Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-02-25

81 \ Bettlna's cottage. where she sat
and spun while her childish old
grandparents nodded In their
chairs beside the fireplace all was as
clean as it could have been in a pal
ace, but she had hard work to fill
those two old mouths and her own
also. There was no one else to do II.
The lady at the great house bought
Der flax and paid well for It, But,
after all, Bettina had but two hands
and two little brown hands cannot do
all the worlds work used to say
to myself that the time should come
when Bettina should not work at all.
Bettina and | had been betrothed two
years. We were betrothed still, and
no nearer marriage though had
striven with all my strength.
"Walt patiently Bettina said to
me sometimes. "What does 1t matterg
We love each other; we trust each
other; let us be content"
But l could not be content. Others
who were as poor as we married and
left their native land together to seek
better fortunes elsewhere. Bettlna
would gladly have shared my fate,
whatever IT might have been, but the
old grandparents bound her to her
rottage and her birthplace.
AS for me, l felt that If l would
ever win Bettina l must leave Savoy
and 80 to America, where so many Of
our country people had already gone.
and whence they wrote letters that
made our hearts beat with hope for
the future. ! told Bettina so, and
though she wept she said:
GO Go. Bernard. and l will pray
for you 1t is all girl can do"
had no fear that Bettna would
forget me- l knew that the rich
young farmer who so often rode many
miles to see her longed for her love,
and wooed her with all the art he had,
but Bettina loved me, ana love IS
adamanune.
We crossed the sea in safety.
stood at last I'm a strange land and
among strange people, but | found
them not unkind. | found work at
once. | spent little. Week by week
the little heap in my moleskin pouch
grew greater. was gloriously
happy. l wrote Joyful letters to Bet
tina. She answered me as hopefully.
A year passed by-twelve long
months. One more year and she
would come to me. l should press my
lips to hers-al would be forgotten
but our meeting. and while lived the
CID people should share our happiness.
With such thoughts as these in my
mind l entered the great factory
where l work one day. l said to my
self, as l threw off my jacket:
AT noontme l will write to Bet
tina"
l remember thinking this. l remem-
Der crossing the long room. | remem-
Der sudden fash and crash, and the
oaths OF men. and a girls mad scream.
After that nothing more, until a sense
Of pain awakened me and l found
myself lying In the dark, with my OWE
hand. cold and clammy, lying in
great, warm, soft hand that held It
tenderly.
"Where am H. said. and my voice
sounded low and hoarse in my own
cars. "Who is this
1T is the doctor" said a voice BE
calm, my friend"
rs It night?" asked.
ut is night" said the voice.
"Why do you not light a lamp?T'
He made no answer.
"What has happened?"
at was an explosion" he said after
a pause You We're hurt only, while
others were killed outright"
Doctor" l said 'is II nightr'
ut is night" he said solemnly.
"But only for me-" l said. Il know
1t. am smitten blind"
TRY to be calm, my friend" he
whispered. 1T is hard-but try TO
bear IT,"
All was gone-all my hope Of life,
and even all that had won in the
last year. Some wretch had stolen
the little moleskin pouch from my
bosom. l was a beggar and blind. 1
prayed to die, but lived, and at last
grew strong again.
One day, as l sat by the hospital
window. I formed a resolution. said
to myself: l can at least be brave
enough TO spare Bettina something.
/ know that II she knew the truth she
would grieve bitterly and remain true
TO me. l know that II I were sent
home, as the doctor says l might be,
she would be constant iorever-she
would even marry me and try to feed
me as she does her helpless ones.
That shall never be. will send her
word that l am dead and then, when
she has grieved a while, youth will tri-
bmph; she Will marry the young
farmer who loves her so truly, and is
good as well as rich.
The good doctor shall write me a
letter. and so as he passed l called to
him and told him ALL
1T will be best for her." l said. 1T
will set her free. She will grieve bit
terly, know, but the other lover Will
one day blot out my memory. Tell
her died with her name on my lips
l do. AS I die, heart and soul, here