The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-14

that Jean was afraid of her money. Her
money which attracted everyone else
and was so tempting to them frightened
him away-because he was not like the
rest. Just now she was sure he would
have taken her hand in his and poured
out his love for her If she had been
penniless girl instead of the rich Miss
Percival. She was not sure that she loved
Jean, but she was beginning to and the
beginning was very sweet. Mrs. Scott
counseled Bettina to go to sleep and think
no more of Jean until morning.
| Bettina replied that she would try to
do so; that in few hours they were to
leave for Havre and she would not see
Jean for three weeks If at the end of
that period she continued to love Jean
she would seek him out and tell him so.
She reminded her sister that it was she
who had proposed to Mr.. Scott, and she
herself did not propose to have her hap
piness ruined by riches. Wealth should
be ones servant. not ones tyrant.
Bettina went to sleep, but was awak-
ened about 4 o'clock by some slight
sound which ordinarily she would not
have heard. The rain was beating
against her window. Her first thought
was that Jean must set out on the march
in the rain. She would like to see him
as he passed with his regiment. Suppose
it was raining, what did 1t matter? She
arose and tried to find some suitable
| clothing. She found a wrapper and re-
membered that in the hall there was a
Scotch cloak which she wore In stormy
weather and some sandals. She put these
on and took a large umbrella which the
coachman carried and started out into
the storm. She had taken but a few
steps when gust of wind blew her UNI
brella inside out and one of her sandals
came off In the wet gravel.
| She put on the sandal and FASTENED to
the terrace. which was distant several
minutes walk The village clock struck
5 and she realized the hour for the regi-
ment to start had arrived. She quickened
her pace, and reaching the terrace, took
Presently the notes of a bugle were
heard and she saw the white horse of
the bugler approaching at the head of
the regiment. The Able Constantin had
instructed her as to the makeup of
regiment. She knew a battery carried six
guns and that jeans battery was the
second Accordingly she counted six guns
and looked further on-but Jean had al
ready seen her. He barred his head in the
rain and bowed to her, turning around
as he rode further away and looking
back as long as he could see her. He
repeated to himself what he had said
the night before: This is the last time"
With both her hands Bettina waved her
adieux. and these gestures, repeated
again and again, brought her hands so
very near her lips that one might think
Anything he wished to. AS Bettina re-
turned to- the chateau she was thinking
that II, after this, Jean did not realize
she loved him and was willing to for
give her for being rich, it was not her
fault.
The 10th of August was to see Jean
back at Longueval. Bettina rose early
and went to the window to see what the
weather was. She had not slept well,
and all through the night kept saying TO
herself: IF only 1t will be pleasant to-
morrow 1t will be seen she was a. lit
tie superstitious. The weather was fair,
and this gave her hope and tourage Mr..
Scott had returned some days before.
Bettina and Mrs Scott and the children
had met him at the wharf. After greet
ing them all Mr.. Scott had turned to his
sister-in-law and said, laughing: when
Is the marriage to be?" What mar
riage?" asid Bettina. "why, with M.
Jean Reynaud" rejoined Mr.. Scott. Bet
tina Replied that she supposed Mrs. Scott
had been telling tales out of school. Then
Mr.. Scott had informed Bettina that she
was convicted by her own letters. She
read them over. and sure enough, there
was their first meeting related in the
minutest manner. Here was the descrip-
ton of the meeting related in the cures
garden and here again Jean and every
where Jean. She found she had loved
him longer than she thought.
| And now the day. almost the hour. OF
the return Of Jean had arrived. Bettina
seized the opportunity to remind her sis