The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-05-28


intimate terms with her mistre -, and
shared most Of her condolences. She
had been educated by Mr.. Pcppard. and
under the same governess who served
Bertha, and wa fitted by long aSsocia-
tion. on such friendly terms, to be no
mean companion tor her mistress, whom
she ldoii2e.i
1t NAV not have occurred to Bertha.
/ but her style Of beauty certainly acted
- an elegant foil to enhance the beauty
Of that young lady. by reason of the
sharp contrast between them. for beauty
Is mere erfect when in surroundings
IN keeping with it.
BE this As it may, the recuiiar Ian
! gushing eyes, surrounded by the long,
dark eye-lashcs eculiar to the creoles
and inhabitants Of louisiana. and her
tall and svmetrica,Iy proportional
form, attracted nearly as much attention
Is did he: mistress. aud one could
hardly have guessed from her color that
she was an octorOon.
She was perfectly devoted to Bertha
| and, strange as it may seem to many
| Northern people. the attachment was
| heartily rcciprocateti. for had they not
been together ali tneir lives? Had not
Eraucc'. on more than one occasion,
! proved her love by little self-sacritces.
and would she not die for her if there
t were occasion for il?
| DO you love Harold. Bertha. or was
+ | right about the boarding school ro-
marce?"
| ''sit down, Frances, here. beside me-
I 10 tnfi H., Il, L
( There was more truth than Won thought
III the romance. as you call it. ! am in
/ a scrape. Chats New York word,
and sucl, scraIe. am going to tell
you something that even Cupid mustn't
hear, aid | am half afraid the trees and
flowers will whisper my secret
+ You knew Harold AID | are old
friends. and | thought | loved him
deail: before | went North He WIS the
only person | cared about. and we were
always together, hut didn't know what
: love was. l was romantic. aud had lit
! tie eXIeriencc III the world. and | mi,-
took my own heart. ! vas nistake en-
then, and Oh, Iieaycnt since then |
have made 4 greater mistake. | have
ruine,; my lie and perhaps the lives OF
others.
You haze heard me- speak of the
! Mumfords, of New York? Well, Mrs.
MumIord took an especial liking to ne,
tor solHe reason or other, and gave a
magnificent PARTY in my honor. ST tlla.
| n4ight meet Mr.. Arthur Pembroke. a
relative, i'll whom he took particular
interest. think she was De
termincd that We should be
married. To make long story
short, ,- wel-l.e forced himself upon
me in such way, artI WAS SO attentive
and kind. HAT :el head over heels in
love with him before | knew II, and
"lou are engaged? Poor Harold
And yonr papa ard mamma? What
will they say
Yes | promised to be his wife, and
Oh. Francc,! ii yen knew how have
suffered this last month.
Suffered? Why. does he not love
goa? 10 you doubt him?"
"Oh, Frances, you don't you canno:
understand. | am tickle witch. and i
hate myself; | despisc mysrifr and she
drew herself mp and c!inched her hand
with the Intensity Of her feeling. Yes
l -I-love him. 1t must he that loy,
him, for | can love no other. | an
bound to him hy promises that canrot
be broken: lie loves me: would to tioG
tia. he didn't. lie loves me more thar
lie itself, he tells me, and | know no
what he wonld do 10 himself or to ms
should lc false to him.
Frances, | learned sal truths to
day. Harold loves me ma,llv, poor fcl
I,u =,
him. He pressed lis claims in such
passionate manner, when | told him i
could not be, that l actually hecam.
afraid that lie would do something
rash, and had no right to listen t,
him; | shol,id not have gone ont Will
him. | have proven myself false to Ar
thur AID to Harold, and il | tell all.
will be desrised as much a despis,
myself; and yet | could not resist
was mistaken once: am not mistakel
now; love Harold Bonillen III spite O
myself; in spite OF Arthur; in spite O
nv promise. [ love him as i did 10
know it WAS possible to love, but | mus
keep my promise | must and vii
keep my promise, or-I-I shall! e
= mad"
At the thought Of her terrible posi-
ton she raised her voice and fling th'
speech out with yehemence, which
, left doubt in the mind of Frances as t,
: whether she We're not in reality mad.
, and more, Frances; he has asked
para's consent, and mamma and he ar.
: dreadfully vexed at my obstinacv an,
: pride, as they call it. Oh, why did
) promise? Why did / promise?'
l Yes. why. ii you did not love him
J cannot understand you. but l am SOFT,
, for you, DEAR" and she lightly kissed
l her hand, and tried to comfort her.
| 81 deceived myself and l deceive,
] him. Oh, am not worthy Of him. II
is the soul of honor, and /" and th
/ tears sprang to her eyes.
+ "Arthur Pembroke is q splendid fel
{ low. He is tall and beautiful; he ha
t lovely black eyes which fairly sna
} with ambition, and he Is .hc sort of ma,
to catch young girls fancy; but, bet
ter than all, he is & man, an honorabl
' man, one of the nobicst that ever lived
, He could say no i'll of any one; he i
t generous and unselfish; he is brave
| patriotic and true, and love him
l. | but"
D You'll never marry him if ] can pre-
/ vent. If he puts in an appearance il
a these parts I'll challenge him, and xii
him, or die in the attempt"
n The speaker was none other tha
2 Harold Bouillon, and the rage OK
pressed in the manner he Missed out Iii
= words, frightened the girls, even ha
: his sudden appearance not done so, an
s they started for the house at full speed
n Turning around, Bertha saw hir
@ standing as if retritied, and stopped ii
1 stinctive!v. He stood motionless fer
! moment, his whole face working cor
vulsiyely, and then with a low, stitle
q moan. he half fell into rustic bcnc
h at his side, and covered hi, face wit
c his hands. She could not resist the in
+ pulse which led her TO his side. II
= raised his head and started.