The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-04-23

81 uhu 10 sew IL on again myBelI
and"
Bertha lost her head completely FOL
the moment. She burst out laughing
as she snatched the cap out Of his
hand.
Why she cried, glancing at his
Workmanship, you've sewn it on witt
white cotton, and"-dangling it by the
tassel before him, derlsively-"i isn't
In the middle" Then. she recollected
herself at once and seemed angry al
having been momentarily betrayed into
show Of interest In the proceedings
But really she added, tossing the cap
on the table and returning to the win
dow, u don't know why you should
expect me to trouble my head about
these things now. T."
"Oh, quite so,' said Mr.. Markham
I'm sorry l mentioned 1t. Only, you
see, this Is the first time | have had
to perform a melancholy duty of this
kind, and / thought"
oht you w lulHk IL ueluucHOly,
then? Aud whose fault is it, | should
like to know? And Bertha turned
and advanced a step toward the table.
IL don't say you are altogether
to blame, because" 81
"Oh, I'm glad you don't think I am
altogether to blame" she cried sar-
castically. "Of course you've done
nothing to be ashamed off,
Il don't say that at all. mean
well, said Bertha, coldly, 81 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 all.'
Quite So" said Mr.. Markham, pick
ing up his hat and resuming the brush
ing operation with vigor that amount
ed almost to brutality. "Only, as /
say, l felt 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. Il don't understand
you"
"Oh, yes, you do" she retorted. "Do
you think | sat out that dance with
my eyes shut? And all the time she
was pretending to be my friend. I'll
never speak to her again as long as
I've, the horrid little catw
Mr.. Markham put his hat down on
he table with deliberation.
II really can't imagine why you
should think Miss Hamilton Is any
hing to me-" he said why, she isn't
even good-looklng.
"Yes, she is ugly, isn't she?' said
Bertha, betrayed into a confidential
-One. "And her hair Is red, isn't 1t !?
She tries to say It's fashionable shade
If art brown; but everybody knows
t's red. OF course, we've been friends,
md all that, you know but you can't
llways choose your friends just where
1ou want them. and she never did come
Up to my idea Of true friend, and she
couldn't have been or she wouldn't |
lave schemed to get you away from me
It the dance
"Oh but" said Mr.. Markham, lean
ng comfortably on the table and un-
acknowledging the conf
lential development of the interview,
that was quite an accident; 1t was,
eally | mixed up the dances"
"And I kept that one for you spe-
tally"
"Yes; that's what I'm so sorry about.
tut | should have thought there would
ave been plenty of fellows who would
ave Jumped at the chance Of asking
ou the moment they saw you weren't
laimed for that dance. There is al
'ays a run on the prettiest girl in the
Dom, and"
Bertha so far forgot the solemnity of
he occasion as to look up at Mr.. Mark
am and smile.
II did look nice, didn't IL she sug-
ested. Everybody tells me look
cry nice in pink"
Il think you look nice In anything"
sserted Mr.. Markham, with pleas
lg candor, as bv the merest accident
Is right hand. which was travelling
across the table, ran into
'ertha's which was proceeding appar-
ntly with similar indecision of pur-
ose.
About an hour after Mr.. Markham's
,st observation, Sister Ella darted
nddenly into the room, calling for
'ertha to come out into the garden.
ertha was standing near the window,
nd Mr., Markham was standing very
ear to Bertha with his arm unmis-
skably round her.
Il beg your pardon Bertha. dear"
Ella, as she retreated in con-
lslon; Il did not know you were
lgaged ."--Pennsylvanla Grit