The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-01-16

dearest Bertha. Be Mine"
commended the fair stranger to the
rest she so much needed, and bade
her and her hostess adieu till the NOR
row.
The morning call of Adolph at the
cottage was brief and constrained; for
the first glance sufficed to show that
to both reScuer and rescued the night
had been a sleepless one.
That evening found each more COM
posed. Each. since their last meeting
had bowed to the spell of "Nature's
sweet restorer,' and been refreshed
by it's influence. The maiden met her
preserver at the door of the cot, with
lively gratitude. if not with cheerful
ness, and for a few moments their
thoughts flowed. the effort to avoid the
future became more and more appar-
ent: the conversation tagged. at
length it ceased. 1t became evident
that the point to which the thoughts
Of both irresistibly tended could not
be avoided in their words; the eXertion
was painful, and could be sustained
but by unmeaning commonplace, OIL by
emphatic silence. The pause was but
for a few moments: it was broken by
Adolph, who deeming farther forbeal-
ance useless and unwise. frankly ASK
ed his charge if she had yet formed
any plans for the future, and whether
he would be allowed to assist in put
ting them in execution. A blush at
the vivid recollection of her depend
ence. succeeded by a deadly palenesS
and a sob of deepest intensity. consti-
tuted the response. She could not
summon words To reply.
Il,lll x-ac rn,,o1 I,,. 49, .,,.
prised. He felt the difficulties of her
position as truly. il not as keenly. as
the sensitive being at her side. But he
felt ais that any proffers of assist
ance. much more any protestations of
devotion. which might have preceded
this question, would have been still
more embarrassing. besides seeming
to be untimely and Obtrusiye. in view
OF her bereavement and desolation.
Gently urging the subject as one.
which necessity required the frank
consideration, he forebore to aggra-
vate her painful sense of dependence
by assurances that she would be most
welcome to such a home as his mean
might provide her, SO long as she
chose to accept it at his hands. This
was sufficiently understood, and need
ed not the empty parade of words
But when at length he "a dra Wn hel
to speak of her plans and her hopes
he was startled and shocked in turn
by their repulsive ~barrenness. In the
simplicity of his heart he had dreamed
out for her some scheme of life no
dissimilar to his own-a situation as
teacher, governeSs, or, at the worst
in some of the more graceful and deli
cate mechanical employments of hel
sex. in which the immediate futur,
could he passed TRANQUILITY and sooth
ingly leaving IL bright vista beyond
irradiated by Hopes vague but bliss
full ~gleanings. Alas. for zone of thest
was the maiden fifty qualified! He
life had been passed in seclusion from
society; the instruction her mothG
had been able to impart was meage
indeed; and, the student was not lon
in discovering that her crushed spiri
dared aspire no higher than to som
position in which she would be allow
ed to earn the bread Of poverty by III
i, and even for this, neither her failin
strength nor gentle nature was calcr
r lated to adapt her.
He took her hand in his, while hi
I, frame trembled, and his voice becam
, at first husky and choked with emt
ton
, Dearest Bertha, he mine! be min
forever! God has willed it! Let us nj
distrust his providence! My home mus
, be a humble one, but with you it wi
ever be a paradise Poverty and wal
, are the appointed lot of the schola
but love can tighten the heaviest bu
, den and illumine the lowliest cot. T
= minei and my after life shall be OF
intense study to Danish care and ev
= from your lot, until the past sha
|, seem to your tranquil and blissful spi
it but the phantom of a fearf
n dream!'
a He checked his outpouring rhapsot
" for a glance had shown him that Il
q maiden was unconscious. RecoveriI
from her swoon. she broke the silen'
k as soon as her strength permitted:
!. my preserver. | am yours foreve
Heaven sent you to deliver me from
fate more horrible than death! Nj
| its mercy have granted you to be II
guido and my guardian through lii
!. am yours in all honor forever"
Adolph resumed his studies wi
/ calmness and assiduity, if not wi
v the enthusiasm of his earlier devotio
Bertha gave her best energies alike
book and toll and Adolph had no re
n son to complain of her proficiency
% the former. however he might ha
wished that the lessons which perta
n TO childhood had not been deferred
n this pei iOJ. Yet II was not long
a fore the student began to feel Il pal
,p full suspicion that all was not as
should be-'o ,uspect and accuse hi
n self of adorins his betrothed with IL
% intensity than he ought. Even befo
r d single month of their engagemn
had passed, ne had learned TO feel
less than rapture in her presence; le
H. than misery when absent from !