The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-03-04

i L-s WAS u cover 10 the real reason
Has busincs, affairs were daily becom-
ing more entungled 10y means of sew
cr;.l heavy failures of parties owing
him to a great extent, and all he
could see before him was rain and dis
grace.
But he could keep his forebodings to
himself until after the fete was ovel,
when if he found no means of eNtri-
eating himself. he won ID make n clean
breast OF the who'll. thing 10 them.
Hugh Ainslev was quite attentive to
Miss Lena that night, who Looked very
qucenly in the gay throng, and his at
entiOns were received with deep sat
isfaction to herself. Nor was the less
Interested l;crtha. who had laid no siege
To him, overlooked
He inquired NJ once where her father
was. as he had not seen Inn there.
To her reply that he had resisted all
cntreaty to come. from great fatigue,
he uttered a prolonged All and fell
into q revcrie.
Hugh was thinking OF the vague re-
port he had heard on Wall -trcct that
morning that the commercial house Of
Gregory x ca. was fast tOtterin- to-
ward bankruptcy
The next morning. at an carry II,,,..,
Hugh called at Alr. GreFory's count
ing-house. and offered To help linn
through the financial crisis that was
upon him
Mr.. Gregory had done the same deed
years before for IIugh's father. and he
GIugl) kindly pressed the favor bac.1
upon him. which was accepted with
telrs of gratitude in the eyes Of the
panic-striclIcn merchant
- ,1s . h..
next day after the ball, discussing the
Costumes brought out there, she rclat-
ed what Lena had told her OF Bertha's
streak of economy
--is that 50, Clara?" he asked. Was
she a. sclf-sacrificing a. that: But she
looked as sweet as rosebud III her
dress il it had been worn three times
Then he toli her in confidence. Cf the
stat. oi Air. Grcgory's affairs, and the
reason which had probably deferred
Bertha from the outlay fDr new dress
-'~he - noble girl, Clara. and I'm
afraid we couldn't number many like
her amongst that gay assembly at Mrs
i.augion's, Surely all i not goId .hat
rlIttcrs.'"
\ week after this the footman at the
GrcTorys brought up a card to the
Darior for Miss Bertha, and the gentle
NAN Is waiting below in the drawing
room
Bertha glanced at the card and saw
Hugh Ainslcy'' inscribed thereon
..Dil Won say this was for me, john
she asked, thinking 1t must have been
intended FOR Lena.
Yes, ma am. lie said Miss Bertha, @"
replied the servant.
Lena poutcd At this: she had thought
he had made a mistake, and an angry
frown cloudcd her face as Bertha de
seconded to the ruwing-room.
WAS il ! you wished to see, Mr..
Ainslcy?' she asked, after s;luting
him.
1t was you, yourself. Why? permit
me to inquire
Il thought it might Ice one of Johns
blundcrs. and that sister Lena was the
one dc-irc.i, - said Bertha.
NO. Miss Bertha: il is you with whom
. have special business" he said. at The
same time watching the sudden enlarge
Incnt Of hcr blue eyes when he said
business.
For several years, Miss Bertha, I've
. been searching in the circle of my ac-
quaintancc for noble, truc-hearted
E.Oman to ask to become my wife. !
( have Just been Fortunate enough to
/ find her. and have now come tuask her
: If she will bear my name, aud share
-Hith me ny earthly lot.
bertha. will answer me: .ycs?'"
Give me time to think. please; il il
. 50 sudden she staInmcrcd. covering
& her face with her hands TO conceal her
bushes.
] ..You shall have three whole months
20 consider the subject; then I SHALL
demand an unconditional answer -
said Hugh. DRAWN" the hand from
her face and pressing them to bis lips.
; In three months their engagement
was announced to the gay world.
Another three months and The gay
world was invited To their public we'd
ding in church. After much coaNing,
4 Lena was prevailed upon 10 Er Ecrtha's
Z bridesmaid: but l. wa, Il hitter dIsap-
pointm"nt to stand in that place, in
stead of next to the groom.
In after years she learned that
Bertha's old ball dress" had turned
the scale in favor OF her, ana won
Hugh Aiuslcy. lie rca-onci that the
daughter who would sacriii q her OsyH
desires for the sake of lessen .Dg the
burden weighing upon the shoulders of
her father could not fail 10 make 4 true
wIfc.-Boston Globe.