Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-06
THE DAILY STORY
Bertie's Indecision

, and all the rest Youll see, maid Mar
| tha."
This sudden change of spirit was so
like variable BERTHE that Martha sighed.
I'm sorry can't encourage you"
It was a year before news came from
| the absent BERTHE. Martha might have
| inquired from his friends in her own city,
| but she was too proud. He had turned
| from her as lightly as easily, as he had
| always fitted from one phase of life to
another. A butterfly. she thought, sCorn-
fully; why should sine waste tears on him?
So she spent her days among her flowers
and books; and If her nights were not al
ways peaceful, she gave no sign.
At the years end a thick packet came
to her. With nervous, trembling haste
she tore off string and paper and brought
forth Bertie's diary.
And to think l doubted him. she
sobbed as she found her name on every
page.
He had taken with him to New York
500 of his fortune, pledging himself not
to touch another dollar of it till
year had gone. He had sought service
Immediately beginning with the most
menial tasks How his sensitive ma
ture loathed them none knew better than
Martha. He had kept each employment
till he found something step higher.
At the end of four months he discov-
cred a friend of his fathers. who ofy
fered him a clerkship, and gave him
freely all the information he needed. 1t
was when he was established in this
that he had made his code of rules.
After office hours two-hour walk,
dinner, then study till II. his bedtime.
This was not to be varied for six days.
Sundays were to be free.
II am beginning" he wrote, ION Ma
caulay's history. l swear not to take
up anything else till these volumes are
finished"
Can he be strong enough, the dear,
brave boy? Martha wondered, as she
read eagerly on; but 1t was when she
was smiling over some whimsical, happy
thought. written I'm Bertles happy ex-
preston, that II came.
"Failed"' on a dozen pages! Then one
bore bravely line from Goldsmith: "Our
greatest glory consists not i'm never fall
ing. but in rising every time we fail
After that was the continuation OF the
arduous routine. On the last page he had
written. "If | do not win my Martha
after all, feel that / shall come some-
what nearer to deserving her"
Another six months dragged by. The
diary contained no clue TO his address
save New York city; so that Martha
could not send him announcement and
loving messages of which her heart was
full. She felt that she deserved the sus-
pense, but 1t was fearfully hard to bear.
When II seemed to her that she could en-
dure it no longer, an ominous yellow en-
velope came to her
Bert Hartman seriously i'll in b
Hospital Constantly calling Martha"
Even in her distress Martha noticed
Bert" not "Berte," mute tribute TO
his wining battle against birth signs.
heFedity and fortune.
Less than a week later Martha sat
trembling in the ONCE OF B. Hos
pital while a sweet-faced nurse talked
to give her. time to regain her control.
cit was Martha, Martha. Martha till
Mr. Dean. his employer, decided to look
through his belongings for a possible
clue. We found your name and address,
, and yentured to telegraph. He Is rational
now, but naturally extremely weak. You
may see him, but not for long"
How did he get the fever?' .fartha
quayered.
"overwork Mr.. Dean saw that he was
doing too much. but his advice was not
needed. Mr.. Harrison would reply that
in six months he would take vacation
Then came the great storm. Mr.. Dean
warned him, but he would walk for two
hours. no matter what the weather OF
| dogged peFsistency to an idea, Mr.. Dean
said he never saw his equal"
The nurses keen eyes saw that Mar
tha's trembling lips had grown quiet, and
she answered the smile In her wet eyes
/ eheeFlly.
But when at last Martha was by her
lovers side. she vas the weaker Of the
tUo.
4 felt Al day that you were coming
dear, he said. quietly You have waited
Tor me. haven't YOU
HleFesIx restrained sobs ehoked back
Aer answer. but sac iaid aef head On
EzEz.z pillow aaa = - content keza
go HHaH z#HIEza zas coming s fae min
zzs 4zzH s#asaE Esaz SO HIS