Okolona messenger., 1921-09-29

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pay, she exclaimed:
always quite alOne"
"Why quite alone? / certainly hope
not"
you intend to marry?"
"Yes, certainly"
"Yet you have refused several good
opportunities. Tell me why"
Because" he replied. II think it
best not to marry rather than to marry
without love-"
"And think so, too"
She looked at him; he looked at her
and suddenly, to the great surprise Of
both, they found nothing more to say
nothing at all.
But now Jean is no longer tranquil; ;
with impatience and at the same time
with sorrow he sees the moment of his
departure approach. Yet how could
he stay and resist the temptation of
Bettina's charm?
AS an honorable man Jean felt for
Bettina's money horror, positive hOr-
ror.
In Bettina's mind the sensation Of
love had come at the same time that
it had to Jeans. But, while he, hOrri-
fed, had cast 1t violently from him,
she on the contrary had yielded in all
the simplicity Of her perfect innocence
to this flood of emotion and of tender
ness.
As Bettina grew more tender, Jean
become more gloomy. He was not
only afraid of loving; he. was afraid
of being loved. He felt he ought to
remain away, but he could not; the
temptation was too strong.
He tried to avoid Bettina at recep-
tions and even to leave without saying
goodbye.
"If l touch her hand" he thought,
my secret will escape me-"
His secretI He did not know that
Bettina read. his heart like an open
book.
When Jean descended the stairs
these words were upon his lips:
II love you, 1 adore you, and that
is why will see you no morew
But he did not utter them; he actu-
ally 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.
II knew very well that he loved
me-" she thought, shut now am very
sure that /, too-ohI yesl /, too"
Meanwhile Jean hastens to his dear
old friend the cure to tell him that
he is going away Immediately to Paris
to seek exchange into another regi-
ment, to leave the little hamlet forever.
And then In his emotion he confessed
to the able that he adored Bettina.
.It is a madness which has seized
me-" he exclaimed. "Ahl II she were
only pOorl"
do you know what / think, Jeanf"
exclaimed his good friend. "Jean,
believe that she loves you"
"And believe it, too; but that is the
very reason must go. Her money is
the great obstacle"
At that moment someone knocked
gently at the door.
It was Bettina.
Going directly to Jean she cried,
"Oh, how glad am you are here"
Then she took both his hands in hers
and addressing the cure she said, II
have come to beg you, monsieur lie
cure, to listen to my confession"
And to herself she way saying, II
wish to be loved! l wish to loveI I
wish to be happy and to make him
happy! And since he cannot have the
courage to say it, must have the
courage for bothl"
IT am rich, monsieur le cure" she
continued, aloud, "very rich, but /
love money most for the good which
1t allows me to do. So have the care
of this money, and ! have always
wished that my husband should be
worthy of sharing this great fortune
in order that he should help me make
good use Of it. / thought of another
thing, toO-tHe who will be my hus-
band must be someone / can lOver
There is a man who has done all he
can to conceal from me that he loves
me, but do not doubt that he loves
me. You do love me, Jeang'
"Yes," said Jean In a low voice, his |
eyes cast down, looking like a Grim
inal, Il do love you"
II knew it very well, but wanted |
to hear you say it And now, Jean,
/ say to you, I love your Do not
come near me, yet. Before came
here thought / had a good stock Of !
courage, but yOu see / have no longer
my firm composure Of minute ago.
And now. monsieur lie cure, I want you |
to answer me, not him. Tell me, If
he loves me and feels me worthy Of
his love. shopld he not agree to be my
husband7"
JEAN" said the old priest gravely,
marry her, It Is your duty"
And as Jean took Bettina in his
arms the girl continued, ''YOu have
often told me. monsieur, le cure. that
Jean was almost like your own son.
Now you win have two children, that
Is all"
A AmOnth later Bettina, III the simplest
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