El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-26


, can sisters were rich
As acquaintances and friendships
grew, very pleasing II was to the gen.
tile. 1ovable old cure to learn that his
new parishioners were most anxious
to extend their henefactions among
the poor in the hamlet. asking him,
indeed. to be their medium. And it
! delighted him 10 learn that those
stories about begging in the street
and questionable life were mere
calumnies.
They had. indeed, been poor until
an inherited silver mine made them
fabulously rich Now they had hosts
OF aomirers-Mrs- Scott because she
was frankly flirtatious: and Bettina
because, as she realized. the fortune
hunters-3f OF them she counted in
lcluding a French duke and a Spanish
noble - sought her wealth But.
through il all they retained their
genuine simplicity and sweetness Of
heart
And when. one day they all went
I over with Jean 10 visit the little
church, and Bettina at the organ
/ played a reverie Of Chopin. good, gen
I tie able Constantine heart was filled
! with such joy that the tears came TO
But all this left a deep problem IN
Jeans mind-~Which Of the two sis
tiers is the prettier2" At first he was
] convinced that 1t was the coquettish
! Mrs Scott who charmed him the
7 more; then he would see Bettina,
I smiling and bIushing amid the sunlit
clouds Of her floating hair. and he
would declare to himself Il was mis-
taken, the prettier was Miss Percival"
So. in the confusion Of his medita-
| tons. he would say, rs 1t possible
that I have fallen madly in love at
first sight2 No; one might fall in
/ love with a woman, but not with two
women at once"
The days went on and Jean and Bet
I tina were often thrown into each 9TH
] er's company. What resulted is best
pictured in Miss Percivars own re-
mark TO her sister when one day she
exclaimed:
'He is the first man. positively the
first. in whose eyes ] have not read
oh how glad ] should be to marry
that little body's millionsH
And then as Mrs. Scott went DOWN
stairs 10 kiss her sleeping children, !
Bettina remained long leaning on the /
balustrade Of her balcony
ct seems to me-" said she. that I /
am growing to be very fond OF this !
place."
One day when Jean was telling Of
his expectations Of promotion and the ]
probability that he should wander /
coming back to the little house that |
was his fathers, as an old colonel /
on half pay she exclaimed;
Always quite aloneg
Why quite alone? I certainly hope
You Intend to marry7"
yes. certainly"
yet you have refused several good
opportunities. Tell me why"
Because" he replied. 7 think Il
best not 10 marry rather than 70 /
marry without love"
And I think so, too"
She looked at him; he looked at
her; and suddenly, 70 the great sur
# Fnnrnd rnHhfrnr
more to say-nothinE at all
But now Jean is no longer tranQuil;
with Impotence and at the same time
with sorrow he sees the moment OF
could he stay and resist the tempta-
ton Of Bettina's charm2
As an honorable man Jean felt for
Bettina's money horror, positive hor-
In Bettina's mind the sensation OF
love had come at the same time that
It had to Jeans But while he. hor-
rified, had cast It violently from him,
she on the contrary had yielded in all
the simplicity OF her perfect innocence
TO this flood OF emotion and OF ten
derness.
As Bettina grew more tender. Jean
became more gloomy. He was not
only afraid Of loving; he was afraid
remain away, but he could not the
temptation was too strong.
BE tried 70 avoid Bettina at rscsp-
tons and even to leave without say
ing goodbye,
my secret viii escape me-"
lis secret He did not know that
Bettina read his heart like an open
book,
these words we're upon his lips:
I love you, adore you, and that !
is why I will see you no more,"
But he did not utter them: he ac- .
tually fled into the darkness
Bettina standing in the hall door .
and taking no notice OF the rain driv- ,
ing across her bare shoulders. watched
him go.
Il knew very we'll that he loved
me-" she thought, but now I an
very sure that L too-oh, yesl ], /
Meanwhile Jean hastens TO his dear I
old friend the cure to tell him that
he Is going away Immediately 20
Paris 70 seek exchange into another !
regiment 10 leave the little hamlet
forever And then in his emotion he I
confessed to the able that he adored
Bettina.
1T is a madness which has seized I
me- he exclaimed. -Ah, II she we're
only poor"
DO you know what 7 think. Jean?"
exclaimed his good friend. Jean,
believe that she loves you"
And I believe il. too; but that IS
ne very reason must go. Her money 7
Is the great obstacle
Al, that moment someone knocked {
gently at the door.
Il was Bettina
Going directly 10 Jean she cried. '
-Oh. how glad / am you are here"
Then she took both his hands in 5
hers and addressing the cure. shell
said. 4 have come to beg you. mon ?
iieur le cure, 70 listen TO my con- =
'ession-"
And to herself she was saying. Il ;
wish TO be lovedl ] wish TO lovei I
wish to be happy and to make him Z
iappyi and since he cannot have the
.ourage TO say it. I must have the .
for bothT'
i ain rich. monsieur le cure" she q
.ontiuued. aloud, very rich. but I