Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-10-30
THEIR SURPRISE.

Bertram of Albany Heights, proved an
overindulgent parent, who gratified
every whim of his only child. Her
mother had died when she was an in
FAINT, and servants and governess stood
in mortal awe Of the little tyrant, who
ruled the household while she yet lay
in the cradle.
AS Sue grew into girlhood she turned
out to be frail young thing, whose
slightest wishes were never crossed.
She was pretty, after fashion, as far
as ethereal blonds can lay claim to
beauty. Her hair was like spun gold.
Her face was small and white as a lily.
Just tall enough to accentuate her ex-
ceeding slenderness, people took her to
be sickly. Nevertheless Sue was lively
as any girl Of her age and desperately
in love with Jules Leroux, young
westerner whom she had met at Jer-
sey watering place.
Jules was the superintendent of an
eastern railway, with every chance to
rise to the highest place in the gift of
the company. His duties frequently
brought him to Albany. He had moth
ing beyond his salary, which was ade-
quate to support family, but Mr.. Ber
tram, the banker, looked favorably
upon his union with his adored daugh-
ter. He had never denied her anything,
and he would not cross her now that
her heart had spoken, though he might
have desired q more suitable parti for
his only daughter. Besides, young Le-
roux was handsome fellow, of unques-
toned integrity and excellent character
The marriage day had been set for the
late autumn, and meanwhile Jules was
to spend long vacation on the Jersey
coast with his betrothed and her father
The particular little resort was popular
with the West Point officers and cadets,
and this fact caused the young people
of the vicinage to flock there in great
numbers
One day there appeared at the princi-
pal hotel a handsome, dashing brunette,
accompanied by her mother. Marga
Vandermeulen was all that the bankers
daughter lacked. She was ravishingly
beautiful, charmingly vivacious. The
brilliant color of her cheeks Wed in
richness with the sparkle Of her dark
brown eyes and raven tresses. On the
evening of her arrival Jules Leroux met
her on the hotel veranda. She was ac-
companied by q young West Point cadet,
a former classnate of Leroux's. He
greeted his friend and was introduced
to the stylish beauty. Sue Bertram was
just then confined to her room with a
slight illness, and the overanxious IA
ther had enjoined the physician to keep
his daughter indoors longer than it was
necessary. This gave Jules more oppor-
tunity than was good for him to bask
in the enchanting smiles of the new
star. Jules was not i'll love with Marga,
but he was fascinated by her beauty and
eager to do her homage. He had never
professed deep love for his betrothed,
aud, while he was not fortune hunter,
he had allowed Sue, the willful, spoiled
child, to do the counting, and the en-
gagement came about in a way about
which Leroux was not clear to this day.
Meanwhile he forgot in the presence Of
the captivating brunette that he was
bound to Sue, remembering all the time,
however, that the dashing Marga was
as poor as he.
When Sue recovered, he withdrew
from Marga Vandermeulen and once
more devoted himself to his betrothed.
The latter was not ignorant of her low
er's worship at the shrine Of another.
Servants and friends had gossiped about
the hotel, and the silly talk found it's
way to the sick girl. She felt instinc-
lively that her dowry was the point on
which Jules affection turned, and with
that tenacity peculiar to people of deli
cate constitution she clung to life, de-
termined to snatch few years of hap
piness as the wife Of the man she ador-
ed. He might marry Marga after she
had gone hence, but now she intended
to possess him.
The marriage took place in the fall,
as had been planned. The young people
went on long bridal journey, and
when they finally returned to Albany
Heights it was found that Sue was
completely restored to health and
bloomed like rose. But with health
had not come happiness. Mr.. and Mrs.
Leroux got along peacefully enough,
but they were almost like strangers to
each other. They maintained strictly
the conventionalities of married life,
they entertained lavishly and were en-
tertained in turn, but nobody ever saw
warm, affectionate glance pass from
wife to husband nor heard a tender
word between the two The searching
eye of the doting father soon saw that