Dodge City times., 1890-06-20
BERNARD'S LETTER.

some Of us were poorer than others
| SO poor that we had not black bread
enough to eat-so poor that. when the
hard winter came creeping upon us
like some cruel, hungry tiger, we had
no brands with which to scare it off.
In Bettinas cottage. where she sat
and spun while her childish old grand.
parents nodded in their chairs beside
the fireplace, all was as clean as il
could have been in a palace; but she
had hard work to fill those two old
mouths and her own also. There was
no one else to do it.
The lady at the great house bought
her flax and paid well for it. But.
after all, Bettina had but her two
hands; and two little brown hands
can not do all the worlds work.
''Wait patiently" Bettina said to me
sometimes. What does it matter?
We love each other; We trust each
other; let us be content"
But l could not be content. felt il
would win Bettina l must leave
Savoy and go to America. told Bet
tina so. and though she wept, she said.
"Go-go, Bernard, and will pray for
you. 1t is all a girl can do"
At last l had money for the voyage.
had saved it little by little for two
long years, and now the parting hour
had come.
1T is that we may be with each 9TH
er always some day that we part now,"
/ said.
Her tears fell over my neck. We
pressed each other in long embrace.
At last l tore myself away. and blind
ell by my tears set off upon my jour
ney. We crossed the sea in safety. /
stood at last in a strange land and
among strange people.
A year passed by twelve long
months; so long. counted by loves
reckoning. and yet l hoped and strove.
One more year and she would come to
me. The months would slip away
like the beads upon the rosary of one
who prays for blessings. should feel
her hand in mine when they were all
counted. / should press my lips to
hcrs-all would be forgotten but our
meeting. and while lived the old peo-
pie should share our happiness.
With such thoughts as these in my
mind entered the great factory where
! worked one day. said to myself as
l threw off my jacket, 'At noOntime
Twill write to Bettina."
What do We know of noontime at
dawn? What do we know of night at
midday? Nothing.
remember thinking this. / remem-
Der crossing the long room. remem-
Der sudden flash and crash, and the
oaths of men and a girls mad scream.
After that a sense of pain awakened
me, and l found myself lying in the
dark, with my own hand, cold and
clammy, lying in great, warm soft
hand that held it very tenderly.
tried to rise. Icould not.
"Where am I?" said, and my voice
sounded low and hoarse in my own
ears. WHO is this?'
1T is the DOCTOR" said voice. BE
calm my friend"
rs it night?" l asked.
1T is night"
why do You not light = lamp"
He made no answer.
what has happened?"
Do you not remember?"
Il remember a nOise.''
1T was an explosion" he said. after
. pause. You were hurt. There
were many killed outright"
doctor" said, lis it night?"
at is night" he said solcmnly.
"But only for me! know that am
smitten blind!'
TRY to be calm. my friend" he
whispered. 1T is hard-but try to
bear it!''
What can we do but bear what God
sends upon us? But l did not bear it
well. Can you wonder? All was gone
all my hopes of life, and even all that
/ had won in the last year. Some
wretch had stolen the little moleskin
pouch from my bosom. l was beg
gar and blind! prayed to die. but 1
lived and grew strong again.
One day as sat by the hospital win
dow, formed a resolution. / said to
myself: Il can be brave enough to
spare Bettina something: and l will do
it though my suffering should be in
creased by the act. know that if she
knew the truth she would grieve Bit
terly and remain true to me. / know
that if were sent home, and the doctor
says might be. she would even mar
ry me, and try to feed me rs she does
her helpless ones. That shall never
be! will send her word that am
dead. and then, when she has grieved
awhile. youth will triumph; she will
marry the young farmer who loves her
C 81
and she will only remember poor Ber-
nard tenderly as one who loved her in
the past. And young Bernard is real
ly dead. The blind beggar is not tho
same man.
The good doctor shall write me a
letter. and so as he passed / called to
him and told him all.
1T will be best for her," said. Il
will set her free. She will grieve bit
terly. know, but the other lover will
one day blot out my memory. Tell
her I died with her name on my lips-I
do. As die. heart and soul. here be-
fore you. have but one thought-it is
ISettina.
..And you think she does net love
you as well?" he said.
She loves me even rs l love her.
R1l0. An. OOctOr, II IS because love
her 80 that would spare her all can.
You will write"
Il will write," he said. Stay
come to my Office. have a nurse here
now who can break the news tender.y,
I believe, if any one can. She has
waited on you for day or two saying
very little, ] forbade that. But her
hands are soft, her touch kind, think"
Heaven bless her! She is gentle as
, MOTHER said. '.Yes. let her writo |
The letter"
He took my hand in his and led me
10 the room he called his Office. Then
be left me q moment, and when he re- |
turned heard the rustic of woman's |
garments following him.
This Is the nurse who will write the |
lstter," he said.
Il thank her." said l. '.Be gentle.
my Bettina has a gentle
heart"
What shall write?r she asked al
most In q whisper.
Write that / am dead" said. |
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