The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-10-20

N N bettlna'S cOCrage, Wnere Sne sat
and spun while her childish old
grandparents nodded In their
chairs beside the fireplace, all was as
clean as 1t could have been in a pal
ace, but she had hard work to fill
those two old mouths and her own
also. There was no one else to do it.
The lady at the great house bought
her fax and paid well for ito But,
after all, Bettina had but two hands
and two little brown hands cannot do
ell the worlds work 1 used to say
to myself that the time should come
when Bettina should not work at ali.
Bettina and I had been betrothed two
years. We were betrothed still, and
no nearer marriage, though ! had
striven with all my strength.
"wait patiently" Bettina said to
me sometimes. what does it matter2
We love each other; we trust each
other; let US be content
But L could net be content. Others
who were as poor as we married and
left their native land together to seek
better fortunes elsewhere. Bettina
would gladly have shared my fate,
whatever it might have been, but the
old grandparents bound her to her
eottage and her birthplace.
As for me, 1 felt that If 1 would
ever win Bettina 1 must leave Savoy
IND so to America, where so many Of
our country people had already gone,
and whence they wrote letters that
made our hearts beat with hope for
the future. 1 told Bettina so, and
though she wept, she said:
"Go. Go, Bernard, and 1 will pray
for you. 1t is all a girl can do"
had no fear that Bettina would
forget me. 1 knew that the rich
Toung farmer who so often rode many
miles to see her longed for her love,
and wooed her with all the art he had,
but Bettina loved me, and love IA
adamantine
We crossed the sea in safety. I
stood at last In a strange land and
among strange people, but 1 found
them not unkind. / found work at
once 1 spent little. Week by week
the little heap in my moleskin pouch
grew greater. was gloriously
happy. I wrote joyful letters to Bet
lima. She answered me as hopefully.
A year passed by-twelve long
months One more year and she
would come to me. I should press my
dps to hers-all would be forgotten
but our meeting, and while I lived the
Did people should share our happiness.
With such thoughts as these In my
mind I entered the great factory
where work one day. 1 said to my
self, as 1 threw off my jacket:
"At noontime 1 will write to Bet
tina"
I remember thinking this. remem-
Der crossing the long room. remem-
Der sudden flash and crash, and the
paths Of men, and girls mad scream
After that nothing more, until a sense
Of pain awakened me and / found
myself lying In the dark, with my own
hand, cold and clammy, lying in a
great, warm, soft hand that held 1t
benderly.
Where am r. said, and ny voice
sounded low and hoarse in my owe
ears. who is this -
'Tt is the DOCTOR" said a voice. BE
calm, my friend"
us it night?" asked.
ut is night" said the voice.
"Why do you not Eight lamp?r
He made no answer.
"What has happenedT
ut was an explosion" he said after
pause You were hurt only, while
others were killed outright"
Doctor" said, "is T. nightT'
cit Is night he said solemnly.
"But only for me-" 1 said Il know
It. 1 am smit5en blind"
"Try to be calm, NJ friend" he
whispered. 1T is hard-but try to
bear it."
All was gone-aE my hope Of life,
and even all that had won in the
last year. Some wretch had stolen
tie little moleskin pouch from ny
bosom. / was beggar and blind. /
VEdySQ 70 Olc, LUZ AScO, anu al ldSt
grew strong again.
One day, as sat by the hospital
window, formed a resolution. / said
to myself: / can at least be brave
enough to spare Bettina something.
! know that If she knew the truth she
would grieve bitterly and remain true
to me. 1 know that II l were sent
home, as the doctor says 1 might be-
ahe would be constant forever-she
would even marry me and try to feed
me as she does her helpless ones
That shall never be. viii send hon
word that am dead, and then, when
che has grieved q while, youth viii tri
umph; she win marry the young
farmer who loves her so truly, ana Is
good as well as rich.
The good doctor shall write me q
letter. and 50 as he passed I called to
him and told him an.
1T win be best for her." said III
Win Get her free. She VIII gx1evo bit
terry, know, but the other lover WI
1ns day blot out my memory. Tel
6ek died with her name On my dpo-
! - A. de, hart and sal her