Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-06

her, would be heavier on Bettina's life
than the memory of her dead Bernard. |
can do little now, but can do this. Write,
madam.
The pen moved over the paper. Soon
she said: Il have written. Shall | read it
to you?"
| answered: 'Yes, if you will, ma
dam"
She began: ode, unhappy girl! Your
Bernard has persisted. What is life to
you any longer? He is dead. Had he
lived, blind. or MANNED, or helpless in any
could fly to him: you could comfort him;
you could toll for him. you could be his
sunlight Alas! no such Joy awaits you.
He IS gone. He is no longer anywhere
where you can find him. Lie down and
die. That is all you can do. He is dead. .
She ended in flood of tears. | started
to my feet.
why do you write thus?" / cried
who are you? How did you come by
that voice? Speak,"
Then felt two little hands steal about
my neck arda wet cheek touched mine,
and whisper came: Bernard, it is L.
Did you not guess? Do you not know
your own Bettina?''
Size clasped me closer. | heard the
door close; the doctor was gone.
1.-The good doctorl" she said THE
first day of your illness he found letter
you had begun to me-and sent it with
word of your misfortune; and letter to
one who could bring me to you if de-
sired to come. All, heaven bless you, he
knew woman's heart better than you
did! When the letter came my dear old
grandparents were lying dead. | only
came to you. You were so feble that he
dared not let me tell you who | was at
first. To-day you were to know. All,
Bernard to-day, when you would have
written to me that you were dead. Ber-
nard, how could you do it? How could
you use me sc?
at would have been best for you,
said.
But she clasped me closer.
My life has been a dark one ever since;
but Bettina' hand has led me day by day,
and the good doctors kindness has been
shown to us in teaching me such work as
| can do. | shall never see the sweet face
that remember so well. But know its
beauty and its goodness, and the love-light
in the eyes, too well to forget them. And
/ know that | am dearer to her for my
misfortune, and | am happy.
The Oldest Man in the World.
The oldest man in the world is a citizen
os Bogota, In the republic of San Salv-
ador.
This new Metheuselah declares that he
is $50 years old, and it would seem he
fatters himself, for his neighbors give
the assurance that he is older than he says
he is.
He is half-breed named Michael Soliz,
whose existence was revealed by Dr. Louis
Hernandez by one of the oldest planters
in the locality, who as a child knew Soils
as a centenarian.
They have found in the year 1712 his
signature among those of persons who
contributed to the building of a Franciscan
convent which exists near San Sebastian.
His skin is like parchment, his long
hair, of the whiteness of snow, envelopes
his head like turban. and his look is so
keen that it made disagreeable impress
sion on the doctor.
Interrogated by the doctor, he answered
complacently that his great age was due to
his regular mode of living and to his
never giving up to any excess of any sort
whatever.
81 never eat but once a day. said he,
''but never use any but the strongest and
most nourishing foods. Ny meals last a
half hour, for believe it is impossible to
eat more in that time than the body can
digest in twenty-four hours, fast the first
and fifteenth of each month and ON those
days | drink as much water as [ can bear
| always let my food become cold before
touch it. 1t is to these things that l at
tribute my great age.