Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-08

ulQ-
Bertha lost Der head completely for
the moment. she burst out LAUGHING
as she snatched the cap out of his
hand.
Why" she cried, Rlancing at his
Workmanship, you've sewn it on with
white cotton, and"-dangling 1t by the
tassel before him, derisiyely-'ft isn't
In the middle." Then she reconected
herself at once and seemed angry at
having been momeEtarily betrayed into
show Of interest In the proceedings.
But really" she added. tossing the can
on the table and returning to the win
dow, Il don't know why you should
expect me to trouble my head about
these things now. y"
"Oh. quite go" said Mr.. Markham
I'm sorry mentioned 1t. Only. you
see, this is the first time | have had
to perform a melancholy duty of this
kind, and / thought"
"oh. you do think it melancholy,
then2 And whose fault is 1t, | should
like to know?' And Bertha turned
and advanced step toward the table.
II don't say you are altogether
to blame, because"
"Oh, I'm glad you don't think | am
altogether to blamel" she cried sar-
castlcally. "Of course you've done
nothing to be ashamed off,
Il don't say that at all | mean"
We'll said Bertha. coldly, II don't
think we can discuss the matter with
advantage now, thank you. | under
stand you desire to leave these'-and
she Indicated the presents" with a
majestic sweep of the hand-"and that
is nll."
"Quite So" said Mr.. Markham, pick
ing up his hat and resuming the brush
ing operation with vlgor that amount
ed almost to brutality. "Only, as
say, felt l ought to explain"
''Oh, 1t doesn't matter, thank you"
said Bertha, with tremendous dignity.
"You shall have yours back by to-
night"
Il really don't want Them insisted
Mr. Markham. backing little towards
the door.
"Oh, yes, you may want them for
Jessie" she said in tone of wither-
ing sarcasm
Mr.. Markham paused In his retreat
and came back to the table prepared
to argue the matter
Jessie who?" he asked, with a be-
wildered look. II don't understand
you"
"Oh, yes, you do" she retorted. "Do
my eyes shut? And all the time she
was pretending TO be my friend. I'll
never speak to her again as long as
live, the horrid little cat!"
Mr.. Markham put his hat down on
the table with deliberation.
81 really can't imagine why you
should think Miss Hamilton is any
thing TO me-" he said. "Why, she isn't
even good-looking."
Yes, she is ugly, isn't she?" said
Bertha, betrayed into confidential
tone. "And her hair is red. isn't it?
She tries to say It's a fashionable shade
of art brown; but everybody knows
it's red. OF course, we've been friends,
and all that, you know but you can't
always choose your friends just where
you want them, and she never did come
up to my Idea of true friend, and she
couldn't have been or she wouldn't
have schemed to get you away from me
at the dance"
"Oh, but" said Mr.. Markham, lean
ing comfortably on the table and un-
consciously acknowledging the conf
Dental development Of the interview,
'that was quite an accident; it was,
really, / mixed up the dances"
"And kept that one for you spe-
cially."
"Yes; that's what I'm so sorry about.
But should have thought there would
have been plenty of fellows who would
have jumped at the chance of asking
you the moment they saw you weren't
claimed for that dance. There is al
ways run on the prettiest girl in the
room, and"
Bertha so far forgot the solemnity Of
the occasion as to look up at Mr.. Mark
ham and smile.
81 did look nice, didn't II" she sug-
gested Everybody tells me look
very nice in pink"
II think you look nice In anything"
asserted Mr.. Markham, with pleas
ing candor. as by the merest accident
his right hand. which was travelling
aimlessly across the table. ran into
Bertha's which was proceeding appar-
emily with similar indecislon of pur-
pose.
About an hour after Mr.. Markham s
last observation. Sister Ella darted
suddenly into the room, calling for
Bertha to come out into the garden.
Bertha was standing near the window,
and Mr.. Markham was standing very
near to Bertha with his arm unmis-
takably round ber.
Il beg your pardon Bertha. dear"
,,ro+ostad Fila "a she retreat ted In ron.