Wichita eagle., 1890-01-21

her sons Erthday. What could she give
him that would delight him more than these
pretty floral treasuresi She put her card and
line with mothers love and birthday
greeting on the top Of the fragrant heap,
and sent the basket to John Worth's bache-
lor apartments 1t was late in the afternoon
when that gentleman found his present, with
out the card, which had slipped of. The
Iandlady, however, informed him that they
were left by This mas girl, y so he wrote a
note of thanks, and sent the basket, now los
ing its 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
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 that
Charles Barker might cali, when there was
rush and dutter, and she was caught In an
embrace that dealt destruction to her pretty
RULES and laces.
Il am SO happy must tell some one, " Jen-
ME Ralston painted, pulling Bertha to a sofa
and cuddirg close to her like baby. Just
think, dear, he loves me-he loves me! And
has asked me to be bis wife"
"Who!' asked Bertha lightly. Remember
you have so many lovers that he doesn't
help me one bit"
Charles Barker" Jennie whispered, with
sidelong glance to see if the shot told.
But, sweet as she was, Bertha was proud,
too.
Charles Barker! l did not know he was
one of your adorers."
''Oh, yes, for quite long time. lie pro
posed today and l accepted him. Shall l
show you his letter.
"Oh, no, no; how can you show that to
anybodyP
"Oh, am not one of the sensitive kind. /
do not love him, and l mean to make man
of him! Shake him out of his dreamy ways,
l mean, and put some life into him."
Il hope you will be very happy" Bertha
said and endured her evening of martyrdOm
as best she could.
Three years later Mrs Ferguson, calling
upon Bertha English one morning, surprised
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
I'D to kiss her, but put her head down upon
the broad breast and scbbed still more Bit
terly.
why, Bertha BERTHA" the old lady
cried, you are not grieving for poor Char
lieg'
II may love him again, now that he Ii
dead" the young girl said sadly.
Love himy'
81 can tell you! And he is dead now. !
loved him long before he married Jennie"
s'But why, then, did you refuse him"
81! never refused him. He never asked
me to marry him.
"He did, saw him write the letter, and
l 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 week after that
he told me he was engaged to Jennie. 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,
that | did not dare say much to him.
thought be 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.
| warned her that his mother died OF con-
sumption, but he would not heed me either.
He did not seem to care"
''You say he proposed by letterp said
Bertha, in strange, still voice.
'Nes"
Directed to ms?'
''No, dear; just folded into cooked hat,
and put among the flowers, quite 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 it to her son. We all know how
infatuated he was with Jennie, and although
do not know it, l can easily suppose he
gave her the basket. She showed me the let
ter which began, My Darling l remember
well, and was signed, 'Devotedly yours,
Charles Barker Twice | refused to read it,
but her triumph was not complete until
did"
''Oh, my DEAR see it all. Poor Charliel
He could not tell woman she had made
such Notifying mistake Oh, Bertha!
why did interferes Ii | had only let him
manage his love affair in his own way he
might be alive and happy now. Oh, my
dear, can you ever forgive mes"
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 in the
love affairs of Wiilstown Her last attempt
at match making cured her forever of any
desire to continue the occupation.-New York
Ledger.