Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-09-01

house bacl. of the garden WIS empty.
1t had been sSl moment for her. Sh"
had felt the tears come To her eyes as
she looked at tie untdy picC" of
ground where the cXQuiSitcly Kept gar
den of Jacob Van Brunt had been. and
the windows from which the round
face of her friend had often smiled at
her repulsed her now with their bare
Eess.
1t happened that in course of time
Bertha had notion to 30 abroad, and,
having the consciousness of her certif-
icate of graduation in her trunk, she
was in no haste to return to her home.
So she fingered where she pleased, ar
rogantly directing the movements of
her party, which consisted of a maiden
aunt and an elderly second cousin.
With this double chapcronagc she was
allowed to do almost anything she
pleased.
At length they reached Amsterdam,
making headquarters for themselves
there and planning to 90 upon many
excursions through the country. 1t
was natural enough that. having a To-
cal habitation, they should make some
friends in the city. and so ii came
about that before they had been there
long they were invited to dinner by an
American lady. Mrs. TruaX. whose hus-
band was engaged in some mercantile
enterprise there.
The TruaX house was cosmopolitan
one, and at it the habitue expected to
I'll nf fn1nhritinS md hI-
man curios. Bertha. much clatcd Mt
the prospect. whirlcd off. accompanied
by her decorous relatives. arrayed for
the occasion in the most unbecoming
of their best silks.
"What dear old frumps they are"
Bertha commented to herself. Il think
the Amsterdam ladies will like them
They just suit this background"
They seemed to indeed and got on
better than Bertha. whose youth con
demn"d her to Il subordinate place
This was not as II was I'm America
Bertha reflected and permitted herself
to indulge in a moment of homcSick
ness as she sat apart. her glowing
beauty unnoticcd by the middle aged
people who were paying their respects
to her aunt and her second cousin.
II have delayed for n moment for an
other guest" Mrs. TruaX said. IL wish
ed to present to your niece Miss Man
derson," she said. addressing Bcrtha's
aunt, "a young man who IS half an
American. All. there is the bell now."
The man at the door announced q
moment later:
"IIerr Van Brunt"
Bertha turned with an anticipation
which she endeavorcd to subdue. 1t
was not likely that the son of garden,
er would he at the home of Mrs TruaX.
But in the young man who entered
Bertha saw with unmiStakable recog-
milton the amiablc. soft eyes. the round
face and high brow and quiet. kindly
manners of her old friend. borne with
the assurance and ease that come of
self confidence.
The hostess managed to whisper to
Bertha's aunt. and OF course Bertha
overheard:
"This young man has distinguished
himself in landscape gardening. He
has just laid out n park for Prince
Zagenwel and is much thought of both
in Holland and Germany. | hear that
the Duke of York is likely to send for
him for his new place in Scotland"
DominicuS Van Brunt Saluted his
hostess with profound bow. How
well Bertha remembered that quaint
reverence of manner. He was present
ed to the guests and at last was led
up to Bertha, who suddenly felt as if
she were in short frOcks. with freckleS
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 acqualntedw cried
the hostess. They explained. The
hostess turned in some pprplcxity to
the spinster aunt. She wondered if she
had unintcntionally committed an in
discretion. But there was no annoy
ance in the face of the elder Miss Man
derson. and the hostess felt at liberty
to permit the two young people to go
down to dinner together
The conversation at dinner would not
be particularly interesting to recount.
But Bertha remembered every word of
1t. Perhaps Dominicus Van Brunt did
too-but 1t has been impossible to Sc
cure his confidence. 1t is certain
thing, however. that the next day n
basket came for the young American
lady containing n dozen yellow tOma-
toes, dropped like eggs in nest Of
white daisies. Which was, surely,
curious gift!
Now it is undcniable that Bertha
Manderson found Amsterdam interest
stood by her sex she remaine in it but
a short time. Fastening away to other
points of interest. 1t Is also certain
that about the time of her departure n
young landscape gardener ran to yews
and weeping willows in his designs
and accepted with alacrity the oppor
tunity of designing a cemetery for
some new American town. But he re-
covered from his gloom when there
reached him from the shores of the
Baltic trinket fashioned of lucent
amber. shaped like yellow tomato.
1t occurred to him that he ought also
to visit the storied beaches of the Bal
tic, and he did so without an hours
unnecessary delay.
And the consequence was, as the
| children say when they play the old
game, that when Miss Bertha Mander-
son returned to America she wore for
an engagement ring a tomato shaped