The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-06
offering 1t to your family as a s1ft. there is
nothing really To thank me for

onering II to your family as q G1ft.> there Is
nothing really to thank me for"
a gift? Heavens above. are we sunk
70 low that the fruits of shopkeeping\ can
be offered us in charity?" cried Miss Rosina.
That a ~shopkeeper can insult the OKear-
neys!" said Miss Selma. 1T Is insufferable.,
Ihank God. our brother has been spared IT.
Miss Alison contented herself with rising
and leaving the room, an example which the
others made no delay in following.
| Cnaccustomed waves OF modification sue
ceeded each other hotly in Bertha's face as
she. too. rose and left. She had not much
leisure to think of II. however. for on reach
| Ing home she found her aunt seriously ILL.,
When the Hoifmanns allied they mace
speedy work Of getting well or dying. and.
alas! It was not getting well in the good
sunts case. l fortnight later she was lying
in the Palatines' burying ground. inlant.
and Bertha was trying to take up her Oh
life and It's duties with some of her old cour-
age. 1t was hard to do so, for when her grief
had by any chance n rest. there was sure u
rise before her the remembrance of that
last scene with the O'Kearneys, leaving her
Inundated and empty Of every earthly inter
est she was sitting in her black gown
one evening. at the window where she and
her aunt used 10 spend a cheerful hour be-
fore tea. when she saw the O'kearney ON
ing up the street, genial and kindly looking
as ever. She did not know that he was at
home, and a flush that prettily replaced her
now usual Dallor mounted to her checks.
He was coming to see her. She had much
ado TO still the trembling that came over
her. but there was. after all. no need Tor
so much agitation. He passed on without
stopping at the door.
"Iney've told him" she groaned 10 her
self. after the first gasp of disappointment,
they have told him OF what 1 have done
and he is 100 shocked at the insult.
1t seemed too much: everything was
xrypApr o,l N 81 IraaE ipy AND ulTn her
face buried in her aunt's chair she wept
the bitterest tears of her life.
Miss Bertha! Miss Bertha, dear. Whist.
achree, The O'Kearney Is coming up
whispered Pesgy, the old servant, and n
moment after the returned solder was in
the room. He went straight up to Bertha
standing white and shaking. and with all
the marks of ~tell-tale grief upon her that
she had not had time to wipe away.
Poor child. poor child" he said. gently.
drawing her to her old seat near the win
dow. poor little, lonely one. and this is
how l md you"
Between her sobs. for his tenderness had
let loose her tears again, she told him all
about her aunt's death.
But you tell me nothing OF all you have
done during my absence. All. little home
maker-noble one-I know what you have
done and striven TO do for me and mine.
The sisters have had the grace to he
ashamed of their reception of your gener-
Gus offer. and l am here with their heart
felt apologies-they will be here with them.
themselves. tomorrow. l liked you al
ways. Bertha-I love you now-but l would
not ask You to join your lot with mine only
that I have recovered some means and
standing at last. The lawsuit. so long
pending. has just been decided in my favor.
restoring to me enough of the old property
to enable me to take my place in the coun-
ty again. VIII you honor me by sharing
that place. by becoming my wife-my dar-
ling. little haus frau-my dearest?'
Copyright In tho United States Of America BY
u. T. Piefce)