Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-06-30
Bremerton's Human
Story
By FREDERICK CLARKE.
a. LIZ. Wegtern Newapaper Union.l

looked out of the window or the w est
bound Limited.
The train slowed, drew into the sta
ton, waited few moments, and then
puffed out again. A man came into
the carriage and stopped at Bremen
toms side.
Excuse me, sir, but are you John
Bremerton?" asked the other.
"Well?" Bremerton demanded very
CURLY.
II was sure that I was on your
track / knew l had recognized You.
/ want the inside story of the failure
of the Cornucopia bank. l am repre-
sentative of the Iowa Free Soiler.
"You see, sir" the reporter contin-
ued, "of course we have all the de-
tails of the failure. 1 want real hui
man story"
"a real human storyp' repeated
Bremerton mechanically, and smiled
little bitterly at the irony of events
which had left his life, except for his
widened experience, just where it had
been when he had left Pennington,
penniless country boy, 10 years before.
And his first sweetheart-Lizzie Gray
He had written-every day for q
month; after year his letters ceased.
After two years he had stopped think
ing of her. He had heard, not long
afterward, that she was married.
'Framington Change here for
NJoi ch tnd hn
and Bremerton started up hastily and
seized his suit case. He had wanted
to see the old town again.
Standing upon the platform he
found the reporter at his elbow. He
had entirely forgotten him.
"rm afraid there's a wait of two
hours for the Des Moines train" he
said. 1--WE Just missed the connec-
ton. Now, Mr.. Bremerton, won't you
please help me with this story? It
will mean a great deal to me, SIR"
Bremerton was a man Of quick de-
cisions. He pulled out his watch.
"Three O'clock" ne said, glancing at
the dial. I'll be back at four, and
He strolled out of the station. Ex-
cept that a few new buildings had
sprung up it was astonishing how lit
tie the town had changed during the
Is years of his absence. And at the
end of the lane was the Grays' cot
tage. There was the rustic stile
where Lizzie and he had met those Is
years ago.
A woman was walking up the lane.
She had turned in from below, just
where the Gray cottage abutted on
the pike. She would see him when
she came out Of the bend few feet
from the style. Bremerton remem-
bered how his heart had hammered
that morning he had first kissed her.
1t was here, and Lizzie had walked
that he waited there He had wanted
to run away as he wanted to run
now. And She had looked up sudden
ly and seen him, just as she looked up
now
And both had trembled, just as both
were trembling now.
And he had kissed her, just as he
kissed her now.
She had hardly changed except that
her figure had grown mature and her
face more thoughtful, graver.
"You are-not married, them" he
stammered.
She looked at him coldly, the flush
of shame slowly fading out of her
cheeks
.How can you ask me that, john 7"
she said.
"But heard-I heard"
That's why you ceased to writer"
mo-" he answered. II ceased to
write before I was told. But still, I
am sure that if I had not heard so /
should some day have come back"
ITO redeem your pledge, John?
Well, / release you from it. So let
your conscience rest Ny school occu-
pies all my life and is my whole inter-
est. While you-you are, or were,
very busy man and a very famous
one"
"Then you have heard?" he asked.
"Of course I've heard of you, John
Bremerton," she answered. "I-we
have all followed your career with the
greatest interest,"" she continued, col
oring family. you know we are all
proud Of you in Pennington"
"Oh, if only / had never gomez he
cried. Lizzie, I've come back to stay
with you"
with mel" she repeated. with
me, John?"
II want you," he cried 81 have
never known what happiness meant
since / went away. Will you be my
wife?"
"You-you mean that, John?" she
stammered.
He drew her into his arms, and she
lay there at last, happily.
TELL me you love me-" he whis-
pered.