The St. Johns herald., 1899-04-29
CUPID IN THE
 COUNTRY
TT seemed a little lonely at first

my new nome in the country
 A although scarcely an hour from the city. Upon the whole, was glad 1 had secured so desirable a place at an unmistakable bargain.
 "Jones," quoth I to my factotum, who had been recommended to me as "handy to have on farm" "who owns that property next doorp
 Don't know nothing about it, sir" Jones answered.
 left him and strolled down to look at my neighbor's fernery through the thread-like wire fence.
 To my surprise l perceived that the fernery was not unoccupied this golden July morning. A young lady was there working diligently with a little rosewood handle trowel, while the bright hair which fell beneath her straw gypsy only half revealed a fresh face lighted up with roses.
 l had come so directly upon her that there was no retreating unless l were to turn and fly.
 So stood my ground bravely and said Good morning."
 Good morning." the rural beauty an swered, with a root of adiantum in her hand. q suppose you are my new neighbor, MT. RaymOndF
 'I have that hOnOr," l said, lowing politely. "Your father has fine place here"
 'I have no father" answered this spirit of the ferns.
 'I beg your pardon" corrected my self. '1 should have said your hus- band"
 Not if you have any regard to the strict truth she answered, with a sort of demure enjoyment of my perplex ity. 'I never had either brother or sister. Now don't guess any more and 1 will introduce myself. I am the owner of this place, and my name is Bertha Wilson"
 I started a little. Bertha Wilsonr' This, then, was the beautiful fiancee of Richmond Kent the wealthy Broad street broker, of whose eccentricity and
 
 Kent had chosen well.
 We went together over the fairy do- mains; we investigated the conServa- tories, tested the gold and purple con- tents of the graperies, and looked at the rose gardens. The house itself was mere little bungalow. all verandas and awnings and cool glimpses of flut- tering muslin curtains and cream colored mating, but the grounds were like a chapter out of "The Arabian Nights"
 "Who suggested all this to you, Miss WilsonY' I asked.
 "WhO should suggest 1t to me?" she asked, elevating her beautiful brows. "Why, myself, of course"
 What lucky dog Richmond Kent was. to be sure!
 If you will come over tomorrow. and are not afraid of mosquitoes and said Miss Wilson. "T will take you down the river to my lily 
 Was I in love with Bertha Wilson now? Yes, but she should never know 1t! And the summer glided on like the pauses of an unwritten idyll, and my lovely neighbor filled up my whole life with her wondrOus grace and beauty, and all the while neither of us spoke of Richmond. It was a Sultry September afternoon when l met him on Broad street. The city seemed hotter, dustier, and more than ever. "Hallo. Raymond! Why, where have you been hiding all this time?
 "Kent, old fellowr' and we shook hands in genuine American fashion. ''So you've been turning ornamental l farmer. have you? Well, I never had | any great fancy for that style of life. | Upon my word, you've grown as brown | as a berry. Make any stay in town?" ''No. l go back tonight" "Sorry. I should have liked to have | Ing; got a cook who Is great on orto- ans and mock-turtle soup, and there's | an article of dry champagne can real l y depend upon. Besides. should have | liked to introduce you to Mrs. Kent" Your mother"
 ''No, my wife"
 stared wildly at him, I'm afraid. Married last month. An English | girl without a particle of nonsense | lbout her. You would like her, know, and his face beamed as he i looked at me.
 "But-Bertha WilSonY'
 ''Oh, Bertha Wilsony" He looked a little discomfited. That's an old af- fair. She was a splendid girl, a regu- ar princess, but we were never suited 10 each other"
 '"The engagement is at an end. then?" asked, with a breathless, choking feeling in my throat.
 "Certainly. or shouldn't have mar