Hutchinson gazette., 1900-06-07

ana nuinhn cHIlohs bVItnhi h'"NH NA"'
ed at the prospect, whirled on, nc'
companied by her decorous relatives,
arrayed for the occasion In the most
unbecoming of their silks.
"What dear old frumps they are,
Bertha commented to herself, II think
the Amsterdam ladies will like them
They Just suit this background"
They seemed 10, indeed, and got on
better than Bertha, whose youth con-
demned her 10 subordinate place
This was not as II was In America
Bertha reflected, and permitted her.
self 70 indulge In q moment OF home
sickness, as she sat apart, her glow
ing beauty unnoticed by the middle
aged people who were paying their re-
spects 10 her aunt and her second
cousin.
81 have delayed for moment Tor
another guest" Mrs TruaX snid' u
wished TO present TO your niece Mlss
Manderson," she sNld, addressing
Bertha's aunt, "a young mnn who II
half nm American, All, there Is the
bell nowl"
The man at the door announced u
moment later;
"Herr Van Brunt"
Bertha turned with Nn anticipation
which she endeavored TO subdue, II
was not likely that the son OF gar
dener would be nj the home OF Mrs
Truax. But in the young man VINO
entered Bertha saw with unmislNk'
able recognition the amiNble, soft
eyes, the round face, and high brow
and the quiet, kindly manners OF her
old friend borne with the assurance
and ease that come Of self-confidence'
The hostess managed to whisper
TO Berthns nunt--and Of course Ber'
tina overheard;
"This young man has distinguished
himself In landscape gardening, lie
has Just laid out park for Prince
Zagenwell and II much thought OF
both In Holland and Germany u
hear that the Duke Of York Is likely
to send for him for his new place in
Scotland
Domncus Van Bwnt saluted his
hostess with q profound bow-how
well Bertha remembered that quaint
reverence Of manner! He was pre-
sented TO the guests, and at last he
was led up to Bertha, who suddenly
felt as II she were in short frocks,
with freckles on her face and brnlds
down her bnck. He started and flush
cd, and then held out his hands In
the good American way, regardless OF
ceremony.
what. are YOU ncqunintedl" cried
the hostess. They explained. The
hostess turned in some perplexity to
the spinster aunt. She wondered II
she had unintention0lly committed an
indscretion. But there was no an
novance in the face Of the elder Miss
Henderson, and the hostess felt at
liberty to permit the two young peo-
pie TO 20 down TO dinner together.
The conversation at dinner would
not he particularly interesting to re-
count. But Bertha remembered every
word Of It.. Perhaps Dominicus Van
Rrunt did too--but II has been impos-
sihIe 20 secure his confidence. II Is n
certain thing, however, that the next
day n basket came for the young
American lady dycontainingn dozen yell
low tom0toes, dropped like eggs in
nest Of white daisies, which was sure
ly, curious gift.
Now II was undeniNble that Bertha
Henderson found Amsterdam inter-
esting. vet for some reason best un-
derstood by her sex she remained in
ithut short time, fastening away to
other points Of interest. II Is also GER
tain that about the time of her de-
pnrture n young landscape gardener
ran to yews and weeping willows in
his designs, and accepted with alac-
rity the opportunity Of designing
cemetery for some new American
town. But he recovered from his
gloom when there reached him from
the shores of the Baltic trinket nash
ioncd OF lucent amber, shaped like n
yellow tomato. II occurred to him
that he ought nlso 10 visit the storicd
beaches Of the Baltic, and he did 30
without an hours unnecessary delay.
And the consequence was MS the
children say when they play the old
game. that when Miss Bertha Mander-
SON returned to America she wore an
engagement ring, tomoto-shaped
topaz, on her third fnger,-Chicago
Tribune.