Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-09

81 should like to see your house
Bertha" said Mr.. Gregory, after mo-
! ment.
| The little party set out on tour of the
mansion. After an inspection of several
rooms, as Strickland preceded them into
the breakfast room, the father stopped his
daughter and said:
"Bertha, where is your mothers por-
trait?'
''The frame had got shabby and we have
sent it 10 be regilt," replied the daughter
promptly.
where does it generally hang?'
"There."
She assigned to the picture, which she
had taken away with her, the first empty
space on the wall that met her eye.
II don't think that very good place"
said the old man. ''Ah, what woman she
was What a wonderful womanl You
should have known her. Strickland. You
owe her your wife, When she was leaving
me, poor dear she made me promise never
to hesitate to make any sacrifice that should
be for Bertha's happiness; and so, when
my little girl came to me and said, Papa,
/ can never be happy without Gerard
thought of my dear wife, and let her go.
| feared when / sent her abroad | should
lose her. Well, you were made for each
other Do you remember your first meet
ing in Paris ?"
They remembered it.
The tour of the house was complete, and
they returned to the drawing room, Gerard
and his wife congratulating themselves,
not without reason, that the good papa was
not very ebservant, for many token
OF something abnormal had been plain
enough.
With common sigh of relief the two
actors sank into their respective corners of
their carriage, after seeing Mr.. Gregory off
the next morning from Victoria. Not
word was spoken. Bertha watched the
drops of rain that trickled down the
windows. Gerard studied the back of
the coachman. They had again become
strangers.
Presently, moving accidentally, Strick-
land touched his wife's arm.
Il beg your pardon" he said
"Pray do not mention it."
Perfect strangersl Yet both in the ST.
lence were anxiously meditating every
event of the last few hours, remembering
the most trifing impressions, and studying
all they signi6ed. As they came near
cross street the husband asked:
"Shall drive you to your own houseY
II am coming to yours, to superintend
the packing. My maid cannot do it
alone"
On arriving, the wife at once went to
her chamber. Strickland, conscious of
utter purposelessness, returned to the back
drawing room and took up the paper.
Bertha passed backward and forward.
Once or twice he caught glimpse of her
moving about the room. At last he looked
up.
"You will tire yourself" he said; team
not assist your,
mo, thank you. / have nearly DONE"
A few minutes later she came and seated
herself on the opposite side of the fire.
She appeared tired. As she sat she looked
around to see if anything had been for
gotten.
II think it rains less" said Strickland
who had laid down the paper.
''No; it rains Just the same as before"
SIS the carriage ready"
81 have sent to know"
The carriage would be ready in ten
minutes. Those ten minutes seemed an
eternity. When the servant entered to
say the carriage waited Bertha rose and
stood Tor little while before the mirror,
arranging her laces and ribbons with
difficulty, for her fingers trembled. Then
she slowly drew on her gloves and turned
toward her husband. He had risen and
was standing waiting.
"Good morning." she said, bowling
slightly.
He bowed, but made no reply She
turned, and quietly, with calm, even steps,
walked from the room. She could hear
that he followed her.
They were in the hall. Suddenly he
stepped to her side.
bertha. You are not going without
first forgiving me?" he exclaimed in
voice in which grief mingled with passion.
She turned round and in an instant had
thrown herself into his arms.
Darling You will never leave me
again~
"No, no, love. Never"
Henry Cress,reu, in Murrays Magazine.