The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-02

self to professional duties, resumed
some of his bachelor habits, and
amused himself as he could. She led
quiet, almost solitary life, restrict
ing her pleasures to such simple en-
joyments as she could provide herself
at home, and seldom appearing in
public. On one point both agreed,
repeating such stereotyped phrases
as Bertha is well, and sends her love.
/ believe she wrote to you few days
ago." Gerard is well, and at pres
emit very busy. He will not this yeat
be able to accompany me to the sea-
side:
It will be easily believed that to 60
to her husbands house and to ask
avor of him had cost Bertha's pride
struggle. "For papa's sake; for
papa's sake!" she repeated to herself,
to steel her nerves to the humiliation,
which, however, Strickland's cold
courtesy had considerably lessened.
If he would be equally considerable on
the morrow, little spirit, little
self-command, and some clever pre-
tending might enable them safely to
conduct her father through the few
hours to be spent in town, to see him
off from Victoria, and, with a polite
bow, to separate and return to their
several existences.
Dinner was ended, Mr.. Gregory
smiled contentment and happiness,
and the two actors at the opposite
ends of the table of necessity smiled
too.
Their parts had proved difficult
From the moment of the old gentle
mans arrival they had had to cali
each other by their Christian names,
and to use the little endearments OF
two married people still in love
More than once, a word, an intOna.
ton that sounded like an echo of the
dead past made Strickland pale and
Bertha trembled. Their embarrass.
ment momentarily increased. The
more perfect their Discrimination, the
bitterer was the secret remorse that
wrung the hearts of both of them,
whilst they exchanged for meaning
less things, words, looks and smiles,
once the most sacred signs of affec-
ton. With the fear of betraying
themselves by an. indiscretion was in
termixed another, a misgiving lest,
while they acted affection, they
should be guilty of real feeling
warmer than the courteous indiffer-
ence with which they desired to re-
gard each other.
On the stairs, when Mr.. Gregory,
preceding them, was for an instant
out of sight, Bertha turned back and
bestowed on her husband a grim
look of fatigue that meant, Chow are
we to continue this?"
"'Tis only till tomorrow, Bertha"
he replied in an undertone, wishing
to help her. But the Christian name
(which, because he had in the last
two hours used it so frequently, I'M
willingly slipped from his lips),
caused her toturn her face away with
an angry frown.
By the fire in the back drawing
room Mr.. Gregory appeared actu-
ated by a desire to ask all the most
awkward questions, and to breach all
the topics of conversation most diff
cult for his host and hostess.
Letters are welcome, Bertha"
he said, when people cannot meet,
but I have enjoyed my little visit
more than all the pages you have
sent me. There is very little in let
tiers. Don't you think your wife
grows handsomer, Strickland"
II tell her so every day."
"And so he tells me, Bertha. His
letters are all about you. You have
a model husband, my DEAR"
81 have, papa"
Strickland hung his head and re-
garded the pattern of the carpet
II should like to see your house,
Bertha" said Mr.. Gregory, after
moment.
The little party set out on q tour
ofthe mansion. After an inspection
of several rooms, as Strickland pre-
coded them into the breakfast room,
the father stopped his daughter and
said:
Bertha, where is your mothers
portrait?' -......
"The frame had got shabby and
we have sent it to be regilt," replied
the daughter, promptly.
"Where does it generally hang?"
"There."
She assigned to the picture, which
she had taken with her, the first
empty space on the wall that met
her eye. .....
81 don't think that very good
PLACED" said the old man. "Ah, what
a woman she was! What a wonder
full womanl Youshould have known
her, Strickland. You owe her your
wife. When she was leaving me,
poor dearl she made me promise never
to hesitate to make any sacrifice
that should be for Bertha's happi-
ness; and so, when my little girl came
to me and said, Papa, can never be
happy without Gerard I thought of
my dear wife, and let her go. feared,
when sent her abroad, ] should lose
her. Well, you were made for each
other. Do you remember your first
meeting in Parish"
They remembered it.
The tour Of the house was complet-
ed, and they returned to the drawing
room, Gerard and his wife congratu-
lating themselves, not without rea-
son, that the good papa was not
very observant, for many token of
something abnormal had been plain
enough.
With common sigh of relief the
two actors sank into their respective
corners of their carriage, after seeing
Mr.. Gregory off the next morning
from Victoria. Not single word.
was spoken. Bertha watched the
drops of rain that trickled down the
windows. Gerard studied the back
of the coachman. They had again
become strangers.
Presently, moving accidentally,
Strickland touched his wife's arm.
IlT L.. - ho cold