The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-24

they got ready the satchel she was going
to take to New York.
Louis Sargent, when he found no reply
waiting him when he came home from his
office the next evening, went around TO the
deserted house on Marlboro street and
rang the bell.
A messenger with a telegram ran up
the steps as he stood there.
They're not home from New York."
answered his inquiries. 1--WE about given
them no for tonight"
The boy handed the maid the telegram
and ran away.
THAT telegram may be to tell you when
they will be here" Sargent answered. fol-
lowing her into the hall.
well, yes, it's from them. III see."
She tore open the telegram and read it, her
face turned away from him. ut saws:
My daughter starts for California with
friends who are going from here tenor
row. l will be home tomorrow night"
Bertha did Tot return Sargent's letter
from New York, as she had intended.
1t was the reading of that letter that had
decided her going to California with her
friend Margaret Edgerly, who was taking
her mothers cough away from the damp
ness and cold of New York winter to the
sunny dryDess of Southern California.
Running away from her own heartaehe
was not as great success as she had
hoped when she realized what a weight of
it she had left in the loving heart of her
dear father
The month that intervened before the
day that was to have been his wedding
day had an alloy in its wretchedness for
Sargent in an unexpected visit from his
sister from Minneapolis with her little
girl.
1t was from this little niece, who, for
tunateiy or unfortunately. bore the name
of Bertha, that his consolation came
She had come at a time when he needed
warm little arms around his neck, and the
untiring repetition of her love and admir-
alton for him.
He had been to see Bertha's father and
had asked for her address, and bad begged
an explanation of the sudden turn OF af-
fairs from him.
And Mr.. Merrill had broken his prom
Use to Bertha joyfully. so great was his de-
light in seeing the young man again, and
had told him all that Bertha had been
pleased to communicate 10 him, which was
noihing.
He had pressed the card with her address
into his hand, with the earnest hope that
he would not let pride keep him from max
ing her yield to reason and her love for
him.
''Then you think it is not that Bertha
has outgrown her love for me?" Sargent
asked.
Mr.. Merrill looked at him bewildered
for moment.
1eTDaDS you nave reason 1Or GllnKllg
that is the case" he replied.
And Sargent had found himself walking
away from the house with the hopeless
conviction that the humiliating reason he
had suggested TO Mr.. Merrill for the sep
aration had been given him and nothing
more could be done.
But after he had carried Bertha's adj
dress around in his mind for forty-eight
miserable hours he had written to her
again.
The letter was mostly about the little
niece. of the comfort she was to him just
at this time, of Der faith in him. and
general dissertation on the beauty and
simplicity of the love and faith OF q little
child.
1t was the night before the one that
should have been his wedding day, and
Sargent sat before the fire, with the small
Bertha folded closely In his arms.
"What great interest there seems to be
in psychical research in Boston," bis sister
broke into the silence at last I've a.
ways been so interested in it. I've had
soma strange things happen to me-"
1--WE all have." Sargent answered,
waariIy.
mo, but really strange, Louis. Would
you trust in mental communication ?"
We'll, If you mean do / believe that our
faculty of insight and foresight can be
ueVeinpeQ anu D6COne power 10 trust. i
do. But this is only drop in the bucket
of the first question of psychical re-
search"
The doorbell sounded. and the next mo-
ment there was a slight tap at the door
and a maid came into the room with
letter in her hand. Sargent got uD
quickly and gave the sleeping child to
his sister and took the letter from the
maid.
ut is from Bertha" he said, turning
with the letter trembling in his hand, when
the maid had gone.
he tore open the envelope and read the
few lines hastily.
''She wants me to come to-night-nowp'
"Of course she does. Oh, LOUISE
DO you think l better 90, Agnes?
Don't YOU think"
go? Why, yes; what else could you