Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-10-27

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but from George. She trembled vio-
lently-ought she to read ito The
temptation was too strong for her,
however; she moved further from her
cousin, and with her heart throbbing
wildly read the few hurried lines.
George was coming To chichester, but
no one must know of 1t, he begged to
see her once for few moments, aud
proposed that they should meet in the
garden that evening as soon as 1t
was dusk. 1t was a short, straight
forward letter without the least ap-
Iproach to sentiment, and Bertha
could not realize that the interview
spoken of in such business-like
way was a candestine meeting or
if the thought did occur to her she sti-
fed it at once. George was in Ril-
chester at that very minute, and that
evening she might-she must see
him. It was all decided in a moment;
she dared not stop to think she dis
regarded all the arguments against
such a step while a train OF argll-
ments in favor of it passed rapidly
through her brain; she was of age,
she had a right to rule her own ac-
tions; George was her cousin, why
| should she not speak to him for a few
moments2 II 1t was in a secret way
that was only because he had been
! forbidden to come to the house-it
was her fathers fault not hers. The
idea having been once admitted, she
began TO feel that life would be in
tolerable without just this one meet
ing, and remembered with terror her
startled exclamation on opening the
letter Had Esperance noticed it.?
She glanced across the room and felt
relieved, for Esperance was smiling
over her own letter in happy uncon-
seriousness, looking so bright and in
nocent that Bertha felt a sharp sting
of remorse, as she contrasted that
happiness with her own excited, half
terrified pleasure. While she was
still musing Esperance looked up
Such long letter, Bertha, and do
you know, Gaspard's salary is to be
raisedl"
Bertha murmured something like
congratulation. and left the room
abruptly, avoiding Esperance for the
rest of the afternoon, for fear she
should allude to that exclamation
which she might have heard.
Never had the hours seemed so long
as on that day. Bertha was miser-
ably restless and frightened but she
did not waver Soon after nine in
the evening she excused herself on the
plea OF having some copying to do,
and stole away to the dining-room,
wishing she had not been 50 conscious
that she was doing wrong. She light
ed candle, shut the door, and for a
few minutes made some pretense Of
writing then she softly drew aside
the shutters, opened the French win
dow, and looked out into the dusky
garden. The night was fine, but cold.
She shiyered a little as the fresh
breeze played upon her burning
cheeks; the cathedral clock chimed
quarter past nine, and she started
with sudden fright, then recovering
herself trembed to think that she
was guiltily afraid of being discov-
cred. For moment she heSitated-
her hand was raised to close the win
dow. Should she not, even now, give
up this stolen pleasure? But while
she paused a dark figure stole silently
across the lawn; it was too late! The
next moment her hand was clasped IN
her cousins, and the power Of willing
anything seemed to have passed from
her. In the drawing-room the dean
had fallen asleep over his paper, Cor
nelia read a volume of the Bride
water Treatises,' and Mrs. Mortlake
talked snappishly to Esperance. It
was very dull; Esperance caught
herself yawning repeatedly and she
was not sorry when her cousin was
reused to an expression of annoyance.
Really if you're so sleepy, you
had better go to bed perhaps it would
wake you up to go TO the dining
room and fetch me my book of knit
ting receipts
Esperance gladly hailed the oppor-
tunity of escaping from the hot draw
/ ing-room and walked leisurely across
the hall, indulging in fantastic arm
exercises on the way to relieve her
self; then she opened the dining room
door, and little cry of establishment
escaped her as she saw Bertha in
her white dress standing by the open
window. Bertha herself started VIC
lently, and hastily moved back into
the room.
"Oh, you are doing the copying,
said Esperance, reeollecting; but Ber-
tina in her fright faucied that she
spoke satirically. She resolved to
brave 1t out, however.
Yes, | am very busy; do you want
anything
only Christabel's knitting-book,
said Esperance. and she made haste
10 find the book and left the room,
seeing that Bertha did not wish to be
interrupted.
AS soon as the door had closed, Ber-
tina turned again to the window.
Il am sure she suspected some
thing" she whispered. "Oh. George