The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-12
BERTHA WINTER.


family mansion house, with It's sweeping lawn
SPACIOUS grounds and grand old oaks. When
should become OF age / was 10 De Tue owner o
this estate with an Income OF $4,000 year.
Bertha had grown up like wild flower anc
looked with her dancing black eyes, sunburn
cheeks. cherry lips ami brown little hands, Ike
veritable gypsy.
Al last ! got up.
Now / must 20 home to supper, ReTtha, anC
tonight 1 have 10 finish packing my trunk"
you ave going away, Harry" she said hel
eyes dropping.
"Yrs, 10 Europe"
"But you Will come back 2"
"Some time, hope, but certainly not for three
or four years / must see something OF the
world, ana IL may be That my aunt VIII lolh me
after a time, and then we shall live IN England
for a while l cannot tell. Now, good-by.
shall not see you again."
She looked up then. her eyes burning like
Goals of fire. | wondered that l had never
noticed before how beautiful she was.
Some NV thoughts rushed In urOn me.
Little Bertha" l said, as held out my hand
In parIing " God bless you. | suppose yOu'll be
married ana settled long before return"
She pressed my hand cOnyulslvely, stopped
and just touched il with her lips, then turned
and flew out of sight. l STROBE on toward home
but sudden impulse caused me 10 turn back Il
the place where We mad been sitting. Hearing .
low moan, went softly 10 her and heard some
impassIoned words:
ION, my HarTy! my Harry! never shall l see
him again!
TheIe on the ground, her head laid on the log
crouched Bertha Winter sObbing violently.
was at her side in an instant, but she was SC
absorbed in her grief that she had not heard my
approach. Then l kUelt down ana spoke heI
name. she sptang up and was about 10 run
away again, but caught her hands.
You are sorry that l am going Bertba?" She
struggled in my grasp.
hale myself; dol dol Oh, Harry Lang
dale | did not mean that You should ever know
But ! am glad. YeIY glad" / answered I'll
is sweet 10 Know that any one Will miss me.
am. like yourself, an orphan, and never have
been l0Yed very much, | think. l never have
Ma a sweetheart before, that is certain; you are
mSlrSt ana, | believe, Will be The last"
AT this she etept INTO my arms with childish
confidence and l sm0Othed her dark, glossy hail
ana kissed her beautiful lips
How lovely ana Innocent she was.
Bertha" said, you are sure that you love
me-"
For an answer she flung her plump arm;
around my DecN.
allow would you ike TO attend school during
my aOsenct?' l asked.
Tier tearstained lace frightened at once.
ION, l would like I'll love books, Harry and
l would study lard"
That you must do. Now listen, Bertha
Three years f. ON to-day, II you still love me
hqne must be refined and cultivated woman
PSmlse me mat you viii Try TO become all
could WISH"
II promise. Harry" she said simply
"RememOei." | added. as We parted, 'you are
still free at any lime, If You Wish II. You may
meet GONE one vino you Will love better, you
Know. But L SnOulu ike 10 nave yOu LINK Oh
me sometimes. confess"
ION, always, always, Harry" she cried.
"Iheu give HE 4 gOod-by kiss"
/ returned 1t teutOld aud then hurried away
without daring To look bJck.
My love for Bertha Winter began that day. We
were not 10 meet again for six long years Bu
letters came TO ME often from nay little friend
and l rejuIced Ia the swt ct records OF the gradu
ally expanding heart and intellect. AT the end
OF Three years l would gladly have returned &c
her, as had pl omiscd, but her request WAS thai
If.ar War ~
she might attain greater proficiency IN Literature
and music aGd become as she said, more worthy
OF me.
Within six mouths she had sent me her picture
What magnificent face IL was, with its dark
rich beauty. IL reached ME While 1 was in Rome
and FOR hours L >at gazing nj IL IN rapture like
that with which l drank IN the loYeiiuess Of The
Tnere are none of beauty's daughters with
a mage like thee" quoted, in a transport o
Joy. l felt that must see her, and yet | woulC
not go until sue called Inc. The fourth yea
passed slowly, The novelty Of travelling was over
and had 1 teyerisn longing for home and Der
tina. In the autumn OF this year my aunt JOINED
me, and we winteIed IN Florence.
During the spring stroke Of paralysis rem
dered her almost helpless. But she Insisted OF
tIyIug some German baths, when she was con
iideut would effect cure If continued Ions
enough. She would not hear OF returning Il
America, ana l could not leave her. There haC
never been any great love tween US, but sht
had been kind 10 me according TO her lights, an(
had in fact cared foi ME As much as cold
hearted, selfish woman can love. My duty there
fore was clear. SO Tie long months ore Oh.
But Que bright June day laid my aunt 10 res
IN The cemetery hear Carlsbad, and TWO week.
after took hOmeward bound steamer. Bertha''
last letter had been as KIND aud loving as ever.
Then why had such weight on my heatt our
Ing the voyage? II was only lie toreshadowlns
OF The bitter truth.
/ had begged that she would meet me in my
own home. | knew my rusty hOusekeeue
would have 1t 10 perfect order for me. IL wa
not yet dark on tile long summer daJ when
reached ii. l half thought she would be waiting
for me at tie gate. But / was not expected
until next day, aud forgot That Bertha was II
longer tie passionate Child had left almost 81,
years ago. The low windows were all open, anC
hearing the sound oil tie piano stepped for
moment a little out Of sight. Some one wa:
playing the "Sonatd Palhellque" of Beethoven
But what an exquisite toucn, so firm aud clear
the melody sounding out wOndIously distinct
and the pianist playing as if The Whole soul had
gone into the Instrument Could II be Bertha
who had attained such skill? waited until tht
close; / could not interrupt such heavenly har-
monies. Then l spraug up on the piazza, en
Tered the room and stood before her.
A tail, magnificent young woman arose iron
the piano aud stood looking at me, her lustrOu,
eyes shining like stars but without ray o
recognition in them. ! ala not dare to tOucl
her, but said With voice faint with fear anC
dread:
Bertha, my own darling"
She drew back with frightened look.
held out my hand aud cil-d passionately:
Bertha, have you no welcome for me?"
"You aIe Harry Laugdale ~
Bertha, Bertha, whal does this mean?" ex
claimed, sIeTnly.
- You have changed greatly" she said, with
sad voice. " YOu-yOu-Seem ike stranger.
should not have known you. WAS not pre-
pared for it.'
Bertha do you remember our parting, out by
the Old broken log? You loved me dearly theu
now IL is | who love you-oh, SO much And
have so longed for Ills day /"
With something OF her old, impetuous manner
eba I'd "A ID a.
album and looked al picture L had sent Il
her from Paris when had been away only few
months.
"Look, - she said, with quick catching of bel
breath This Is The face have iUye0 50 long
the only face / csD even love. You have no
brought It back TO me-"
was boy then; to-day l am man. You hay,
changed loo, beItha-greatly changed; yet dc
not love you the less. Oh, know, dear, we have
been parted too long. But am l so iepulsve?'
mo, you are much handsomer, only IL Is not
the face Knew"
Tel me,' | asked anxlOusly, "Is that face
my only riydlP'
Ives, Yes. Tie only one"
g. Then must win you over again. But until
You eau love The Harry Langdale OF to-day yOI
are as free as yoa nave ever BEEN"
She lad her burning band In mine.
NO my ffend, VIII not accept the freedom
you offer. Your generosity has made me what
am. and belong only TO you. IL l cannot love
you now, may, perhaps, In time"
took from my pocket diamond ring.
IL meant this as your betrothal ring. vii
you wear it for my sRke-for the sake Of hin
WHO would be boy again II he could, since tina
would please yOu?"
g i will wear it always" she murmured, a!
she held out her hand, her eyes full OF tears.
THEN hastily took up my hat. ana saying, Z"
shall come tomorrow" left The house. All tina
night lay awake.
The ocean that had so long rolled between us
had not separated US as time had done.
waited until evening, and when the sllvery
moonlight shone softly over the stately house
walked quietly up 10 an open window nea
which Bertha was standing. Without word
she stepped out on the piazza and took my arm
could see, as l thought, something of a love
light IN her lustrous eyes, and l took her hand
and with smile looked down into their depths
:" That is the old smile, Harry" she said.
"Of Course II Is the old sluile,' l answered,
boldly. NOW, Bertha, you cannot escape me /;
tile old love must win something In return. Can
you not try TO love me agaln?''
q" am tying" she said, with q little culver OF
the lips.
Aud succeeding" asked softly.
"Yes."
Then took her in my arms.
lie following autumn we we're married. Fol
i've years Bertha has been my idOZed wife and
hrmly believe That she loves me better than
she ever loved the boylsh face in the album
Pittsburg Press.
Estate OF the O'COnnors.
General letters of administration on tn
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