The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-18

.h oar The day dragged on. and pattt,,a io sheer despair helped cook the dainties that she was to eat the newt 6ay. At dusk the farmer brought the tri-weekly paper from the citv anu tossed 1t over to Betty. who was eager to read the news or home. she glanced at the first page and then something caught her eye that sent the blood back to her heart and left her pale ana SICK what should she do In big headlines was announeed the ..Accident in the White han Hrothers wholesale house. Three injured fatally and among them one of the firm, Jonn Whitehall, IT, She read no further, but tossed the pa- Eper to the wondering cousins and dashed to her room to pack her suit case. The evening train could be cansht if they hurried and Cousin Alb hitched up the team quicker than he he had in his life. Neither he nor Bettina will forget that ride to town She was nearly wild and kept saying: Tt was my fault, all my fault. But they reached the station in time to tratn reached the city, though Bet tina thought the four hours eight. It was midnight when they got there. She took a cab and went straight to inc whitehall house. only to find it dark and lifeless. After ringing three times and getting no response. she directed the cab driver to take her to the Mercy hospital, reflecting that they would probably have taken him there and, that the family was there to say good-by to him. She hoped she would be in time to have him sneak to her again. The cab axx, nk nf ha4 hna pital while she made inquiries. find ing that there was no patient of that name in the building. The matron looked at her rather severely and Bettina began to recognize that 1t was after midnight and that she was alone--hardly a conventional situation Nearly frantic with grief and sus- pense, and not knowing what to do she went home and her astonished fa- ther let ner in at one o'clock and asked rather sternly for an explana- tion. He looked at her rather strangely as she explained. and then he told her to go to bed and he would take her to the house in the morning, If she wanted to relieve hei mind by being forgiven. She plead to go now. and then told him that she had been to the house and could rouse no one. All the comfort she got was that ahe probably had got the wrong house. and she was not sure that this was not true. So she went to bed and her father told her mother that Bettina had learned her lesson and that he was going to rub it in little more in the morning.
 Bettina spent a genuinely wakeful night for the first time in her life She was up betimes and her pale tear Oxr al, aA.. fakf relent, but he foresaw greater happf- ness for her by letting things take their course. So as soon as breakfast was over he told her to get her things on and they started. The servant who opened the door of the Whitehall mansion was too we'll trained to show any surprise as he let them in and asked them to wait little. Bettina was so nervous she could not sit down. but stood watching at the door waiting the summons to the sick bed The servant appeared presently and asked them to wait a little longer Bettina's father told her that he was due at the office and now that she was announced he would leave her. So sne was left alone. Then after what seemed hours she heard a step and turned toward the door. What did this mean? It was John. as hearty and well as ever, holding out both hands to Bettina. Bettina sank into the nearest chair.
 k The servant who came to the door to call them to breakfast. tip-toed away without being seen. Bettina was in Jonn's arms and was trying to talk between her sobs
 Why. dear, 1t was John Whitehall. Jr, you know they always call him Jack. Cousin Jack. you know. ] wasn't in 1t. And he is going to get well all right. Don't cry, grille. I'm awfully glad 1t brought you back to me. didn't see how I was going to get through Thanksgiving without you" He thought moment, and then he suddenly said:
 T wonder why your. father didn't tell you" Then he remembered his talk with Bettina's father and a light broke in on his mind. He laughed and Bettina was forced to laugh with him.
 Betty" he said; we'll have din- rler at the Savery on your father and also seats to see Mrs. Fiske Let's telephone immediately and tell him mon