Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-16
&alstOn, was for the nrst time thoroughly

ralston, was for the 1irst time thoroughly
examined.
Tea was over, and Bertha English was in
her pretty drawing-room, alone, singing
sweet melodies by twilight, hoping a little
that Charles Barker might call. when there
was rush, flutter, and she was caught in
an embrace that dealt destruction to all her
pretty ruffles and laces.
II am so happy / must tell some one, ("
Jennie Ralston painted, pulling Bertha to a
sofa and cuddiing close TO her, like baby
Just think, dear, he loves me The loves
mel And he has asked me to be his wife -
who's" asked Bertha, lightly. "Remem-
Der, you have so many lovers, he doesn't
help me one bit"
Charles Barker" Jennie whispered,
with sidelong glance to see if the shot
told.
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 to-day, and accepted him. Shall l
show you his letter."
''Oh, no, mol How can you show that to
anybodyl"
ooh, am not one of the sensitive kind
do love him, and mean to try to make a
man of himl Shake him out of his dreamy
ways, mean, and put some life into him u
Il hope you Will be very happy" Bertha
said, and 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 a photograph Of
Charles Barker, buried one week before
She did not try to hide the picture as the old
lady came up to kiss her, but put her head
down upon the broad breast, and sobbed
still m ore bitterly.
"Why, BerthaI BerthaI" the old lady
cried, 'you are net grieving for poor
Charliel'
81 may love him again now that he is
dead" the young girl said, sadly.
"Love hint"
81 eau tell youl And he Is dead now.
loved him long before he married Jennie"
'But why, then, did you refuse hint"
"Il / 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 a basket of
flowers. 1t was in June when the roses
were at their height, and put the letter in
a bed of roses. 1t was not a week later that
he told me he was engaged to Jennie. 1
was never so amazed in my life, but he was
so very odd about it, so stern and cold, and
treated me somehow as if was to blame,
that did not dare say much to him.
thought he blamed me for hurrying his pro-
posal to you, and that your rejection stupg
him into proposing to Jennie. She really
killed him, driving him about into society,
to the city for the winter, breaking up all
his old habits and really overtaxing his
strength. 1 warned her that his mother
died of consumption, and that he could not
bear so much excitement, but he would not
heed me either. He did not seem to care"
"You say he proposed by letteri" said
Bertha, in strange, still voice.
eyes"
sDirected to mer'
''No, dear; just folded into a cooked hat,
and put amongst the flowers quite out Of
sight"
"Then Jennie thought it was intended for
her. l sent the basket to old Mrs. Worth,
thinking you would not mind, and she told
me she sent it to her son. We all know
how infatuated he was with Jennie, and al
though do not know it, l can easily sup
pose ne gave her the basket. She showed
me the letter, which began: My Darling,
remember well, and was signed Devoted
" yours, Charles Barker Twice refused
to read it, but her triumph was not com
plete until did,
"Oh, my dear, / see it all. Poor Charlie
He could not tell a woman she had made
such a notifying mistake. Oh, Bertha
why did interferei If had only let him
manage his wooing in his own way he
might be alive and happy now. Oil my
dear, can you ever forgive mel''
She was weeping bitterly. and Bertha
could only caress her, too much overcome
TO speak.
But the sharp lesson was faithfully
learned, and Mrs. Ferguson interferes nc
more IN the love affairs of Willstown. Her
last attempt at matchmaking cured her for.
ever of any desire to continue the occupa-
tion,-N. Y. Ledger.