New Ulm review., 1922-01-04
Bremerton's. Human
Story
BY FREDERICK CLARKE.
t@. 1921, Western Newspaper uniono

looked out Of the window Of the West
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. s,
Excuse me, sir. but are you John
Bremerton?' asked the other. =
."Well?" Bremerton demanded very
curtly.
II was sure that I was on your
track. knew had recognized you.
I want the inside story Of the failure
Of the Cornucopia bank 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. want real hu-
man story" 49,
"a real human storyv' repeated
Bremerton mechanically, and smiled a
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 Framington. a
penniless country boy, Is years before.
And his first sweetheart-LizZie Gray |!
He had written-every day for a
month; after a year his letters ceased.
After two years he had stopped think
ing Of her. He had heard, not long
afterward, that she twas married.
"Framipgtony! go Change ir here for
Des Moines| shouted 1.-THE, conductor,
and .Bremerton started up hastily and
seized his suit. case, He had wanted
to see the old town again. ~ 1-'.'s
| Standing upon the, platform he
found the reporter at his elbow. He
had entirely forgotten him.
"I'm afraid there's a wait of two
hours for the Des Moines train," he
said. "We just missed the connec-
| ton. Now, Mr.. Bremerton, won't you
| please help me with this story? 1t
will mean great deal to me, sir"
Bremerton was 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
| Tll give you that story"
He strolled out of the station. Ex-
cept that 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
lstage. There was the rustic stile
where Lizzie and he had met those Is
years ago. = I lH .l -,a.
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 a few feet
from the style. Bremerton remem-
bered how his heart had hammered
that morning he had first kissed her.
It was here, and Lizzie had walked
| just as she walked now, unconscious
that he waited there. He had wanted
to run sway, as he wanted to run
now. And she had looked up sudden
ly and seen him, just as she looked up
now 80 z - CO. G..... - '-.r.
And both had trembled, just as both
were trembling now. .s.., ..# .r1 .- ..E
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, then?" he
/ stammered.
She looked at him coldly, the flush
of shame slowly fading out Of her
| cheeks.
"How can you ask me that, John?"
she said.
But I heard-I heard" ..
"That's why you ceased to write?"
NO." he answered. Il ceased to
| write before I was told. But still, l
am sure that if 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. MVe school occu-
pies all my life and is my whole inter-
est. While you-you are, or We're, a
very busy man and very famous
one" =. = / . :
E''sThen you have heard?" he asked.
f"Of course I've heard of you, John
BremertOn," she answered. I've
have all followed your career with the
greatest interest" she continued, col
oring family. You know we are all
proud of you in Framington."
"Oh, if only had never gone!" he
cried. Lizzie, I've come back to stay
with YOU
with me?" she repeated. with
me, John?"
II want you," he cried. Il have
never known what happiness meant
since I 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.
81 have always loved you, John,"
she answered back. 'And somehow /
always knew, that you would hcome.
Ohv I'd begs
! Shn disenpapnd herself hastily