Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-01-07

The first day things we're all right.
Bettina was kept so busy exploring the
farm that she had no time to be lone
some. The next day things were not
quite so nice. There wasn't anything
to read and the fields and woods did
not look quite so inviting as Bettina
had thought they would. She was glad
TO go to bed early and walked the next
day, the day before Thanksgiving, In
u very bad temper. II had turned much
colder and her fingers were so still
that she could hardly dress, there be-
ing no fire in the room. The day
dragged on, and Bettina in sheer de-
spair helped cook the dainties that
she was to eat the next day. At dusk
the farmer brought the tri-weekly pa
per from the city and tossed 1t over to
Betty. who was eager to read the news
of 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 and sick. What
should she do. In big headlines was
announced the Accident in the White
hall Brothers wholesale house. Three
injured fatally and among them one
of the firm, John Whitehall, Jr," She
read no further, but tossed the paper
TO the wondering cousins and dashed
to her to pack her suit case. The
evening train could be caught if they
hurried and Cousin Alb hitched up the
team quicker than he had in his life.
Neither he nor Bettina will forget that
ride to town. She was nearly wild and
kept saying: ITS my fault, all my
fault But they reached the station.
in time to get the train and in due sea
son the train reached the city, though
Bettina thought the four hours eight.
1t was midnight when they got there.
She took a cab and went straight to
the Whitehall house, only to find it
dark and l%ifeless. After ringing three
times and getting no response, she di-
rected the cab driver to take her to the
Mercy hospital, rejecting 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 speak to her
again. The cab waited for her at the
door of the hospital, while she made
inquiries, finding that there was no pa
tient of that name in the building.
The matron looked at her rather Sc
yerely and Bettina began TO recognize
that it was after midnight and that
she was alone-hardly a conventional
situation. Nearly frantic with grief
and suspense, and not knowing what
else to do she went home and her as
tonished father let her in al one O'Clock
and asked rather sternly for an eX-
PLANTATION. He looked at her rather
strangely as she explained, and then
he told her to 80 to bed and he would
take her to the house in the morning.
If she wanted to relieve her 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 she
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 a little in the morn
ing.
Bettina spent a genuinely wakeful
night for the first time in her life,
She was up betimes and her pale tear.
swollen face almost made her father
relent, but he foresaw greater happi-
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 man
sion was too well trained to show any
surprise as he let them in and asked
them to wait a little. Bettina was so
nervous she could not sit down, but
stood watching 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 she was left
alone. Then after what seemed hours
she heard a step and turned toward the
door. What did this mean? 1t was
John, as hearty and well as ever, hold
ing out both hands to Bettina, Bettina
sank into the nearest chair.
The servant who came to the door
to call them to breakfast, tip-toed away
without being seen. Bettina was in
Johns arms and was trying to talk be
tween her sobs.
why, dear, it 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 it brought you back to
me. | didn't see how | was going 10
get through Thanksgiving without
you" He thought a moment, and then
he suddenly said:
Il 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; "we1l have dinner
at the Slavery on your father and also
seats to see Mrs. Fiske. Let's telephone
Immediately and tell him So"