Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-03

then attracted by their beauty, admired and petted them.
 ''Mary," she said, ''put on your hat and take this to old Mrs. Worth with my love- had intended to cut her some flowers to- day, but this is prettier than l could ar- range"
 Mary obeyed, and Bertha took up the thread of her musings.
 ''Deary mer' old Mrs. Worth said, "Miss Bertha is very kind. Thank her for me, Mary"
 Then she, too, fell to admiring the flow CTS, until she suddenly remembered that it was her sons birthday. What could she give him that would delight him more than these pretty floral treasuresa She put her card and 8 line, "With mother's love and | birthday greeting," on the top of the fra grant heap, and sent the basket to MT. John Worth's bachelor apartments. Itwas late in the afternoon when that gentleman found his present, without the card, which ] had slipped of. The landlady, however, in | formed him that they were left by "his mas girl;' SO he wrote note of thanks, | and sent the basket, now losing it's first freshness, to the lady of his love, intending to call in the evening to inform her who was | the donor.
 The basket, duly delivered to Miss Jennie l Ralston, was for the first time thoroughly examined.
 Tea was over, and Bertha English was in her pretty drawing room, alone, singing sweet melodies by twilight, hoping a little l that Charles Barker might call when there was rush, futter, and she was caught in an embrace that dealt destruction to all her pretty ruf1es and faces. II am so happy I must tell some one," Jennie Ralston panted, pulling Bertha to l sofa and cuddling close to her, like baby. ''Just think, dear, he loves me e!-he loves nal nd ho hoo Lzl Ii 'Whos" asked Bertha, lightly. "Remem- Der, you have so many lovers, 'he' doesn't help me one bit.'' "Charles Barker,n Jennie whispered, with sidelong 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 Barker! did not know he was | one of your adorers." "Oh, yes, for quite long time. He pro- posed to-day, and accepted him. Shall show you his letter2" 'Oh. no, mol How can you show that to | anybodyl'
 "Oh, am not one of the sensitive kind do love him, and I mean to try to make man of him! Shake him out of his dreamy | ways, mean, and put some life into him." Il hope you will be very happy" Bertha
 
 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, Bertha! Bertha!" the old lady | cried, ''you are not grieving for poor | Charlie?"
 II may love him again now that he Is dead" the young girl said, sadly. Glove hima" 'I can tell you! And he is dead now. | loved him long before he married Jennie"
 ''But why, then, did you refuse hima" "12 1 never refused him. He never | asked me to marry him.'' "He did I saw him write the letter, and I left it myself at your door in 8 basket of l flowers. It was ill June when the roses | were at their height, and put the letter in | 0 bed of roses. Itswas not week later that | he told me he was engaged to Jennie. I 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 l was to blame, 1 that did not dare say much to him. I thought he blamed me for hurrying his pro- posal to 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 up all his old habits and really overtaxing his strength. I 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. 1 tYes."
 "pireeted to met"
 "No, dear; just folded into a cooked hat, and put amongst the flowers quito out of sight"
 ''Then Jennie thought it was intended for her. I sent the basket to old Mrs. Worth, thinking you would not mind, and she told me she sent 1t to her son. We all know how infatuated he was with Jennie, and al- though do not know it, I can easily sup pose he gave her the basket. She showed me the letter, which began: My Darling,' l remember well, and was signed Devoted ly yours, Charles Barker Twice I refused to read it, but her triumph was not com plete until did"
 "Qh, my dear, see 1t all. Poor Charlie!
 He could not tell woman sbe had made such morttfying mistake. Oh, Bertha! why did interfere, If had only let him manage his wooing in his own way he might be alive and happy now. Ohi my dear, can you ever forgive met"
 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 no more ID the love affairs of Willstown. Her last attempt at matchmaking cured her for ever of any desire to continue the occupa- uon.-N Y. Ledger.
 ! PLAIN OLIVE OIL. xts valuo as a Curative Agent in Cases