Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-10-31
CHAPTER xxIy-,Conunued)

said Mrs. Martin, bitterly. Would he
had died before / ever saw him, He
has brought blight and ~desolatIon into
my life. But. come, Bertha, rouse
yourself. Shake off this hopeless, use
less in~fatuation. What # he has gone?
y There ere a thousand nobler and finer
men In the world. What nonsense,
4 child! Has the gone out of the
heavens because one silly young man
has failed to return the affection OF a
certain silly young Iady-who is, not
4 withstanding. a thousand times too
good for nim?'
Its no use. dear, You are
kind-you are good. But he's all the
world to me, and / can never look upon
his like again. 1t will kill me, that's
all; but you mustn't be angry with
me. because you see / can't help It,"
Mrs. Martin stamped her foot with
impotence. She could have taken to
her arms and caressed and comforted
the girl for love and pity; but she
feared to coura folly by such a
course. She could have shaken and
reproached Bertha for the helpless
weakness that made the girl ready to
give up existence without a struggle,
for the sake Of a nan who never spent
n thought on: her, n never would.
The troubled mother was torn with
anxiety. impatience, love and pity; yet
she knew not what course to take with
Bertha, or what words were best to
say. With a groan of despair, she
sank down beside the girl, and hel
heart ached for the haggaFd, worn
young face-the dearest face to her in
all the world.
when did he go?" she asked, her
voice harsh and stern with suppressed
emotion.
About an hour ago, mamma; but he
will return to thank you for all your
kindness. 1t Ia only that / shall not
see him any more. / couldn't bear 1t,
and i do not wish 1t: for, after hearing
from his own lips how he loves-oh,
heaven-adores is more near the mark
how he w~orships Clarice, / can never
see him again. 1t is all the same as II
she were already his wife, since she
loves him, too; and / dare not see him
again, to feel myself in love with an
other woman's husband. oh, / shall
die of the shame, But / did not realize
1t until / heard him speak of Clarice.'
And yet she refused to see him
when he called there yesterday" Mrs.
Martin bust out.
Yes: but there must have been
some one who forced her TO do so; and
Shirley-Mr. Austin, 1 mean-thinks he
understands 1t all now. Some one a
been silly enough to suspect him or
Uncle Philips death-so awful, and yet
so foolish, that any one hould have
such an i~dea!-and he is now going TO
find the real criminal. and so bring
himself again TO Clarice-Oh. me! 1
cannot speak of 1t any more!"
..But why has he told all this 10
your
.Oh. mamma, I suppose instinct told
him that I would sympathize with him
in any trouble. He said 1t all In a SOFT
of accidental way, when he was bidding
me good-hye.t He must have seen that
/ was agitated; for, indeed. / couldnt
conceal that; hut he didn't suspect the
cause. He logan by saying that he felt
how good and kind and 8 entle l was. !
thought-but what matter about my
foolish thought? Il was all wrong.
Then he added that he would always
feel toward me as IL he had In me the
kindesI and best sister in the world.
Ard. somehow, from that, he began
talking just as VI he were thinking
aloud. and before I could stop him ne
had told me his entire story, from the
time he fell in love with Clarice till
now. II was a sad story, and l wept
for him too. though 1t almost killed me
TO near him say how he loved another
woman
Il think him a conceited fool-a vain,
Dragging coxcombl" Mrs. Martin said,
bitterly. .and as heartless as he is
vaini"
.sNo. mamma, mol won't lear one
word against him. Bertha protested.
'How could ne know how ii panied me
to listen? But / love him the more
when / see how true, how noble n
constant a lover he can be-"
Mrs. Martin stamped her foot with
angry impatience.
LET me hear no more OF him, nor of
this folly she said. Where Is Let
typ"
Lefty went n a short time after
you, mamma Bertha answered, TAX
ing a letter from her pocket. "She left
this for you, and she kissed me many
times and cried over me. Dear Lefty,
i think she pities me, for she is so hap
by herself"
Mrs. Martin tore open the letter and
glanced rapidly at its contents. She
uttered q sharp cry and fell back, gasp
ing and choking.
"She has left us--run away!' she said,
almost inaudibly. There, read for
yourself. oh. God, my punishment IS
too hardl i have only strivcn n
schemed for my children; 1 have done
no great wrong!"
Bertha took the letter, terrified. Her
mothers words seemed to her like the
raving of dclirium. With an effort che
composed herself. and tried TO find out
the cause by reading her sisters letter.
Lefty was brief and TO the point. She
wasted no words
"Dear mamma" she wrote. II have
gone to my husband. That wore VIII
surprise you; but read the copy OF my
marriage certificate. which I enclose,
and then you will understand me bet
ter. We will come to you for you for
g~ivcness and blessing soon; meantime.
do not be angry with your little girl be-
cause she obeys another than You now
lone to whom she has vowed a whole