Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-28

| him To great extent, and uli lie
could see before him was ruin and dis
grace.
but he could keep his furcbodings to
himself until after the fctc was over,
when, u he found no means OF cxtri-
eating himself, he would mako q clean
breast Of tho whole thing to them.
| Hugh Ainslcy was quite attentive TO
Miss Lem that night. who looked very
| quccnly In the gay throng, and his at
tentions were received with deep sat
isfaction to herself Nor was the less
Interested lIcrtha, who hal laid no siege
To him, overlooked.
lie inquired at once where her father
was, as he had not seen him there.
To her reply that he had resisted all
entrcaty To como, from great fatigue,
he uttered II prolonged "Ah!' and fell
| into rcvcric.
Hugh was thinking of the vague re-
port he had heard on Wall street that
morning that the commercial house OF
Gregory 4 Co. was fast tottering to-
ward bankruptcy,
The next morning, at an carly hour,
Hugh called ct Mr. Grcgory's count
ing.house, and offered to help him
through the financial crisis that was
upon him
MIR. Gregory had done the same deed
years before for llughs father, and he
(llughl kindly pressed the favor back
upon him, which was accepted with
tears of gratitude In the eyes Of the
panic-strichcn merchant.
AS Clara and Hugh sat ut dinner tho
next day after the ball, discussing the
Costumes brought out there, she relat.
cd what Lena had told her of BcrNhas
streak OF economy.
as that so, Clara?' he asked WAS
she as sclf-sncrincing as that? Rut she
looked as sweet as II rosebud In her
dress, " II had been worn three times"
Then he told her In confidence Of the
state of Mr. Gregory's affairs and the
reason which hal probably deferred
Bertha from the outlay for new dress
"She is noble girl, Clara, and I'm
afraid we couldn't number many like
her amongst that gay assembly at Mrs
Langdon's Surely all is not god that
glitters''
A week after this the footman at the
Grogorys brought up card TO the
parlor for Miss bertha and tho gentle.
man Is waiting below In the drawing
room"
Bertha glanced at the card, and saw
Hugh Ainslcy" inscribed thereon
"Did you say this was for me, Johnp"
she asked, thinking II must have beer
intended for Lena
Yes, ma'am lIo said Miss bertha, ."
replied the servant
Lena pouted at this; she had thought
he had made mistake, and an angry
frown clouded her face as BERTHA de-
seconded to the drawing room.
WAS II | You wished TO sec, Mr.
Ainslcy?' She asked, after saluting
him.
ut was you, yourself Why? permit
me to inquire"
81 thought IL might be one Of John.
blundcrs, and that sister Lena was the
one desired" said bertha
mo, Miss llcrthn II is you with whom
have special business" he said. Mt the
same time watching the sudden enlarge
mcnt Of her blue eyes when he said
Cuisines"
"For several years, Miss bertha, Nv,
been searching In the circle of my nc
quuintancc for noble, trnc.hcnrtct
woman to ask to become my wife.
have just been fortunate enough I,
liud her. and have now come toaslS hen
II she will bear my name, and shar,
With me my earthly lot
"Hrrtha, will answer me: 'ycs?''
Give me time 10 think, please; II I,
50 sudden she stammcrcd, covering
her face with her hand, to conceal hci
bushes.
"You shall have three whole monte
to consider the subject; then shall
demand an unconditional answer
said Hugh, drawing the hands from
her face and pressing them to his lips.
In three months their engagement
was announced 10 the gay world,
Another three months and the gay
world was invited 90 their public wed
Il; ding in church. After much coaxing
9 Lena was prevailed upon 10 bo BERTHA
i. bridesmaids but !, was bitter disap
! puintmcnt TO stand In that place, in
, stead Of next 10 the groom.
|, In after years she learned tha
Bcrtha's "uld ball dress had turned
the scale In favor Of her, and wor
Hugh Ainslcy. lie reasoned that tho
daughter who would sacrii q her owT
; desires for the sake Of lcsscning Tho
burden weighing upon the shoulders %
her father could not fail to make true
,,ytTa Ilngtpn Ilplg