Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-08-13


on the turf and rest his bent old back
against the low stone wall which in
closed John Tregon's field.
"NO use going up to the house; Johns
at market and the misses'll be turning
the place tOpsy-turvey," he reflected.
"What with spring cleanin's all the
year round and the drivin', Bertha has
had terrible hard time. And they do
say in the village-Well, we'll" he
muttered, checking himself, 'it wasn't
10 be expected with her pretty face thai
Jm's her first sweetheart. And If Will
Carter deceived her, mebbe she'll think
the more of him. Jim just dOtes on her.
More fule, he! Bad wives are of no
account whativer, and suppOsn' you
do hap on good woman and it pleaSes
the Lord to take her, the year won't
fill the emptiness in you she leaves be-
hind. ought to know" and Isaac
heaved mighty sigh. "Tve buried
wives of both sorts-three Of EN-"
Not n breeze stirred the lfeless calm;
and the midday sun poured tiercely
down. Presently he sought the shade
of a spreading tree which Overhung
the wall few PAGES from him. But
lie was no longer solitary. Voices fell
on his ear-Bertha Tregon's and that
of the man who report said had Tilted
her.
"My poor Bertha! You've no cause TO
fear me. know exactly how it was
you fOrsoOk me for James HOcken. But
/ wrote whenever had the chance"
"NOt a single letter reached me-"
because your mother waylaid the
pOstman."
Despite the heat, Isaac shivered.
Wills insight was making clear much
that had puzzled him.
perhaps. What matters now?'
asked Bertha in fOrlOrn tones. "You
should have kept away. 1t would have
been kinder"
"And let you continue to think that
] was false. Lookee here, Bertha, you
promised to be my wife before ever
Hocken courted you. And now you
know I've been faithful to you---"
II durStn't break with jim. Mother
is set on him. Oh, why did you come?
You'll get a fresh sweetheart, but Jim
won't. feel he won't. And / shall
keep my promise to him."
But Bertha's love was unchanged,
and to the breathless listener on the
thither side of the wall. Wills tender
plcadings were the kncll of his sons
hopes
What girl who loved him could resist
handsome VIII Carter?
Gaunt and grl2zled. with weather.
beaten, strongly marked features. he
had always known that Jim wasn't one
that girl would fancy. And Bertha
had only accepted him at her mothers
bidding, believing that win was untrue
to her. 1t was all SO plain to him now.
Poor Jim! Even Il flower that Bertha
had plucked was precious to him.
Hadn't he found rose withcred and
dead in his pocket? And all his love in
vain. Isaac whipped out his handkcr-
chief tfRd mopped his face. Yet, il
Win hadn't returned
But, contrary To his expectations, the
girl waE firm in her resolve.
Il We n't listen TO you," she said ut
last, reused by Wills upbraidngs.
"Jim isn't to blanche knew nothing
of our swecthearting- am l. II
didn't enter my mind that mother might
We got your letters. How should it?
AS If you alone suffered" she faltered.
"Let us part friends"
"SweetheartS or nothing" said VIII,
Grutlly.
With the swish, swish Of feet through,
the long grass, crawling to his knees
old Isaac peered cautiously over the
wall. Bertha was running toward the
house and VIII Carter. with his head
thrown back, striding in an opposite di
rectlon.
BLESS the little maidw he calculated
zone time | was afcared for jim. Blu
she's got good grip o things. Yes
plenty more sweethearts for Wil," h,
chuckled, observant of the pose of hi
head And there's but one in tn
world for my lad-Bertha Tregon. Ma,
my tongue he slit II | let out to him."
Rising, Isaac shouldered his baskc
and proceeded ON his round
The old fisherman had been som,
what rash, however. In his conclusion,
by her own admission. Berthas d,
clslon had been prompted solely by fea
OF her mother and consideration Il
James Hocken. But II on reelection sl
We're stlll willing to sacrifice her happ
ness. WIN Carter certainly had no /,
tcntion Of yielding 10 her weakness.
\ fine seaman. of whom Pengelly W,
proud for the last year VIII had he,
on board Il yacht cruising in the Med
erranean. But for reasons best know
10 herself, Mrs. rrcgon had discount
nanced his suit and. although he III
every confidence in her, Bertha's {