The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-01-20
HIS BERTHA.

The Cooks tourist circulars, anon,
other things, advertise the fact tina
matches have been made on their TX
cursions-congenial persons being
thrown together, while doing Europe
who might never else have met" sait
a sarcastic-looking lady to her husband
who stood beside her.
"Oh, you don't mean to tell me SO
my dear" said he.
Really she replied; III not Cooks
some other Of the same sort, quite as
respectable. You might drop a note tc
the managers Of the line to add this
item to their list OF advantages"
You think the young people have
hit it off, l see," said the gentleman.
Il believe he is going directly to papa
to ask for Miss Bertha" said the lady
that is, if it is not IN elopement."
Seems to be a nice fellow" said the
gentleman. And she is very pretty
"lrctty!" calculated the lady; ''sh
hasn't Il trace OF beauty. She knows
how to dress, that's ALL"
In spite of this criticism, it was a very
charming girl who was walking up the
long, busy street that led from the
steamer wharf to Broadway; and the
young man who walked beside her
thought her the loveliest creature
alive.
He had told her so many times dur
her something more; he was making
her an offer of his heart and hand.
Il know you are an orphan" he said,
stnnI that fInrn Is No n 70 1nnf1n thu
question for you. The captain told me
that he gave you lots of Information
about me, as 1 asked him to. You
know IN not an a%dventurer, but a re-
spectacle business man with good pros
poets, and it Is only whether you can
like me enough to marry me, Bertha"
He had never called her by her given
name before, and as she heard him ut
ter it she thought for the first time
in her life that it was pretty.
ION, l think l could" she said softly.
You are likeable."
Il wish we were where l could kiss
you," he said.
She laughed.
"Ah, but you are not, you KNOW"
II shall not believe you are engaged
to mt until 1 have kissed you,' he went
on.
"Oh. am II, she asked.
Are You not?" he cried. "You said
you could like me we'll enough"
Wasn't that plenty for the first
time:' She queried.
You brighten me-" said he. My
darling, tell me you meant it."
ION, L meant it," she said; but you
60 SO fast"
You will marry me- he persisted.
She nodded.
"Wcll then. We are engaged" he
said; :" and you'll let me 60 home with
you, and introduce me to your old aunt,
and tell herr he went on.
NO, Mr.. Wheaton," she said, 1T can
not be done in that fashion,"
You must call me Will, or l shall
think you mean to jilt me-" he said.
WELL, Will, them" she laughed.
".Just think the affair over. You and l
meet upon the steamer; the captain In
PRODUCES us; he tells m all about
you; he tells you who 1 am, and that
for six months I have been travelling
companion to Il lady who died sudden
ly in Paris. leaving me to 60 home
alone. We like each other
''LikeY' he repeated.
well. we like each other so much
that I engage myself to you after an
acquaintance of fourteen days." said
Bertha. I'm not frightened; | believe
l know my Own heart-but you must
confess that my aunt must be pardon
ed If she thinks it very sudden. You
must give me time to explain; l must
| show her that respect. L will 60 home
alone, and the day after tomorrow you
may come up to Cherrypoint, and / can
promise you a pleasant reception. Aunt
will have on her best cap, and you will
be asked to lunch. You will also hear
the family history of the Van Wycks.
Don't you see hat my idea Is better
than yours:'
IL see that you have a right to ar
range it So he answered. "And l sup
pose you will De easily found.
Take the stage and tell them to stop
at the Van WycK cottage" said Bertha,
Miss VanNyck is my grand-aunt. She
lives all alone but for a maid and 4 lit
tie dog. l have no other relations but
q sister, who is g%OverneSS to some child
ren She has gone to France with the
family, s. aunt is quite deserted.
Don't come tO-mOrrOw-day after to
morrow, please"
III try to bear my banishment," he
answered.
And now let us 60 and get some
lunch together
Two hours later he had hidden his
betrothed adieu. and was sitting in his
room at the hotel, feeling as ii it were
all a dream. When he started on that
yOyage OF his he had no more idea
that he should return an engaged mar
than he had that he should become q
Mohammedan. But he was very glad.
He had never been 50 happy in all his
life.
The hours passed slowly for him, in
spite of the fact that he was very busy,
and when he had actually completed
his journey, and was walking up to the
house door, he could scarcely believe
shat it was only the day before ycstnr-
day that he had parted from Bertha.
In his pocket he had 4 ring Of value;
in his hand a wonderful bouquet of hot
house flowers, and his heart throbDrd
with a lOye as genuine as the gem, and
as sweet aid delicate as were the
roses. lie had never thought Of any
woman in that way before. He felt
that he was better, as we'll as happier,
for knowing Bertha, and that Provi-
dence had been especially kind to him
in bringing them together.
1.-The Miss Van Wycks are OUT said
the uninterrupted maid who opened the
door when he had rung the shining bell
but they'll be in soon it you'll please
sit down and wait, SIR" <
SO Will Wheaton waited in the pref
ty parlOr, sitting in a chair that had
silken head-rest tied to the back, an.
laying his cheek against it when n
thought that Bertha's might hav
pressed it recently, he shut his eye
and thought of her, and then suddenl
he heard her voice. 1t came from a