St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-03-19

sty;e Of Fersonal attxactsveness IN,
bright orangs-eDlorea robe. sd
On the day prev ions 20 the ball Clar,
Ainsley called. . sister of Hugh Aims
ley. who was the fixed central sta
around which the feminine luminarie,
had ambitious!y beamed for the las
two seasons. each fondly hoping to b,
the finally favored one
But to the secret chagrin of each h>
still maintained the same quiet court
illness of manner toward them al. HI
seemed quite rs Indifferent to theil
heart Affairs as he would have been q
the pyramids Of Egypt
This was the gentleman Lena VA
bending all her energies to ensnar<
and bring to her feet before the pres
ent season closed
Clara was IN intimate friend of both
the girls and she was invited upstairs
to see the dresses. which had Just been
sent home. Their beauty she warmly
expatiated on, but Lena would not n.
low her to leave until she had told hel
of Bertha's wonderful nt Of economy.
The combined entr eaties Of all the
trio could not induce Mr. Gregory ia
accompany them to Mr2 Langdon's.
He pleaded headache and fatigue.
This was . cover to the real reason.
His business affairs were daily becom-
ing more entangled by means Of sew
eral heavy failures of parties owing
him 20 . great extent and all he
could see before him was ruin and dis
grace. -.
But he could keep his forebodings 70
himself until after the fete was oves,
when. il he found no means Of extri-
eating himself. he would make . clean
breast of the whole thing to them.
Hugh Ainslcy was quite attentive TO
Miss Lena that night, who looked very
qucenly in the gay thronG, and his At
ientions were received with deep sat
isfsction to herself. Nor was the less
interested Bertha. who had laid no siege
to him, overlooked =
He inquired a. once 1kvhere her father
was. Is he had not seen him there.
To her reply that he had resisted all
entrcaty to come, from great fatigue,
he uttered a prolonged ''Ah!' and fell
into q reverie.
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 early hour.
Hugh called 1t Mr.. Gregory's count
ing-house. and offered to help him
through the financial crisis that was
upon him.
Mr.. Gregory had done the same deed
years before for HuRh's father. and he
(Hugh) kindly pressed the favor back
upon him, which was accepted with
tears Of gratitude in the eyes of the.
merchant
As Clara and Hugh sat at dinner the
next day after the ball, discussing the
costumes brought ont there, she relat-
Cd what Lena had told her of Bertha's
streak of economy.
''Is that 50, Clara?" he asked WAS
she - self-sacrifcing Is that: But she
looked as sweet Is . rosebud In her
dress. II it had been worn three time&"
Then he told her in confidence Of the
state of Mr.. Gregory's affairs. and the
reason which had probably deferred
Bertha from the outlay for new dress
''She is q noble girl, Clara, and I'm
afraid we couldn't number many like
her amongst that gay assembly at Mrs
Surely all is not gold that
ylitters'"
A week after this the footman 1t the
.iregorys brought up . card to the
Darlor for Miss Bertha. and the gentle
nan is waiting below in the drawing.
,oom."
Bertha glanced at the card. and saw
Hugh Ainsley" inscribed thereon.
ibid you say this was for me, John?''
he asked, thinking It must have been |
for Lena -s H
''Yes, ma'am. He said Miss Bertha"
'eplied the servant t
Lena pouted At this; she had thought |
,e had made . mistake. and an angry
rown c1ouded her face Is Bertha de-
cended to the drawing-room.
"Was it you wished to see, Mr..
Ainsley?" she asked, sfter ssluting
linn
1t was you. yourself Why? permit
ne to inquire"
Il thought it might be one Of Johns
and that sister Lena was the
ne desired" said Bertha.
mo, Miss Bertha: it il you with whom
have special business" " he said. at the
anne time watching the sudden enlarge
nent Of her blue eyes when he said
business"
For several years. Miss Bertha, I've
cen searching in the circle of my 90
uaintance for, . noble, true-hearted
roman to ask to become my wife.
ave Just been fortunate enough to
nd her. and have now come to ask her
she will bear my name, and share
nth me my earthly lot
''Bertha, will answer me: .yes?'"
''Give me time to think, please; il 10
, sudden" she stammered. covering
er face with her hands to conceal her
lushes.
"You shall have three whole months
, consider the subject: then I shah
emand an unconditional answer"
lid Hugh, drawing the hands from
er face and pressing them to his lipA
In three months their engagement
rs announced to the gay world.
Another three months and &he Gay =
orld was invited to their public we'd
ng in church.. After much coaxinG.
ena was prevailed upon to be Bertha's
,idesmaid; but j. was bitter disap
,intment to stand In that place, in-j
cad of next to the groom
In after years she learned that
.rtha's ''old ball dress" had turned
Q scale in favor of her. and Won
agh Ainsley. He reasoned that the
Iughter who would sacrid-e her own
sires for the sake Of lessanin1 the