The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-05-24
NIECE. N c. THURSDAY MAY ~ 19OO

CertluCat0 Oi SFduudtIOA IL ASA " uAns
she was in no haste to return to her
home. So she fingered where she
pleased, arrogantly directing the move
ments of her party, which consisted
of d maiden aunt and elderly second
cousin. With this double chaperon-
age she was allowed to do almost any
thing she pleased.
At length they reached Amsterdam,
making head quarters for themselves
there, and planring to go upon many
excursions through the country. 1t
was natural enough that, having a
local habltation, they should make
some friends in the city. and SO 1t came
about that before they had been there
long they were invited to dinrer by an
4 merican lady, Mrs. Truax, whose
husband was engaged In some mercan-
tile enterprise there.
The Truax house was a cosmopOll-
tan one, and at it the habltue ex-
pected to meet all manner OF celebrl-
ties and human curios. Bertha, much
elated at the prospect, whirled OFT, ac-
comranied by her decorous relatives,
arrayed for the occasion In the most
unbscomlng of their best silks.
"What dear old frumps they are",
Bertha cemmented 10 herself. Il
! think the Amsterdam ladies will like
them. They Just suit this back
ground"
They seemed to, indeed, and got on
better than Bertha, whose youth con-
demned her to a subordinate place.
This was not as it was In America,
Bertha reflected, and permitted herself
Ito indulge in a moment of homesick
ness, as she sat apart, her glowing
beauty unnotlced by the mlddle-aged
people who were paying their re-
spects to her aunt and her second
cousin.
II have delayed for a moment for
another guest, Mrs. Truax said. II
wished to present to your niece, Miss
Manderson" she said, addressing
Bertha's aunt, "a young man who is
half an American. All; there Is the
bell now ~
A moment later the man at the
door announced
"Herr Van Brunt."
| It was now Bertha turned with an
anticipation she endeavored to subdue.
1t was not likely that the son OF a
gardener would be at the home of Mrs.
Truax. But In the young man who
entered Bertha saw with unmistaka.
bic recognition the amlable, 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 seif-confdence.
The hostess managed to whisper to
Berthais aunt-and of course Bertha
overheard
"This young man has distinguished
himself in landscape gardening. He
has just laid out a park for Prince
Zagenwell, and Is much thought OF
both in Holland and Germany.
hear that the Duke of York IL likely
to send for him for his new place In
Scotland"
Dominlcus Van Brunt saluted bis
hostess with a profound bow-how
we'll Bertha remembered that quaint
reverence of mannerl He was pre-
sented to the guests, and at last was
led up to Bertha, who suddenly felt as
if she were in short frocks, with freck-
les on her face and braids down her
back He started and flushed, and
then held out his hand in the good
American way, regardless of ceremony.
"What, you are acquainted J" cried
the hostess. The hostess turned In
some perplexlty to the spinstsr aunt
She wondered if she had unintention-
ally committed an indiscretion. But
there was no annoyance In the face ol
the elder Miss Henderson, and the hos.
tess felt at liberty to permit the two
young people to 60 down to dinner to-
gether.
The conversation at dinner would
rot be particularly interesting to re
count. But Bertha remembered ev
cry wosd OF 1t. Perhaps Dominica!
Van Brunt did too-but it has beer
impossible to secure his confidence Il
is certain thing, however, .hat the
next day a basket came for the youns
American lady containing dozer
yellow tomatoes, dropped like eggs il
a nest OF white daisies, which wal
surely curious gift
Now it is undenlable that Berths
Manderson found Amsterdam interest
ing, vet for some reason best under
stood to her sex she remained in 1t blu
short time, Fastening away to othe
points of interest. 1t is also certain
that about the time of her departur,
:. a young landscape gardener ran t
yews and weeping Willows in bis de
4 signs and accepted with alaority th'
; opportunity of designing cemeter.
for some new American town. But b.
recovered from his gloom when ther
t reached him from the shores of th
Baltic a trinket fashioned of lucen
amber, shaped like a yellow tomato
!, 1t occurred to him that he ought alr
= visit the storled beaches OF the Baltic
i and he did so without an hours un
necessary delay.
: And the consequence Was, as tn
d child:en say when they play the Oh
e game, that when Miss Bertha Mandel
. son returned to America she wore fo
~ an engagement ring tomato-shape
= topaz ON her third finger.
= ARUSoe1vONoc~e~~ND
IT G ALWAYS KEEP ON HAND
p