Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-02-11


OF her birthday.
Suddenly, heard a rustling Of dress
es The door opened and closed again
quickly. | stopped playing and looked
up Bertha and Wilmay had gone, and
| was alone in the room. An indefin-
able sense of horror and pain came
over me. ! was glad when a minute
or SO later Bertha came back again.
She looked troubled
What Is the matter?" asked.
What has happened?"
did you not see""
No"
"Wllmay began to cry, and got up
went out with her, and I've loft her
upstairs She told me to come down
again"
rs she still crying?"
Yes, she Is lying on her bed and
soEbing violently She does not seem
able to tell me what's the matter with
her. Indeed she says that nothing's
the matter"
There must he some explanation"
'"She Is In a nervous over-WrOught
state, and music always has a great
effect upon her. have never seen her
lose her sef-control like this before.
And thought that Mt dinner she seem
ed unusually bright and happy"
rs any one with her now"
yes, ! think Mrs. Blayd is there"
Bertha sighed. ooh, this Is horrible!"
she exclaimed petulantly.
There WAS long pause Bertha sat
with her head on her hand, | paced
the room, and thon stopped. Before
could speak, Bertha burst out:
II know what you're going to say,
Edward, ! know what you're going to
sny."
Very likely" ! replied. "but shall
say 1t. Wlmay's marriage must not
take place. She Is not In love with
Vincent. You must break II off there
Is time yet, and you-or must do
It."
Il don't know whether II will sur
prise you, but since your return, only
a few days ago, ! asked Wilmay II she
would like me to break II Off, She
said most emphatlcally that she would
rot hear of 1t. that she had considered
everything when she accepted. She
even asked me not to speak of 1t again.
But tonight, just now when ! took her
upstairs, | did hint OF IT, She would
only say No! no.! and once, Why must
| make people unhappy It's not my
fault, Is 1t? ! ON so fond OF Wimay."
Bertha looked Mt me with tears In her
eyes
No | said you need not blame
yourself, am glad you suggested It.
Now we can do nothing she Is no
longer II child and she must make her
own choice. But somehow can't bring
myself to think that this marriage Ii
really going to take place"
II never did take place On the
morning before the day. | received Il
note from Bertha asking me to come
round AT once. ! rOuud iiertha loo,ing
white and ill., with a letter IN her
hands.
"Wilmay has gono. she said at once.
Gomez"
Yes; left London. Thank Heaven,
she has Mrs. Blayd with her, She
went early this morning before | was
up and this note was brought to me-
| took the note and glanced through
It,
In the night. Bertha. found that
| could not do It, | had to go away.
got up and found Mrs. Blayd. ant
talked to her, and we shall leave Ion
don curly tins morning. have writtra
to Vincent And will wlite To YOU
again, when know wAcre We sRaH
be- VIII YOU p.ease lee ne b. quite
alone for some time? Oh, deal Bertha,
do love YOU SO much, DO, do forgive
me! AS soon as YOU get my address
write and tell me that you are not
angry. | caunot help FL should 80
mad If | didn't go away"
| had a long talk with Bertha. It
was publicly announced that owing to
the illness OF Miss Amory her marriage
with Sir Vincent Carrono was post
poned. Later and more gradually it
became known that the marriage would
not take place at al.
Vincent behaved finely He would
rot allow anyone to say a word against
Wilmay, and quarreled lastinGly with
his own brother on the subject, 70 me
he said: Edward, by this time he
had got into the habit of calling me
hy my first name Its bad, but it's
bcst Tor her She tried TO love me,
know that Ii can ever do any
thing, in some way to make her hap
ny, you let me know That is really
all want VT is horrible to think
Of her rs being unhappy. and that am
the cause of It,"
He had the luck some Ave years after
to be killed in tho hunting field.
CHAPTER MI.