Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-05
BERT'S
STRATEGY
By RUTH SANTELLE
Copyright, 1904, by X. NJ. Whitehead

BERTHE Temple came hurriedly up tn
steps with purposeful look in his rsr
ally dreamy eyes that elected mul
muir OF surprised comment from til
nearest groups on the hotel piazza. III
made straight for the corner wher
Dorothy Vane was holding merry court
Mayhap 1t was rude to interrupt Up
rights best story, but the fair lad,
lifted questioning eyes, and BERT,
plunged into the hostile masculine cir
Gle.
IF you please, Miss Dorothy, l should
like to beg few moments converse
tlon-private, if l may make so bold"
Perhaps it was for the reason tina,
this frank request, made with such an
parent confidence in its being granted
sounded so unlike diffident, self depre.
catory BERTHE that her woman's curiosi-
ty was aroused At any rate, the furi-
Gus SWANS received a gracious but ag.
gregate Smile for their kindness. and
Miss Dorothy was borne away down
the moonlit piazza on the arm of that
vandal, Temple.
I'm In teuce Of hole Dollie," be-
gan BERTHE, bw and hurriedly. 81 can't
tell anybody else, but l know you'll
help felbw out. It's that Miss Simp-
kins-oh, [ suppose it sounds frightful-
~ caddisn-but 1 should think YOU
must have seen! Encouraged by my
chlldlike tountenance to take advan-
tage, likehll the others
Most Unhappy infantv interrupted
Dorothy E!th sympathetic pat on his
white flaneled sleeve. you have had
our unind considerations for a week.
III thar miable spinster harbors no de-
sign Jpn your innocent head appear
ances ar indeed misleading. Only don't
beseec. You, ask me to abuse faith
ful conscience by hiding her false front
or anything like that"
NO, Iollie, | have nv plan-omoz-
lngly simple and, l think you'll admit
rather ele'er.' Then he added, with
sharp glaze from the corners of his
eyes, unobsrved by the smiling maid
en-, "And iftou'll only say yes. Dollie
we ought TO able to get some fun out
of it thrown(."
"Unveil youmystery." came tho an.
mated commal
ITS just thisThe old. old bore but.
F. tohhoieu me ar dinner tonight and
"hlspereu iauSlgly that she'd dis
~,
coVereu the mushroom window behind
the portieres wasthe most heavenly
place to watch til moon,,ob+ on +ho
waves and that she,os coin, 70 foost
her soul tnere 'u'' yening and-oh,
you know the sort or ,,H, ne oo,,rso
it would be the most uro, th,nu ~
the world for me to sora ~ had
( persuaded my face III With No
just outside the "iluoWs W.
suddenly as ley reached tie stopped
the east LIZA, caught box corner Of
hands I'D held them for the girls
"Dcaie, gin you be engaged instant.
ah hour just to save fellowfron9e,. for
clutchS?" 0H he
Dorfhy's head Went high, liz s.o.
Of ,Sgtle in her delicate aostr,s %
sig lhe barely perceptible' .aes. nur-
her mind held the picture Of a fsioh
dayIwhen she had been cheated ourit
sailing with the adora.
be Freddie Burton by Miss Smpkins'
meddling.
'1"I'll do it. Freddie" she whispered in
gay excitement "
A moment later Mr.. TEMPE was seat
ng his fiancee pro tenn. beneath the
vide, dark music room widow.
.Ah, Dollie mine," IN breathed in
adsirably loverlike tfes, while the
younc lady thus poSessively address
ed han suppressed historical giggles,
lat last have,you to myself and
avg from all tDse smirking cads that
GLITTER arouneyou as if they had the
rift The s4ght is mine now, isn't II.
geethears g
''Ye-es very family.
Thug encouraged, the happy lover ,
'eY nearer and awaited himself of :
70 tempting white hands. Miss Dor :
ny removed them from his tender =
sp with vehenience. snow. BERTHE ;.
nave L 10 tell YOU
there was. just the tiniest rustling :.
thin the window,
Dollie," he whispered, you mustn't a
get were engagedv' :,
he hands resigned themselves Imply 9,
he inevitable. o
nope you realize, dearest"-the IN
'e became audible again, and -,
othy was surprised to notice how
sanity caressing Bertie's voice VT,
q be-"that you have made me the ~
piest man alive. I've never want r.
as l have wanted this, and d,
oh, grille, it's almost unbeliey- =.
yet! Tell me again that it's so: %
you truly love mer' :.
'rothy's eyes opened wide in the -.
ness. BERTHE Temple making love . o.
lis magnificent fashion! II was al
thrilling. 7
ny, OF course l do, silly. You wo
1t without my repeating 1t over he