Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-18

heart, full of romance and tenderness,
and she had given 1t In its first sweetness
to Charles Barker. Loving him. she,
too, had visions of day when he would
whisper his hearts secret into her ear,
and in soft, tender accents WOO her to be
his own.
She. looked carelessly at the flowers
then, attracted by their beauty, admired
and peted them.
MARY" she said, "put on your hat,
aad take this to old Mrs. Worth, with
nav love. 1 had intended to cut her
Homea aowSra today, but this ls prettier
thanTcould arrange
Mary obeyed. and Bertha took up the
thread of her musings.
"Deary meW old Mrs. Worth said.
"NIiss Bertha is very kind. Thank her
for me, Mary"
Then; she, too, fell to admiring the
flowers, until she suddenly remembered
that It was her sons birthday. What
could she give him that would delight
him more than these pretty floral treas
ures? She put her card, and line.
With mothers love and birthday
greeting" on the top OF the fragrant
heap, and sent the basket to Mr.. John
Worth's bachelor apartments. 1t was
late in the afternoon when that gentle
man found his present, without the card,
which had slipped off. The landlady,
however, informed him that they were
left by "his mas GIRL" so he wrote a
note of thanks, and sent the basket, now
losing its first freshness, to the lady OF
his love, intending to call in the even
ing TO inform her who was the
donor.
The basket, duly delivered to Miss
Jennie Ralston, was for the first time
thoroughly examined.
Tea was over, and Bertha English was
in her pretty drawing-room, alone, sing
ing 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 rutlles and
laces.
81 am so happy 1 must tell some one"
Jennie Ralston painted, pulling Bertha
to a sofa and cuddling close to her, like
q baby. "Juat think, dear, he loves mel
he loves me And has asked me to be
his wife"
"Who?" asked Bertha lightly. IRE
member you have so many lovers, he
doesn't help ME one bit.
Charles Barker Jennie whispered,
with a 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 l did not know he
was one of your adorers."
''Oh, yes, for quite long time. He
proposed today and l accepted him.
shall | show you his letter."
"Oh, no, no How can you show that
% anybody?"
"Oh, l am not one of the sensitive
kind. do love him, and l mean to
make man of him Shake him out OF
his dreamy ways, l mean, and put some
lile into him."
Il hope you will be very happy"
Bertha said, and endured her evening uf
martyrdom as best as she could.
Three years later, Mrs. Ferguson cali
ing upon Bertha English ono morning,
surprised her sobbIns over photograph
- Charles Barter, buried cne week be-
Iore. 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 sill more bitterly.
"Why, Bertha BerthaW the old lady
cried, you are not grieving for poor
Charlie?"
Il may love him again now that he is
dead, the young girl said, sadly.
Love him2'
81 can t. IL you! And he is dead now.
| loved him long before he married
je ME-"
But why, then, did you refuse him?"
81? l never refused him. He never
asked me to marry m"
He did l saw him write the le ter.
and left it myself at your door in bae-
act flowers. 1t was in June, when the
roses were at tn -ir height, and put the
'etter in bed of roses. 1t was not
week la er that he told me he was IL
gagged to Jennie. was never so amazed
in my life. but he was so very odd about
it, so stern and cold, aud treated me
mellow as if was to blame, hat l old
not dare say much to him. l thought he
b AIMED me for hurrying his proposal to
YOU, and that your re iection stung him
into proposing to jennie. She really
killed him, driving him about, into So
riety, to the city for the winter, breaking
upall his old ahits, and really overtaxing
his strength. | warned her that his
mother died OF consumption, and that hc
could not bear so much excitement, but
he would not heed me either. lie did
not see m to care"
"You say he proposed by letter." said
Bertha, in strange, still voice.
Yes"
'OHOCLou W Lu6E
"No, dear; Just folded into 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 although do not know 1t,
can easily suppose he gave her the bas
ket. She showed me the letter which
,egan, My Darling remember well.
aud was signed, 'Devotedly yours,
Charles Barker Twice l refused to
read it, but her triumph was not COM
plete until Ibid"
"0h, my dear, see it ALL Poor
Charlie He could not tell woman she
had made such a mortifying mistake.
On, Bertha Why did interfere? If
had only lot him manage his love affair
in his own way, he might be alive and
hnppy now. oh. my dear, can you ever
forgive me?"
She was weeping bitterly, and Bertha
,ould only caress her. too much overcome
10 speak. I.F Fftt
But the sharp lesson was faithfully
learned, and Mrs. Ferguson interfrres no
moro in the love affairs of wistown.
Her last attempt at match making cured
her lol ever oil any desire TO continue the
IL