The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-02-04


expatiated on, but Lena would not Al
low her to leave until she had told her
of Berthas wonderful at of economy.
The combiped entreaties of all the
trio could not induce Mr.. Gregory 70
accompany them to Mrs. Langdonn<
He pleaded o headache and fatigue.
This was cover to the real resson-
His business affairs were daily becom-
ing more entaugled by means Of sew
eral heavy failures of parties owing
him to great extent, and all he
could see before him was ruin and dis
grace.
But he could keep his forebodings Co
himself until after the fete was over.
when, If he found no means of extri-
eating himself, he would make q clean
breast of the whole thing to them.
Hugh Ainslcy was quite attentive To
Miss Lena that night, who looked very
queenly in the gay throng, and his att
tentions were received with deep sat
isfaction to herself. Nor was the less
interested Bertha, who had laid no siege
to him, overlooked.
He inquired at once where her father
was, as he had not seen him there
To her reply that he had resisted als
entreaty to come, from great fatigue,
he uttered prolonged "Ahr' and felF
into reverie. %
Hugh was thinking of the vague re-
| port he had heard on Wall street that
morning that the commercial house of
Gregory & Co. was fast tottering to-
ward bankruptcy.
The next morning, at an early hour
Hugh called at Mr.. Gregorys count
ing-house. and offered to help hina|
through the financial crisis that wns|
| upon him
Mr.. Gregory had done the same decd
years before for Hugh's father, and heI
| (Hugh) kindly pressed the favor back
upon him, which was accepted with
tears of gratitude in the eyes Of the|
panic-stricken merchant
AS Clara and Hugh sat at dinner the|
next day after the ball, discussing theI
costumes brought out there, she relat-
ed what Lena had told her of Bertha'fI
streak of economy.
sis that so, Clara2' he asked. ''Was|
she as self-sacrifcing as that? But slle
looked as sweet as a rosebud in he |
dress, if it had been worn three times.
Then he told her in confidence of tlt
state of Mr.. Gregory's affairs, and Tho
reason which had probably deferred
Bertha from the outlay for new dress|
"She is noble girl, Clara, and I'nI
afraid we couldn't number many lfk{
her amongst chat gay assembly at MrsI
Langdons. Surely all is not gold thai
glitters.'"
A week after this the footman at Til
Gregorys brought up card to thI
parlor for miss Bertha and the gentld
man is waiting below in the drawing
room"
Bertha glanced at the card, and saw
''Hugh Ainsley" inscribed thereon.
"Did you say this was for me, John9|
she asked, thinking it must have bed
intended for Lena
Eyes, ma'am. He said Miss Bertha,
replied the servant.
Lena pouted at this; she had thougl
he had made mistake, and an ang1|
, frown clouded her face as Bertha N
) scended to the drawing-room.
WAS it l you wished to see, M|
, Ainsley?" she asked, af ter salutjr|
him. q
'It was you, yourself. Whyp peru
me to inquire"
, 81 thought it might be one of JohuI
, blunders, and that sister Lena was u
, one desired" said Bertha
NO. Miss Bertha it is you with who
I have special business" he said, at 4
same time watching the sudden enlarQ
ment of her blue eyes when he So
business"
. "For several years Miss Bertha, I,
been searching in the circle of my
quaintance for noble, true-hear1X
woman to ask to become my wife
have just been fortunate enough
find her, and have now come to ask i
, if she will bear my name, and shaX
, with me my earthly lot
= Bertha, will answer me: 'yes?'"
: "Give me time to think, please; ii
so sudden" she stammered. cover5]
, her face with her hands to conceal u
bushes.
, "You shall have three whole naolfS
to consider the subject; then sls1
demand an unconditional answa1
, said Hugh, drawing the hands fr3
her face and pressing them to his II
! In three months their engagcms
was announced to the gay world
}. Another three months and the
, world was invited to their public "
ding in church. After much coaxi
r Lena was prevailed upon to be Berth
! bridesmaid but it. was O bitter dis1
pointment to stand in that place,
stead of next to the groom.
: In after years she learned
, Bertha's lola bali dress had tu>
the scale in favor of her. and
Hugh Ainsley. lie reasonl TIL
, daughter who would sacrih q III
: desires for the sake OF lesse 81
, burden weighing upon the shoz
her father could not fail to man
? wife Boston Globe. <
Glasgow tSussics's Jusfic9;
bailie of Glasgow was /, ote<;
simplicity OF his manners 81, tn