The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-22
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Life looked 4 little gray to Miss Bet
tie. Little Bette had been discussing
only the night before, the arrangements
for her marriage. All OF this called
back flood Of memories to Miss Bet
tie, as she sat in her own room late in
the day, rocking gently in the moon
light. Little Eettie's confidence had
made her heart strangely tender. Did
she ever love anybody? All, she rose
from her chair, lighted the lamp, and
| opened a bureau drawer.
Life from generation to generation
is but repetition Of the old. In every
| lonely woman's heart there is secret
| drawer, and in it is faded picture or
bundle of letters, OF withered rose
| bud, meaningless to all but her. Miss
| Bettie's secret drawer was only little
| pasteboar1 5oX. AS she raised the lid,
the scent of June roses filled the air.
But one solitary letter, taken from
among notes and faded flowers, inter-
ested Miss Bette. A tender, troubled
look came into her eyes as she un-
folded the paper, yellowed with age.
How strange it wasp she mused.
"How very strange! will never know
why he did not come"
The letter was replaced at last. Then
Miss Bette knelt down to say her
prayers. Dear, sweet Miss Bette!
Such a fragrant, beautiful flower to
have been so long ungathered!
The jam was going into the glasses
when. the doorbell rang. Delphy ush-
cred the visitor into the dim, shaded
parlor, and left him to grope for seat
alone. After stumbling over an en-
broidered footstool or two, Judge
E!ashford, for it was he, sat thank
fully down on the horsehair sofa and
looked around. He reached over and
turned the Venetian blind with an odd
feeling of acquaintance. 1t had been
4 long time since he had seen its like.
He could not have told .for the life of
him what that parlor once held. except
beautiful blue-eyed girl who had
blotted out for him all lesser things,
but when the sunlight futtered through
the Stats it revealed i strangely IA
miliar scene.
A big figured brussels carpet, q mar
ble-topped table on which gift books"
and ANNALS and little plies of family
dagUerreotypes were priuly placed
around the family Bible in the centre;
small square piano with lowered
cover, surmounted by wax cross un-
der glass globe, these We're the sal
lent features that met his gaze. For
mural ornaments there was long
mirror over the high mantel, and q
wreath Of hair flowers.
He rose and went to where the
wreath hung. He remembered it we'll.
There was the same rose that he and
Bette Claiborne had laughed over in
those old days. 1t was made of Sallie
Mlller's red hair. How radiantly beau
tiful Bette had been in those days!
Of course she would be changed, that
was unavoidable, but such color as
hers could hardly-There was a slight
| noise, and he turned. An elderly lady
with sweet, wrinkled face stood be-
fore him. Her hair was almost white,
and there was stoop to the shoulders.
The judge started. He was sure the
landlord had said that Mrs. Claiborne
| was dead. But be advanced to meet
her.
Mrs. Cailborne:" he said interroga-
| lively.
Miss Claiborne" she returned in a
voice that thrilled him with it's famil-
lar sweetness. Miss Bette Gail
| borne"
Judge BlastforG gasped. He had a
strong inclination to run. At that mo-
ment happening to raise his eyes. he
caught sight of his own bald head and
rotund figure in the glass. He had
forgotten that time stands still for nc
one.
May ask your name" said Miss
Bette. II think, perhaps, I ought to
know it,
81 am William Blashford." be said
"Will Blashford" Miss Bette stead.
led herself by a chair. It was the
name signed to her letter And this
was the man that the slender, curly
headed coilegian had grown to be! She
lad always thought of kim as young
and slender. Miss Bette felt as if she
nad been personally bereaved.
When the first embarrassment was
over, they entered cordially into con.
versation. They sat together on the
worn horsehair sofa and talked CT old
times and old friends. They were
glad TO meet: they laughed and chatted
Ierrily: but each held 4 hand close
upon the secret drawer. Each thought
that the other had forgotten all about
it.
Judge Blashford stayed to tea. Miss
Bette had stolen from the room when
little Bette had come III. and huT:iedly
Gon:ied hec new black and white o..
candle and pinned Queen of the
Prairie rose on her breast Perhaps
it was the hurry that brought a fusl
to her faded cheek. but as she sat ne
hin.l the silver coffee pot and poured
| cut IalicioT1S coffee Judre EI1 1ShfOr