Middletown transcript., 1911-06-03
roorTINuED FROM LAST WEEK.

natl. Bertha blushed again, ana
Scoville accepted effusively.
A month later he wrotet
I have missed you more than
could say, Miss Bertha. Ask
your mother if she will not let
me come on and see you in your
own home.
This time Mrs. Rodney. Jack
sons embrace was o grenadier
hug. Bertha dared not tell her
of the conflict waging in her
own soul. Her poor young art
student, and Ramsey Scoville!
She liked them both. Which
one she really liked the better
she found it difficult to say Pro-
baby it was the old love, but the
new love plus the promise OF lux.
hry, was an inducement no glrl
could lightly scorn. And he had
a. fascination all his own. VINO
wouldn't be fattered by his de-
votion ?
The first evening after his ar
rival she played to him in the
dimly lighted music'room, and
played very well. He had drawn
his chair close to the piano, and
lay back watching her dreamily
through half.closed eyes. When
she paused, he murmured:
It was good of you to let me
come. You know why, don't
you?
The spell of the music and
the hour was on them both. She
whispered
No.
His hand sought hers, and held
1t unreproved.
Dear girl, I didn't know how l
should miss you until after you
had gone. II never expected
to care for another woman. l
want to be quite frank with you.
It isn't just the same as the
madness / felt for my wife, but
it's a very good sort of love,
Bertha.
We can be such friends, such
Comrades; you have entered into
my empty heart and filed it
into my wounded life with pro-
mise healing. / waited to be sure
but every day I have wanted to
follow you. Now I have come,
what word have you for me?
Yes, whispered Bertha.
A little later she asked:
Have you seen your-former
wife?
No. She was in Washington;
but I should not have seen her,
anyway. That chapter is dead,
quite dead.
I have never known whether
you had any children.
But persisted the girl, do you
really feel sure ? Don'tyou think
you ought to see her once more?
1t would be dreadful to marry
me and then find out that your
great love was her, after all.
He drew her closer into his
arms.
My dearest, am quite, quite
sure! Ilove you better for your
scruplesj but now is the time to
forget them all-on my lipe.
When Mrs. Rodney Jackson in
discreet fashion entered the outer
drawing.room, an hour later, the
young people went to meet her
hand in hand.
You see how it is with US, said
Ramsey, smiling. I hope you
will give us your blessing.
Whereupon Mrs. Rodney-Jack
son literally fell on his neck and
wept.
I'm rather relieved, said the
slightly obtuse young man.
was afraid you mightn't want tt
give Bertha to me.
That young lady had a sufl
cient sense of hum or to smile
wickedly at her mother from be
hind Ramsey's back.
My dear Ramse! exclaimed tn
stentorian lady. What could hav'
put such an idea in your head?
Oh, just that divorce business
So many people are prejudiced
you know. l haven't felt mysel
that I was in the market till Ber
tina was so good to me.
I don't know any one I woul,
rather have for a son, my dea
boy! It was foolish of you to hav
any qualms. I have no doub
your first wife was a fool /! ]
Bertha ever behaves badly I
you, just let me know. My dea
I am 50 proud and happy! Whe
shafl;fsTnake the announcement
Ramsey?
The sooner the better. Writ
it out, and Ill wire it on to Ne