Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-10-10

She turned to her daughter. and
although her was as gentle and
affectionate rs ever. Tartha had never
heard her mother speak In such a Sc
we're tone.
II fear you have been foolish. Bertha,
and much to blame. Don't look so dis
tressed. child. / know you meant no
harm, but your credulous folly In going
TO a fortune-teller and allowing your
self TO be influenced by her fiimsy
tricks pains me as much as IL surprises
me-"
Mamma, dear. it was no trick.
saw the face so plainly I would have
recognized IL a hundred years later.
while Lefty saw nothing at all. / could
o have imagined Shirley's face, for
had never seen him in my life; and II
is very unlikely hat Madam Durand
could have had a picture Of him. or
could have had any object in showing
me his picture rather han any other"
Unlikely. child. but not impossible
Mrs. Martin returned, with an impa-
tent sigh. But even she didn't say
that the owner of the face would love
you"
''No. unhappily; she intimated the
reverse. rather lOT she SdGu my WV
might cause me great misery. And,
oh. mamma, it has done that already!
but perhaps / can wiz his love yet, for,
beautiful though Clarice is, h never
could ave loved him as 7 do, or else no
threats. no persuasions, could have
made her marry Uncle Philip. He will
love me~he must! I love him so much
that I must win his love in return
Mrs. Martin repressed the discourage
ing words that rose TO her lips. but she
thought of Adele LingaId, who must
have been even more beautiful than
Clarice, and whose frantic love had
failed to make the true lover false, even
in thought.
There is some ~witchcraft about Clar-
ice" she said, bitterly. No mas who
loves her can ever recover from it,"
Then / can diet said Bertha, calm
ly. but in a voice OF concentrated de-
spair.
Her face became deadly pale. her
hands clenched, and she fell back in her
chair, as If already in the embrace Of
death.
Mrs. Martin gave n cry Of terror. Her
heart contracted with pain, and in her
p%erplexity, she asked herself, for the
first time, If God was about to punish
her for all her double-dealing, her plot
ting, her wicked scheming and hypcc-
risy.
Surely, my sin has found me out"
she thought. "Is this To be the ending
of all my plans to gain possession of
Philips wealth? In my heart I AVE
almost committed murder to gain 1t. I
hnxya raSnrfn6 m avnpv lnaripG Of de-
ceit and to work out my
ends, and now the child OF my heart
the one being in the world for whose
sake, for than any other, l have plan
ned and worked-seems likely to die be-
fore my eyes. the victim of my evil
plotting"
Some such thoughts, less coherent,
put causing a deep impression, passed
through Mrs. Martins mind. and for
the moment her bold, scheming soul
quailed before Bertha's pale, accusing
face.
"Cheer UP, my darling; you shall not
die" she said, wildly. mot IL anything
your wretched mother can do to aid you
may be of service. i saw Shirley Aus
tin just now; his face showed that he
had not seen Clarice. Perhaps h re-
fused to see him. Your uncle's will for
babe her to marry again, and IL she
cared enough for money to marry for 1t,
she is not likely to throw away a mag
nificent fortune for the sake Of a de-
serted lover. Don't give way like this.
Bertha. You are young-you are love-
ly. You may prove a formidable rival,
even for Clarice."
This, and much more Of the same
kind, Mrs. Martin said, and, In her anx-
iety, almost believed 1t, too; Inc when
she saw the color steal back into Ber-
tha's cheek, and the brightness to her
daughters eyes, she felt justified in all
she had said.
"And now, darling" she concluded,
what were you saying about Lefty?
Has she, too, stole a march upon her
unsuspecting mother. and fallen in love
with somebody? But, no! At her age
1t is impossible. She is a mere child"
"A child in years, mamma, but a wo-
"a in heart, for h loves with all the
fervor of a strong and passionate ma
ture. But Lefty is more fortunate than
I; the man she loves adores her, and
has already implored her to marry
him."
Letty. e~J8CuldLeO MrS. MARTIN.
Yes. mamma; but there is no aus
to worry about Lefty. She will tell you
everything herself. and her lover will
come to ask your leave TO pay his ad-
dresses as soon as he returns to the
city. There is some family trouble at
present which requires his attention,
and he vas called suddenly away in
consequence of it."
When did she meet him? Where?
Who is hep" Mrs. Martin gasped out,
between spasms Of amazement, which
every word spoken by Bertha only
served to augment. Have my children
entered into a league to distress and
disappoint me?"
Don't speak SO, mamma; you will
break my heart!" cried Bertha. "Scold
me-be very angry; / will try to bear
II; but don't think I would willingly do
anything to grieve you"
81 can't scold you, child, nor can I be
angry. I love you too well for that;
but have no more secrets from me, II
you value ny affections. Go to your
room. Calm yourself. Be happy, and
make yourself as pretty as you can.
while I try to think out the best way OF
making your beauty effective"
Bertha colored bri Chilly, and, throw
ing her arms around her mothers neck.
kissed her many times. She then ran