The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-24


was her sons birthday. What could sha
give hifn that would delight him mor'
thsn these pretty noral tressures7 she
pat Der card. and line. With mother
lore ard ssrthday greeting. = on the top d
the fragrant heap. and sent the ssskea
70 fohn Workh's Bachelor apartments II
was late in the afternoon when that gentle
man found his present, without the card
which had slipped or The landlady
however. informed him that they
we're Ieft by "his mas girl. %
be wrote q note Of thanks and sent the
basket. now losing It's FIRST freshness. 10 the
lady OF his love, intending 70 call in the
evening 10 inform her who was the donor.
The basket. duly delivered to Miss Jennie
Ralsfon, was for the first time thoroughly
examined.
Tea was over and Bertha English vas in
her pretty drawing-room alone, singing
sweet melodies by twilight, hoping little
that Charles Barker might call, when there
was . rush, q fiutter, and she was caught
In an embrace that dealt destruction to all
her pretty ruffses and faces.
II am 50 happy | must tel some one,
Jennie RaistoD painted. pulling Bertha to .
sofa and cuddling close 70 her like baby.
inst think, dear, he loves Tne-he loves
mel And has asked me to be his wife. .
"Who7" asked Bertha, lightly. RE
member you have so many lovers, he
doesn't help me one bit. .
Charles Barker" Jennie whispered,
with sideIong glance to see If the shot
told.
But sweet as she was, Bertha was proud
too. Only surprise was to be read in her
voice:
Charles Barkerl did not know he was
one Of your adorers."
"oh, yes. for quite long time. He pro-
posed today and accepted him. Shall /
show you his letter."
"0h, no. no; how can you show that TO
anybody ?n
s0h, am not one of the sensitive kind.
do not love him, and l mean to make a
man of himi Shake him out of his dreamy
ways, mean, and put some life into him. =
II hope you viii be very happy" Bertha
said, aud endured her evening of martyr
dom as best she could.
Three years later Mrs. Ferguson, calling
upon Bertha English one morning, sur
prised her sobbing over photograph OF
Charles Barker, buried one week before.
old lady came up to kiss her, bat put her
head down upon the broad breast and
sobbed still more bitterly.
''Why, Berthai Bertha!" the old lady
cried, you are not grieving for poor
Charter
Il may love him again now that he is
dead, the young girl said sadly.
Love him?'
AZ can tell you'll And he is dead now. j
loved him long before he married Jennie. ?
''But why. then. did you refuse him2"
1T l never refused him. He never
asked me to marry him."
He did / saw him write the letter, and
left it myself at your door in basket Of
flowers. 1t was in June when the roses
were at their height, and put the letter
In bed of roses 1t was not a week later
he told me he was engaged to Jennie.
was never so amazed in my life, but be
was 50 very odd about IL, so stern and
colo and treated me somehow as IL / wa:
to blame, that / did not dare Il
say much to him. / thought he blamed
me for hurrying his proposal te
you, and that your rejection stung him into
proposing to Jennie. She really killed him
driving him about, into society, to the. city
for the winter, breaking mp ell his old hab
It's and really overtaxing his strength.
warned her that his mother died Of con
sumption and that he could not bear sg
much excitement, but he would not heed
me either. He did not seem TO care.n
lyon say be proposed by letter." said
Bertha in strange. stu voice.
Yes
Directed to me1"
"No, dear; Just folded into g cooked ha
and put among the flowers, quite out O
sight"
Then Jennie thought It was intended
for her. / sent the basket TO old Mrs
Worth. thinking You would not mind
and she told me she sent it to he
son. We all know how in.
fatuated he was with Jennie. although
do not know II can easily suppose he CAV,
her the basket. She showed me the lette
which began, My Darling I remembel
WE'LL and was signed. 'Devotedly yours
Charles Barker Twice refused 70 reaf
IL. but her triumph was not complete until
I did,
.'oh, my dear, see II all. Poor Charlie
| lie could not tell woman she had mad,
such q mortifying mistake. Oh, Bertha
why did interferea II ! had only let hin
manage his love affair In his own way, b,
might be alive and happy now. Oh, my
dear, can you ever forgive met"
She was weeping bitterly, and Berthi
could only caress her. too much oyercom,
| 70 speak
But the sharp lesson was faithfully
| learned, and Mrs. Ferguson interferes M
more in the love affairs of Willstown. He
last attempt at matchmaking cured he
forever Of any desire to continue the occu
1 patton.