The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-05

Now 90 at once and change your
boots. 1t will be quite as bad for you
to catch cold as for me-"
Not quite. You have mother. a
sister, and'-with slight contraction
| of the brOwS-"Of course many others,
to whom your sickness would be pain. "
We'll, yesp returns Cissy, slowly.
But / There is no one in the world
l believe who would feel very much re-
gret if l died"
"Oh, don't say that!" she exclaims,
earnestly. 1t is not true"
Is 1t nOtS / know of no one"
L do" She cOlors crimson, STAYS a
moment, and then, as though compelled
to finish her sentence, goes on calmly
Il know some one who would be very
I sOrry indeed"
DO you mean yourself?" he asks,
/ quickly.
Yes" She answers him honestly,
| because she can see no reason why she
should not do so. He has been very
I kind to her. Surely she would be un-
| grateful to feel no sorrow at his deathl
| Then she smiles carelessly, and SAYS,
! with the most unSympathetic air $50
} now you are bound to go and make
/ yourself comfortable. as 1t would be an
! act OF objectionable rUdeness on your
/ part to make me very sorry indeed.
/ Was not that what l said?"
she has moved into the second hall.
| and is now standing within the full
| glare of the lamplIght. Craven, who
/ has followed her, thinks she is the most
charming picture his eyes have ever
/ seen; and it may be that his eyes tell
her so.
One moment" he says, seeing she is
about TO disappear. You allowed lust
now that, II anything were to happen
10 you, your mother and-some others
would grleve for you. Are there-do
not think me rude; | have no right to
ask The n11agTTnn I L-rArrr l,,,+ -.
many OtheTS?"
Yes, a great many" she responds
promptly, some surprise in her tone and
in her large eyes, which she has opened
TO their fullest extent and has fixed up-
on him. Why do you ask?"
There Is safety in a multitude"
quotes the young man, with a rather
ticulary"
DO you mean lover?" she asks.
slowly, blushIng again. a soft sweet
blush, yet evidently much amused.
Dear me, no! / have any number of
friends, but not one lover-at present.
My last was a dear old thing of about
sixty, eXceIlently preserved: but he died
eight months ago. and ever since l have
been the actual Maid fOTlorn.' ROnnie"
--regrettully-"has two lovers just now;
but l have none"
Mr. Craven does notappeaT to sympa-
thlZe with her affection. On the con-
trary, he grows more cheerful with
every word she utterS. and at her last
positively beams.
And yOu-dO you care for no oneY"
he asks, tOrgetful of everything but his
intense desire to know.
Miss Rivers, who is still DaIDably
amused, thinks this question lust lit
tie too much, and telling herself it is
her turn now, determines to punish him
Tor II. 50 she nesItateS. opens her lips
as though to speak, checks herself sud
denly, looks down, turns a ring round
and round upon her finger, and finally
says, very consciously
Il am afraid I do"
This IS a crushing blow. All Craven's
content dies on the spot. He glowers.
kniJS his brow, and looks utterly mis-
cradle.
Somebody. then. is very fortunate"
he answers, rather unSteadily.
But there are two of them" explains
Cissy, shaking her head in a perplexed
Iashlon, and l can not quite decide
which L love best"
Love-" he echoes, in desperate tone.
L eS; L feel L adore them," she con-
1eSSeS, with unaffected and growing
ardor. $50 would you if YOU knew
them. sometimes tell myself it is un-
lucky to love them as l do, with ali my
heart"
But you can not love two men equal /
- iAC CAItd Ills, ttLliCNl at lIilS DARING
declaration. at is Impossible,"
ClSsy, as though thoroughly confound-
ed by his words, moves back step or
two, and raises one hand in bewitder-
ment.
Two mem" she says, disdainfullv.
" what are you thinking? Are you
so behind the times as to imagine I
should do such rocco thing as TO love
a man? No, indeed; I was but think
ing Ot-mamma ana ROnnie"
As though aware of her victory. she
nH.saeS tins Saucy speech with a merry /
!adSh. ana moves away from him in
the direction OF Mrs. Richards's 8 parlor. /
She looks SO arch. yet so provoking: so /
Yet so charming that
Craven, while acknowledging himself /
shameIully taken IN, laughs too, in /
spite OF himself.
=, Listen to me-" he says, hastily. If /
the Major goes to bed early, which. of I
course"-In dIsgust-"he won't do. be- !
cause he ought-may | hone for a cun /
OF tea from Mrs. Richards?" j
i am sure"-demuTely-"she will be [
Delighted 10 give 1t TO YOU" Then. see
Ing the disappointment in MS face. she /
adds kindly, and with a pretty smile. /
eS, do come. You will be quite well /
cOme!"
And for once in his life the Major.
though uncOnSciOuSly. does the right (
Ihing, or, rather. the gOut does it for /
l--AAi- III -oNo W bttl carly. dllU leaves :
ms grateful host to follow his own de- (
vices.
The next morning, what a change an
pears! Yesterday the world was Wbife
but dull. To-day 1t is white. TOO. but /
sparkling, as though with innumerable /
diamonds. The snow has ceased 70 fall
the sun is shining braveIy. lighting mn /
with million rays each spray and /
DOugh, on which the snow still lugeTS. /
The hr-treeS have shaken off a little of 1
their chilly burden. and now show
again IN parts some evidence of green.
A few BIRDS. though in "A somewhat /
weak and melancholy fashion are
chanting hymn Of praise. and preen,
Ing ianguldly their draggled plumage.
Cissy ls so delighted with them that
she opens wide her bedroom window !
and throws out to them the thin slice
OF bread and butter sent up to her with /
her tea half an hour be'oTe. They iy /
down 20 It. TO her intense satisfaction. /
and chatter about it. and fight over it. /
before II comes to an end.
At the foot of the staircase. as she
runs down To breakfast. she encounters
Craven, who has been waiting for her.
was l not right?" she SAYS, gayly.
giving him her hand. The weather
has changed; See what a delicious
it is No doubt my beingabIe
to get home to-day, is there?"
hardly know if the horses can trav-
81 NeJ-Jne snow Is SO deep in some
parts, he replies, avoiding her eyes.
i shall walk if | can not go any other
way says CiSsv. with quick determina-
ton and some Taint doubt OF him ex-
pressed in her tone.
If 1t comes to that. and you must go,
you certainly sha'n't walk" ne returns.
i suppose. with care, horse can be in
iuced to go so far" Then reproach-
fully-"In what haste you are to be