The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7902, 18 August 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

Beitha's Trial "And so you arc going to America, are vou,, Phil "." "Yes, i'cu oft next week." "You are a foolish fellow in ruy opinion, Trav&«. Willi a good situation here, in a safe house, a good reputation, and a first-class chance to rise. You arc going to throw it up for a mere chance." "Yes, but, Richards, what is a fellow to do ? 1 might manage very well as a single man, but you sec I'm in low, and want to inairy." "Then why, in the nam* of com-mon-sense don't you marry '.' You could keep house decently enough on three hundred a year. And if Tout tedy-love is made of the right kind ' of metal, and loves you, she would much prefer to do so to having you run a great risk in America." "So she would. Mess her loving .heart ! But I'm not going to permit) W to do any such tiring. She has been used to comparative luxuries, though her hither has nothing but his good income, every penny of which is absorbed in his style of living. No, no ! Bertha Clark is to be »y wile—not my mard-of-all-work, nurse, seamstress, and washerwoman —so long as I have health and Strength." "But suppose tow des'l succeed?" M I shall succeed. I red perfectly sure of it. I shall came home, before long, In good health, and the possessor of a fortune." "Well, I'm glad you feel so sanguine, old fellow, and I heartily bjri you God-speed. But are you sure that Bertha will wait tor you 7" "Sure of bar as I am of myself." "Maybe you're right; but if it was my case, t wouldn't trust a girl in such a matter. I should expect her to accept the first good offer that camo to band." Philip Travers bail never had a doubt of Bertha. Clark's lovc for him, nor any reason to doubt her constancy ; but still, the remark of Richards disturbed him. What right had be to expect a woman to wait for Mm, when his fortunes were so uncertain? Could he blame her, if, after a reasonable •time, she should accept "the first gfcod offer that came to band" ? "Bertha, you have not beard from Phil lately ?" "No, papa." "And what do you expect to do ? You have waited for him now for two years, and none of his letters have been at all -encouraging." Bertha- twirls her empty tea-cnp in her saucer, to charm the tea-leaves "Rome was not built in a day, you know, papa." "But, Bertha, you don't know what you're talking about. Girls arc always unreasonable. Here you arc. past • twenty-three years old, and with less and less prospect of marrying. Constancy is all very well, bit there can be too much ef "a goo;! .thing. Remember how many good chances you have thrown away since Phil left you, on that wild-goose chase of his and now you do noi know whether he is alive or not." •"Yes, but papa " "There is Mr Grainger, now, who •would be glad to marry vou, and put you in a better position than either of your sisters is in. A most respectable man, too, by all accounts, if he is not voung. He spoke to me on the subject yesterday—said he should have offered bimsett tefore Ihis if ,yo% had not been so shy and cold. It would be a shame for you to refuse him if he did ask you." "I certainly shall refuse* hmi, pai pa. A pretty husband he would niaVrlor me—fifty years old at least, and » pretty wife I should make for him—marrying him for nothing but his money > I'm not afraid of heroin old maid. I can earn my own living !" "You're very silly, Bertha Clark!" "Dear papa, you don't compliment yourself when you call me vcrv silly everybody says I resemble you in every respect." And she imprinted a kiss upon lif i irate father's check,. and left the room.

"Well, James, wbal rs it ?" "A in In* drawing-rooi: miss, asking to see you." "Who is it, James 1" "That oldish flwrtlttnan, miss—M: Grainger !" "Mr Grainger? What a bore! know papa has encouraged him i' this •" said Bertha, to herself, mue! armoyed. "But, after all. the man i: _ rati tied to (decent treatment, I sup pose? I'll go down, and if he ask questions, I can but answe toem and end his suspense." So she tripped down to the draw itiff-room, where she found her visi tor alone. She had never found berscll tete-a fete with him before. She had nev. noticed how gentlemanly and evn winning he was in his manners. Kh ?"««M >ike Mm extremely Well, six thought, but for the fact that I 2 Z^ P ? SC,, for hcr lo nrr father «e talked a good while upon diffci ent subjects, displaying much tac and good sense, as well as genera information. Bertha began lo hope that Hi dreaded question was not to be ask ed her. In the course of (he con versation, he alluded lo Ins havilived in the United Stairs As 1- ® po!, 1 f ""■ "ame a slight blush cam ticed f Whid ' hC cvi<lcnt| y "' "By-the-way," he said, "I met ; young man in America, a frigid o your father's-Phifip Travers " ' Did you indeed >" she asked trv ing to conceal the interest she f,i under the mask of Indifference Yes, ' he replied. "A very fi:,i fellow, but not very successful On ly about one in a hundred succeed' out there." He seemed I 0 Iter to Wafch he, £l a '\ h f. sai<i < Ws - l 0 mark th, effect of his;words. Her papa sh, Ihought, must have tohi him soriie Presently he said, moving chaj nearer her own : "Miss Clark, I am a comparatii, granger t 0 you, but I have even means of proving, and have n r,»,.,! to your father, my rcspectabilitv. am r.sh-so rich that it is j m „ 0 ,. ; i tie for me to enjoy my riches win mrt rtnieonr- to •ftm.d -||, rt „ xi . t me. I could not rcasonablv ask young and pretty woman like vou u fa in love with an old, grev-hair-fellow like me. but if you could 1,1, me wel ~nough to marrv nie should treat yon so well that I be of C,,me afterwardsShe |, w fced a , „ jm cratof(J |, m »..h'i r „i " !" omH,la ' ™«imai..l V\3 M" S '' e Sa " l ; " but thoufil n ke and respect you, I cannot ac «* V ... c,,uW n, » l marry o;,i whom f did not love." Y "And you do imt love me ih, tatfMt i„ the world-y^ar^N. His manner of putting the gm, Wnat W n^d rat,,Cr r Pertin « nt « « font: £ . P^ Se(l ' torh * «"» «... took her hand and pressed it warm drew her W S^ rlef ' a "'' »i " flrew her hand qu.ckly from his, say-fnrA,-B ™ <len,a ? f?'"'rally takes 'notor an answer." "IW I'm not going t „ , akf . ~„,. ho *' rouM you ■>•< ih-, j2T, *? ,rjr J ' ou a , ' , "e. »ertha. f wasted („ IIP sllro „ I might *'- What do you suppsse I care for yourpoTerty? Was your faith in me. so sight as to need couflrmation «f ibis kind ?" "Bertha, don't be angrv ; but tell mc that you love me, ami forgive nif. lie pleaded: "OJ course I lovo yow, miserable

double! ! And, of coarse, I must forgive you ! So you have com..- Lack as poor is you went ?" .he saiil, stroking his lrair, ami smiling. He returned her smile, with interest. "We can work together, can't we. Bertha ?" • : "Of course we can." (Interval for kisses.) He sat and held her hand (or silence for awhile, looking into her Irappy eyes. By-and-bve he said What a pity this lj[ v hand should be soiled by labour !" ' "That is what hands were made ..V , take '*•" s> said fileerully. , Not such a hand as this," said : he Hissing it. "Such hands were made to wear diamond rings" Suiting the action to the word in- |.ut a magnificent jewel upon her nnger-a diamond worth a small folium:. ,I U . T ans ' tk>ar loTP > "'at lam >askrd, turning pale. riim, 1 "™ 15 .: dvar lovc ' "'at I am r , Kb ,!u ' H W '" J|( l be inipossibh. for lne t„ rnjov mv rj without you to spend them." I have been fortunate in America. Will vou love me just as well, knowing tha »"' almost a millionaire'" , 111 try."