to bow
IN meek obedience to your tyranny"
and having ended this little spasm of
Oratory, this foolish, beautiful, i'm
petuous girl drew from her finger a
magnificent opal and flung it to the
ground.
Thus fur the man had not risen
from the grass where he had been re-
cliuing, but when he saw the ring fall
at his side he glanced up at his be-
trothed and realized that she was
thoroughly angry, and that the best
thing he could do was to let her
have her own way until her temper
cooled. Picking up the ring which
had been worn for half d year by the
GIRL he loved, and carelessly twirling
it in his fingers, he held out his hand
to the rash beauty, saying as calmly
as possible as he did so:
''DO you really mean it, Helen?"
4MOst assuredly l do" she replied,
petulantly do you think I am
the person to jest about such mat
ter?''
every we'll, " said Bert, and turn
ing half around he tossed the ring
tar out into the river near by, and
lifting his hat, Good day, Miss
Westcott, " he said, and was gone.
A half audible ejaculatian of
EBERT" escaped her lips, but the re-
treating man did not hear, or if he
did, he paid no attention to it, but
kept straight ahead, never once
looking back, until he reached a
cross road where ne was lost in
sight.
AS one In a dream Helen stood for
several minutes Just where Herbert
Adams had left her gazing absentedly
at the SpOt where she had seen him dis
appear down the road. Her anger
ma cooled and sherepentad her words
an Il actions.
"Oh, well, hewill come back again, "
and then; as bit of her nature reas-
serted itself, Il don care, he was real
mean anyway"
1t was during thelatter part of the
afternoon, almost at sunset. The day
had been almost perfect, but now the
wind had changed and was blowing
brisllly from the southeast, damp
and permOnItOry ola storm. Helen'S
feelings had greatly changed since
her lover had left her and now she
was thoroughly angry with herself
to- think that she had fOOhshly al
lowed these hot words to escape her,
when she knew they were untrue.
Now she loved him more than ever
and standing there gazing out over
the broad harbOr she resolved that
rs soon as she should meet him again
she would freely own her fault and
plead forgiveness.
He would forgive her without one
word of reprOach for her conduct,
and then how happy they would be?
How foolish she had beenl And the
consciousness of the fact suffused her
cheeks with blood, and the thought