The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-08-28
and passion which 1 longed to

I
the center of group of devoted admir-
ers. Among them all Royal Phelps was
preeminent alike for his handsome per-
son and for certain fascination of
manner which made him popular with
men and women alike. He stood over
six feet, had fair hair and blue eyes, and
an athletic frame in which grace and
strength were equally apparent.
Bertha, while appearing to share the
general admiration for him, never
seemed quite at ease in his presence,
and it was perhaps this evident con-
straint whenever he was present which
led my father to chaff me pleasantly one
evening after dinner by saying:
Charlie, my boy, you had better not
| let your bird of paradise remain un-
Gagged much longer, or some one else
may catch it," And then the dear old
fellow laughed and winked at me mys-
teriously, as though he were quite in
the know.
| think it was the presence of Royal
Phelps and many suggestive hints about
| his devotion to Bertha which finally de-
| termined me to put to the test my
chance of happiness with her.
1t was bright and lovely day in
June, and large party had assembled
upon the spacious lawn in front of our
bungalow" as my father always called
his house. Bertha had never seemed to
me so fair, so altogether worthy of my
love and my life. Early in the after
noon, for she had come before the rest,
10 aid us in arranging for our numerous
guests, l had seen her color rise as |
made some slight remark about her APP
pearance, and as our hands met l
thought hers trembled. Was ii my
imagination? Or was she, too, like me,
longing to acknowledge her love?
II shall not be with you long. Bertha
| said, hoping thus 10 prepare the way
for my proposal. Il shall be leaving
for Hong Kong within month to take
up my appointment"
Yes, yes, Charlie, l have heard it all
from father; he says you passed your
exams with flying colors. l am so
glad"
Glad. glad of the fate which ban
ishes me from England, and from"
But she did not lie; me finish the SEN
tcnce.
NO, of course not that; it will be
awfully lonely without you, and the
old place won't seem like itself bit;
but still, you're a man, and you have got
tn make your name and way in the
world, and I'm glad that you are making
so good start"
Il could look forward to my life in
the east, Bertha. dear, with great
deal more JOY if the prospect were not
SO lonely" Bertha's eyes fell before
my ardent gaze, and fancied that her
| lips trembled, and fastened TO put an
end to the tension we were both under,
when a rollicking voice broke in upon
| us:
"Ah! here you are, Bertha. What.
and Charlie, too! All! / hope | am
not de trop. Shall come again? Ha!
hal" and Royal Phelps laugh rang out
clear and loud. but with touch of
cynicism in its ring.
Not for the world" replied Bertha,
crimsoning to her hair; I'VE were just
arranging the games for the day, and
now you can help u.s." And so the
golden moment passed, and the word
l had been longing to speak remained
unspoken then, and alas! remained un-
spoken for many bitter years.
Tennis, and gossip, and tea, and
laughter, and merrymaking soon sped
the afternoon. l had succeeded with
the aid of Berthas cousin. Eva Win
throp, in beating Royal and Bertha at
tennis, and had then given myself TO the
duties of hospitality.
At last, however, found myself free,
and went in search of Bertha, resolved
to endure my uncertainty no longer.
l approached the library window, and
had almost entered the room when
heard Bertha's voice. Ii was clear and
cold and positive:
mo. l have told you how impossi
BILE it is. 1 should wrong you and my
self. l cannot marry you, because
do not love you." =.
l was about to beat hasty retreat
from my false position when Royals
words chained me to the ground:
"It's for that proud brute, Charlie,
suppose, I'm thrown over! Oh! well,
take him; but, curse him, I'll"
"You forget yourself; l have not said
love another, certainly have not said
love Charlie. We are old friends, that
is all, nothing more. He is no more to
me than you"
But | could stay to hear no more,
and with heart beating l gained my
own room, and hid my grief from the
curious eyes about me. And so this
was the end: "He is no more to me
than you" Oh! cruel words! And
I-ah! there, to me she was more than
all the world beside.
Governor, if you don't mind, I think
TIL spend the next few weeks in Lon
don. I've a good deal to do before sail
ing, and If you will run up with me we
can be pretty much together until l
| leave"