Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-07-06
Bettina's
kcognito

After l have refused three other
proposals you may come to me for
your final answer" Thus did Bet.
tina deliver the ultimatum.
Wetherell surveyed her blankly, q
stunned look taking gradual posses.
sion of his face.
And you want-other admirers,
suitors?" A panied expression crept
into Wetherell's eyes and caused the
straight black lashes above them TO
contract sharply.
Most girls do, you know. It's a
little weakness Of the sex-a strategy
10 provide harmless amusement. Men
nave so many diversions and girls SO
few.
Bettina rose and followed him out to
the door. You take everything too
seriously, Bobby" she said at part
ing.
Then you didn't mean"
OF course did, stupid" she
laughed. An instant later he was
gone.
Exquisitely gowned in morning
robe of pale blue Miss Robson sat
toying with her chocolate spoon after
late breakfast.
The maid entered with two letters
on silver tray. A glance at the
handwriting ON the back of the largest
caused her to shut her lips tight. The
other letter she merely glanced at
and shrugged
With eager fingers she broke the
seal of the one bearing the mysterious
chirography md with wildly beating
heart read:
My Dear Miss Robson: May
take the liberty of addressing few
words of interest and praise to one
whom l admire more than words can
express?
You do not know who 1 am, but I
have seen you thousands of times
and watched your career with no triv.
lal degree of enthusiasm.
Il wish you would let me be your
friend, Miss Robson, if only at dis.
lance. My interest in you is deep and
genuine and 1t would afford me the
keenest satisfaction to be allowed to
follow you in your upward march and
contribute what small crumbs of en-.
couragement my modest position in
the world of literature will permit.
Sincerely, Huntingdon Crosby"
Bettina Robson re-read the letter
three times in bewildered silence
Huntingdon Crosby! She had
never heard Of such person! But
perhaps that was an assumed name
BY way Of dismissing the subject
from her thoughts, she picked up Bob
by Wetherells hastily scrawled letter
and glanced through it. He would be
very busy for the next few days; he
could not come on Friday night, or
Sunday afternoon, either-and he re-
GREETED exceedingly that he would not
be at liberty to take her to the horse
show Tuesday. When she finished
reading it, Bettina did a very con-
trary thing; she stamped her white
slippered foot upon the carpet and
tossed Bobby's letter into the trash
basket. Then she rose abruptly and
crossed the room to a little rosewood
writing desk in the corner. She
would answer Huntingdon Crosby's
letter!
In due time came a reply to her
carefully worded little note 1t called,
undeniably. for response, and as
Bobby was still extinct, the response
was punctual.
Crosbys third letter contained an
exhaustive pen picture of himself, and
be requested permission to call After
a good deal of reflection, Bettina
granted 1t. She was growing deg
perate over young Wetherell's neg
lect.
But her admire. was called south
On unexpected business" and the gold
On opportunity slipped by
For several weeks the mails be-
tween 1884 G street and "Maplewood"
were kept busy. The climax came
when Bettina received proposal of
marriage by special delivery When
she began to read the mans endearing
words, she was shocked, Mortified. But
by the time she had reached the sig.
nature, complete change had come
over her. Bobby Wetherell had been
flirting outrageously with the girl
across the way, and it took her exact.
y ten minutes to write-and accept
her mysterious wooer.
The wedding day broke clear and
sparkling as a sapphire.
1t had taken a fortnight to make
preparations for the event, and not
even the Robson household knew of
Bettina's strange procedure.
The hour was set for IL, at the lit
tie chapel block away and prompt.
Y on the stroke If the hour Miss Bet
Tina Robson descended matter-of-
,actly from her carriage in front of
st. GATHERINGS, and walked toward
The door.
A tall man in < dark gray travelling
suit was leaning against the little
green iron fence, and he joined her at
once The minister had preceded
them only a moment. and the couple
entered in silence After the ceremony