The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-22
Bettiina u,
Lncognito

your uudl ANSWER AHuS VAU Do"
tina deliver the ultimatum.
Wetherell surveyed her blankly, q
stunned look taking gradual posses
sion of his face
And you want-other admirers,
suitors?' panied expression crept
into Wetherells eyes and caused the
straight black lashes above them to
contract sharply.
Most girls do, you know. It's .
little weakness of the sex-a strategy
to provide harmless amusement Men
have 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 q 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 tho
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 and with q wildly beating
heart read:
My Dear Miss Robson: May I
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 I am, but
have seen you thousands Of times
and watched your career with no triv-
ial degree of enthusiasm
II wish you would let me be your
friend. Miss Robson, II 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.
Huntington Crosby! She had
never heard of such a person! But
perhaps that was an assumed name
BY way of dismissing the subject
from her thoughts, she picked up Bob
by Wetherell's 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 1t. 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.
Crosby's third letter contained an
exhaustive pen picture of himself, and
he requested permission to call. After
good deal of reflection, Bettina
granted it. She was growing des-
perate over young Wetherelrs neg
lect.
But her admirer was called south
on unexpected business" and the gold
en- opportunity slipped by.
For several weeks the mails be-
tween 1924 G street and "Maplewood"
| were kept busy. The climax came
when Bettina received a 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, a complete change had come
over her. Bobby WethereIl had been
flirting outrageously with the girl
across the way. and 1t took her exact
ly ten minutes to write-and accept
her mysterious wooer.
The wedding day broke clear and
| sparkling as sapphire.
| 1t had taken a fortnight to mako
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 a block away. and prompt
ly on the stroke of the hour Miss Bet
tina Robson descended matter-of-
factly from her carriage in front Of
st. GATHERINGS. and walked toward
the door.
A tall man in a 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
they stood looking long and earnestly
into each others eyes.
Il was half afraid when you saw me.