Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-12-30
Bettina's Romance
y By
cEcELIA LoIzEAux
toopyrisht, iSoi. By Daily story Pub. co.,

tCopyz1sht, isoi. By Daily story Pub. Col
A s THU days of October moved to-
"a ward close. and the weather
crisped into delightful keenness, Bet
tina remembered that Thanksgiving
was coming. She was Gorry, because
she hadn't anything to be thankful for
that is, nothing worth mentioning.
or course she had home and parents
and plenty of money and pretty clothes
and things like that, but what was the
use of being thankful for these when
one had lost ones fiance? Obviously,
no use at all. These were Bettina'2
thoughts as she was walking swiftly
along the river road one day in early
November. The keen wind had stung
her cheeks to a glowing pink and her
body to tingling warmth. She had
to try very, very hard to feel melan
choly, in spite of the fact that she had
Just broken her engagement and
wished she hadn't. For she was young,
healthy and of merry disposition
withal. She was little chagrined
when her usually hearty appetite was
as hearty as ever the morning after
she had given John his congo and
spent the night weeping-when she
could keep awake. For he had gone
forever" as he said himself, very
gently and calmly, but firmly. Bettina
prolonged her walk this afternoon till
she was very, very tired and cold,
unexhilarating twilight set in.
Now twilight is q mournful time to
those who are not in love. Bettina
had always thought So And for those
who were in love and had no one to
tell about 1t, 1t is doubly mournful.
And as Betty trudged on, weary and
persistently melancholy, the glimpses
through un-drawn curtains of glowing
open hres and seductive cosy-corners
only reminded her anew of the long
twilight hours with John, alone-the
two Of thsm---in the big, dim library.
Here the tears began to fall and 1t
was very miserable little Bettina
who crept into the house at dark and
up to her room 80 softly that no one
heard her.
At dinner she was silent, woe-begone
and ats as little food as she possibly
could. She caught look which passed
between her father and mother, and
interpreting It rs sympathetic pity,
Ditied herself still more profoundly
than before and left the room sobbing.
Now the look which Bettina had seen
was not Just what 1t seemed to her to
be. And when she had gone her father
began to chuckle little.
"It does seem too bad to laugh at the
kid,r said he, "but she may as well
learn her lesson now as any time. She
treated John like a three.year-old
child treats It's nurse in At of tenn
per. II had been in his place I'd
have shaken her and brought her to
time on her own ground. talked to
him about 1t and he is all cut up and
wants to come and make up, but told
him to let Betty take the first step this
time. 1t will be good for her.
Upstairs in her warm, dark room,
Bettina thought and thought, but ar
rived at the same thing each time. She
wanted John and was too proud to own
herself In the wrong and write and tell
him SO. She decided that she would
30 10 the country 10 Spcuu 1HdnkSBlV-
ing. She would go down to Porter to
Cousin Mary's. She could wander
around the fields and woods alone and
perhaps forget.
ahe sprung her plan at the breakfast
table. expecting that 1t would meet
with a firm refusal from her parents.
eat least" she thought, they will tell
me how lonely they will be and try
to get me to stay" What was her sur
prise to have her father after glancing
at her mother give an immediate and
hearty consent. even going so far as
TO suggest that she make week of 1t.
"You may as well stay and visit a
little, daughter" said her father.
Mamma and / shall get along very
well. We will take our Thanksgiving
dinner; at the Savery and go to hear
Mrs. Fiske in the evening" And Bet
tina could do nothing else than consent
through her heart was hot. They knew
how she loved to 90 to the Sayery for
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