The Irish standard., 1905-01-07
Bettina's Romance
BY
CECILIA LoIZEAUx
Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

A S TIL days of October moved to-
n ward close, and the weather
crisped into delightful keenness, Bet
tina remembered that Thanksgiving
was coming. She was sorry, because
she hadn't anything to be thankful for
that is, nothing worth mentioning.
OF 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 Bettinas
along the river road one day in early
November. The keen wind had stung
her cheeks to a glowing pink and her
body to a tingling warmth. She had
Do try very, very hard to feel melan
sholy, in spite OF the fact that she had
Just broken her engagement and
wished she hadn't. For she was young,
healthy and of a merry disposition
withal. She was a little chasrined
when her usually hearty appetite was
as hearty as ever the morning after
she had given John his congo and
spent the night weepng-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,
uneNhilarating twilight set in.
Now twilight is 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 it, it is doubly mournful.
And as Betty trudged on weary and
persistently melancholy, the glimpses
through un-drawn curtains of glowing
open fires and seductive cosy-corners
only reminded her anew of the long
twilight hours with John, alone-the
two of them--in the big, dim library.
Here the tears began to fall and it
was a very miserable little Bettina
who crept into the house at dark and
up to her room so softly that no one
heard her.
At dinner she was silent, woe-begone
and ate as little food as she possibly
could. She caught look which passed
between her father and mother, and
interpreting it as sympathetic pity,
pitied herself still more profoundly
than before md left the room sobbing.
Now the look which Bettina had seen
was not just what it seemed to her to
be. And when she had gone her father
began TO chuckle a little
b,.
Kid" said he, "but she may as we'll
learn her lesson now as any time She
treated John like three-year-old
child treats its nurse in fit of tenn
per. If had been in his place I'd
have shaken her and brought her to
time on her own ground. talked to
him about it and he is all cut up and
wants to come and make up. but I 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
yanted John and was too proud to own
herself in the wrong and write and tell
him so. She decided that she would
go to the country to spend Thanksgiv-
fng. She would go down to Porter to
Cousin Mary's. She could wander
around the fields and woods alone and
perhaps forget.
She sprung her plan at the breakfast
table, expecting that it would meet
with firm refusal from her parents.
AT least she thought, they will tell
me how lonely they will be and try
10 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 we'll stay and visit a
little, daughter" said her father.
"Mamma and I shall get along very
we'll. We will take our Thanksgiving
dinner at the Slavery 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 go to the Slavery for
the holiday dinners, and she had never
heard Mrs. Fiske. And they were posi-
lively glad to be rid of her This was
too deep for tears and she set about
Burning her letters and getting ready
Tor long stay, for she had decided at
once that she would stay as long as
cousin Mary would keep her
She left home three days before
Thanksgiving. 1t was four-hour trip
TO Porter and she was kept busy rec
ognizing things along the way. By
the time she reached the little station
she was very pleasantly excited and
Rugged Cousin Alb enthusiastically. But
the ride to the farm was long and it
was cold and some of her high spirits
died away by the time they reached
the warm house.