The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-12
WHEN BERTIECALLED

1t BERTHE COMBS had been less heroic
and devoted it is rather doubtful whether
he and Madeline Strengel would ever have
become engaged. There were SO many in
the Strengel family--four sisters and two
brothers, without reckoning Papa and Nam
ma StrengelEand they all took such par
ticular interest in BERTHE from the time
he made his first call that it would have
discouraged any but most determined and
resolute wooer.
Perhaps the family meant we'll at first
The four sisters were good looking girls and
three of them were of manageable age, so
there was no particular reason why they
should not have sat steadily in the parlor
and helped Madeline to entertain the Wis
itor when he called BERTHE, of course, knew
his own preference, and thought he knew
that Madeline knew it, but at the same
time he was not inclined to let the family
know it if he could help it until he knew
something of Madeline's feelings. But when
he found that anything like tete-a-tete
with Madeline was impossible as long as
his attentions were rather general than spe-
cial he made them special. Then there
was really no excuse for Elizabeth's conduct,
any more than there was for that of Helen
or of Beatrice or of Ethel or of Jean.
Mrs. Strengel herself set the bad exam
pie. She rather liked BERTHE and wanted
him to feel at home when he came, SO she
used to bring in her work and sit down and
tell him little family anecdotes to show
that she made no stranger of him. There
wh
man would have enjoyed this Not only
was the confidence fattering, but it was
interesting to hear about Madeline at the
early age of six months and her later ex-
periences with measles and scarlatina and
the admiration and surprise excited by her
high-school graduation essay; still, his
sense of enjoyment was blunted to a great
extent when Madeline was the only other
occupant of the room. And Mamma Siren
gel had at these times such an air of COM
Portable satisfaction with her chariot per-
mapence.
1t is not betraying any maidenly conf
dence, for Madeline now makes no secret
of it, to relate that the young lady herself
felt that her mothers presence might oc-
casionally be dispensed with or that she
said as much to Ethel and that Ethel said
she Woui0 nelp her out, as sister SnOuld.
eff she plants herself down this evening, "
said Ethel, irreverently, "Pll entice her
away"
Il didn't mean that | want to be alone
with him." said Madeline in some con-
fusion. You know / didn't mean that,
only-only, it seems,-well, mean"
Il know what you mean," said Ethel,
coolly. Don't worry and I'll see to it. OF
course know that you wouldn't be alone
with him for the world. If you slap me
won't lift finger for you"
Mrs. Strengel appeared on the scene
about two minutes after BERTHE arrived. She
found him already seated in the Morris
chair over by the window, while Madeline
occupied the settee on the farther side of
the fireplace. She seemed pleased to see
the young man, and after greeting him with
great cordiality, took the big armchair near
the Morris chair and remarked that there
seemed to be an unusual rainfall for the
season of the year.
Something ferce!" agreed BERTHE.
81 never knew anything like it since was
little girl, continued Mrs. Strengel THAT
was in the early spring, though, and the
rain wouldn't have mattered so much if
we hadn't had so much snow in the WIN