Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-05-06

a cosmopolitan character to his know
ledge of the world.
He was thoroughly good-hearted, and
too highly prosperous TO be a deep
thinker. He had tasted Of every pleas
ure, and had no high opinion or ire,
which was, after all, but a farce. last
Ing, according to statistics, an average
six-and-thirty years. He mad small
pretense OF any philosophical view OF
existence, beyond q determined AVOID
ance Sf everything that was not anus
ing. Now, BERTHE was very amusing,
not only in his fun with women. the
cruel sport of a panther; but especially
in the farcical part he played IN
Franks world, where he figured as a
man OF .ashi0H-he, "A vagabond. VINO,
only a month since, had stood SILVER
ing in rags on the pavement 1t was a
constant secret delight to his friend,
who gave BERTHE carte blanche which
was amply honored. bringing in heavy
tailors' bilis-for Berthe dressed with
refined vanity, bought ties by the doz-
en-, adopted every fancy h came IN
to fashion. and scented himself with
all the waters Of Rimmel- Ii was as
though he was fam TO plunge into ev-
cry e~xtravagant refinement OF an ex-
quisite, after having been a squalid
scare-crow. And although at first he
kept faithful record of the outlay, he
soon forgot first n item are then an
other. till al last he forgot all.
Thus weeks slipped by, and Frank
never thought of troubling himself 10
inquire among his influential acquaint-
ances for employment for his compan-
ion. Their life as wealthy idlers filled
their minds entirely; Franks. at any
rate, for Berthe had brought a new
charm into it.
But, suddenly, a strange thing hap
pened. One day BERTHE went out in the
morning alone. and did not come in TO
lunch After luncheon, at the club, no
BERTHE, o yet at dinner. He did not
come home in the evening; he had left
no clew. Frank. extremely uneasy, sat
up half the night-no one. Two days
went by-still no one Frank inquired
right and left, and at last gave inform
alton to the police.
At last n morning. before Frank
was mp, BERTHE appeared at his bed
side with an apologize smile; Frank
must not be angry with him; he surely
had not been alarmed? You see, such
a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS life had sud-
denly been too much for him. Always
these elegant ladies, with trains and
diamonds; always clubs full OF lords
n baronets; and sSating-rinks-the
pink of finery! Always n chimney-pot
hat, and every evening full-dress, with
the regulation button-holer. Ii vas in
tolerable- He could endure it no long
ger; IL had been to- much for him.
But where did you hide yourself?'
asked Frank, in utter amazement.
'Oh, here and there, among old ac-
q~uaintance. 1 have not been out Of
London"
And you did not know a soul here!'
"Oh- well. no fashionable folk. Ike
your friends, but Il ssEpegrace or two.
You are not yexed with met'
Frank had sat up IN bed to talk to
him. He saw that he looked pale,
weary and unkeinpt- His trousers
were deeply bordered with mud: his
hat crushed: there was a thme~cor-
nered rent in his greatcoat. And he
stood there in evident confusion, like a
boy. with his doubling coaxing smile.
Come, do not be cross with me;
take me into favor once more"
This was o much for Frank. Pro
voked beyond measure, ne exclaimed:
Put, BERTHE, what a cad you look!
And where Of earth have you been?'
he asked again.
"Oh: here and there"
And he could get no moro out OF him.
Berthe would only say that he had
wanted to disappear; and now he has
tired he would 90 OF bed. He slept
till three In the afternoon Frank
laughed oyer 1t al day, and BERTHE
went into fits when he heard OF the
police. At dinner, at the club, he re-
lated with a melancholy face, that he
had been out of town for a few days,
attending a funeral. Frank had failed
10 receive n note through the careless
ness OF a servant
"But where in uhe world have You
really BEEN whispered Frank for the
thirt time, infinitely amused and in
quisitive.
Here and there, I tell you-irst in
a place and then in another an
swered BERTHE, with the most innocent
face in the world; and, dapper as ever.
he d~elicateiy lifted an oyster, his little
finger in the air, and swallowed down
his half-doZen without another word
on the subject.