The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-10
MISPLACED FAITH.

Mrs. Portman to her friend Bertha Baker.
The pretty young widow laughed and
shook her head.
When Gerald Montressor proposed to
Bertha Baker, a wealthy young widow
with two children, she burst into tears
nnd murmured something about 'snot be-
ing good enough for himI'
Miss johnson, the governess of little
Blanche and Bessie, clasped her hands in
delight when Bertha told her of her en-
gagement.
aHe's such a darling manl'' said Miss
johnson.
So the big wedding cake was maze, and
The white silk dress was ordered, and the
clergyman engaged to perform the cere-
mony, when a telegram arrived from Eu-
rope demanding Mrs. Bakers instant
presence at the deathbed of her only
brother.
"You surely will not think of going,
Bertha2" pleaded the bridegroom elect.
II shall co. Mrs. Baker answered
quietly. sit is a duty from which I may
not shirk."
And she went, ~resolutely refusing the
escort Of Mr.. Montressor, because she
said, 81 would rather know that my little
ones are safe under your fatherly care"
Before she sailed. however, she made a
will, leaving her children, her property,
her all, to the guardianship of Gerald
Montressor, and thereby arose the remark
which opens our tale.
Three or four weeks glided away before
a second telegram was handed into the
Gothic furnished library Of the house on
Patrician square where Mr.. Montressor
was reading the paper aloud to Miss Jo-
sepha johnson:
Isail in the San D~uomoApril 81. Love to ali.
3. B.
And while the upholsterer's men were
lacking down the pale blue velvet carpet
in the brides boudoir the sad tidings
came Of the laundering of the good steam
er San Duomo and the loss of all on board.
The little children stared in bewilder-
ment at their black frocks and wide black
sash6s.
"The Lords will be DONE" groaned
Mr.. Montressor.
ave must strive to b. resigned, y said
Miss Josepha johnson.
1t was a sunbright morning toward the
1st of June. Mrs. Portman was watering
the monthly roses and ~geraniums in her
windows, when there came . soft tapping
at the door.
"Come in,' said Mrs. Portman, and
straightforward a ghost glided in.
Or at least SO she thought. It was
Bertha Baker, the woman whom they all
believed to be shrined in coral at the bot
tom of the Atlantic.
Don't be frightened, Mrs. Portman,"
said Bertha. "It's only l. I didn't sail
in the Duomo after all. A little extra law
business that I hadn't anticipated kept me
until the next steamer. l was SO vexed,
but I'll never grumble again. 1t was the
saving of my life. And now tell me about
the children-about Gerald.
Mrs. Portman's spectacles glared upon
the inquiring face of the young widow.
"Is it possible she asked, THAT you
haven't been there?"
81 wanted to hear something of their
welfare first. I wanted to surprise them.
'sAnd l guess you will surprise them"
said Mrs. Portman. "Hayen'tyou heard?"
Heard whatY"
"Why,'; said Mrs. Portnan, with a
roguish twinkle in her eyes,, "Mr. Mon
tressor thought it was a great pity the
wedding cake and the dress and the veil
should all be wasted, so he is to marry
that precious Miss Josepha johnson of
yours the day after tomorrow"
sImpossiblel" gasped Bertha. And
the children"
"Oh, the children They are a secondary
consideration, 2 said Mrs. Portman dryly.
'sThey are to be packed off to a boarding
school, for Miss Josepha johnson has had
quite enough of them already, and Mr..
Montressor ism 'tfond Of children now that
their mothers eye is off him and the prop
erty is in his own control"
Mrs. Bakers lips were compressed.
1.-THE man is a false ~villaini" she cried.
"Just exactly what I've always thought
myself, " retorted Mrs. Portman, Nbut you
wouldn't believe o word of itl'
let us go to them at once" cried Mrs.
Baker, the fltful color coming and going
in fever fiushes on her cheek. 1.-THE idea
of sending my children away to boarding
school-my little pet lambst"
Miss Joscpha johnson was trying on
tho wedding dress in Mrs. Bakers own
bedroom when the doorbeli rang.
It'll do pretty we'll, " said Miss John
son, "although / should have preferred
white satin with sprays of orange blooms
all around the hem of the veil, aDd-do
get out of the way, Blanche and Bessie,
You little bothering plaques, or I'll slap
your facesi'
"No, you will not" said a soft, firm
voice close beside her. Take off that
dress at once and then take yourself out
of my housed"
Miss Josepha johnson gave an eldritch
screech of terror and dismay.
81 thought you were drownedE" she
screamed.
II am as alive as yourself, said Bertha
calmly, and then, followed by Mrs. Port
man, she walked down stairs into the
drawing room, where Mr.. Montressor was
leisurely reading ~theapaper.
rs that you, my darling ~Josepha2' he
asked without turning his head. Come
here and give your own Jerry a kiss.
Mrs. Baker bit her lip.
ssYou are under q mistake, Mr.. Mon
tressor, = said she. ssYou and your darling
Josepha may clear out as soon as you
pleasel''
ssBerthal' Mr.. Montressor's classic jaw
fell, his eyes expanded. "Berthal Alive
and WE'LL Has Providence worked a mir
acle?"
s'ExactIyi'' said Mrs. Bakcr. Provi-
dence has revealed to me the real character
of those in whom I trusted so implicitly
something little short of a lniraclef"
Mr.. Montressor lost his rich wife, but
Miss Josepha johnson did not gain a hus-
band. She is an old maid still, for that
dear man" had too much common sense
to throw himself away on a homeless gov
erness. And Bertha Baker still remain