The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-20
NUMBER "a.
THE LOAN OF A LOVER.


gently answered her stately, darE-eyed
friend, lone Valon. 'If had q doubt Of
his affection I would set him free to-day;
but, much as he pains NE, greatly rs he
sometimes seems to neglect me, ] know
that in his heart he cares Tor no woman
as he does for me-"
A faint color was in her olive checks, q
touch of pain shadowed hcrsteaGy- gentle
eyes, but Nyra tossed her blonde head
angrily.
"Then let him proveit, 'she said sharp
". ''Why, one might swear he was the
lover of that cousin Of Jacks, he hangs
about her so constantly since she came
here. ] just met them now riding to-
gether. Why don't YOU pay him back in
similar cCin2 Elirt With some nice fellow
and have as merry Q time Is he has"
lone smiled.
PRAY. where would ] End the nan who
wCuld permit me to fiig5 with himF' she
asked, leaning back iudoIeatly ia her GER.
den chair, 4 Slight curl on her young lip.
''Myra, you are laughing 1t me"
''Not ]. . asserted Myra bringing down
. little foot with some show OF force On.
the green sward; "Iet me loan you my
Jack"
What lone sat erect, genuinely sur
prised. ''You would have me liirt " ch
Jack Atherton, my dear MyraF"
Il know that Jack was over his ears IN
love with you two years ago" said Nyra
laughingly. "He told me all about il
when he asked me 70 wear his ring; but
that is all over and Jack loves me now and
l love Jack; but ] want YOU to let him
play the devoted admirer TO You for q
month or so, just to see how Roy Howell
likes it.
''Iie doesn't Z know Jack is anything to
me, and when he finds him at your side
half the time he may give you more OF his
own precious time and less TO every
precious girl he meets. See here, lone, if
he really loves you IL win teach him that
it IS possible to lose you, and, dear, / love
you too well to look on and see you neg
lected rs you have been lately. May 1 tell
J2ck.'
a painful flush was on Icnc's face; sho
tried TO smile, but her lips guivered. An.
il had stuug hcr sorely, even in herperfect
faith, t. End that any fair face could lure
her lover, and that ne could 90 fitheT and
thitherwith devotion that he had pledged
to her.
Yes; I viii try the experiment - she
said at last, and Myra sprang up and
kissed her.
do, dear" she said eagerly; "and here
he comes ncw, riding likes prince through
the sunlight lone, begin to-day--his
very hos, Co la and don your riding
drcss: tgI JLem to saddle your pretty
pony, Gud while you're gone viii explain
to Jack. A.I -Lali ride wita him toy
every day, aud now go, lone, SO; hUrryl
Be ready n ten minutes or III not loan
you my precious Jack"
So, haIf coaxed, haif pulled ont of her
chair, lone stood up and went toward tho
house, while Jack Ath-ruou, Ia obedience
70 small beckonins hand, turned in at
the gate and c-ntered up the drive
NoT, Jack WAS handsome youn0 man
os one III - '-.euo see. with a btanzed,
Laughing -ace alld pair of suuuy, dusl .
cycs, and t. was no secret in the pretty
little town that ne had been very mach in
love with lone Valou, while tie transfer
Of his affections 10 Nyra was o happy
secret between the lovers: so, when twenty
minutes later, As and lone e,EoUnted atthe
door aad rods GOWN the drive ani out 10
the sunlight Of a fair June day the
laughter on his firm, handsome lips and
the hot color on IOne's young face might
very easily be Inisread.
Cantering through the main street of
the town, they wound their way along
the riverside, and there, dashiug over the
hard roadway with the soft, cool river
breeze on their faces-with the laughter
and Yet the soft red still flushing Ione's
olive cheeis-they met and passed another
pair of riders.
Such pretty girl as Jacks cousin vast
all pink and white daiutiucss and bia,
gray eyes and flossy. golden huir-bar Roy
Howel, riding with her beside the river.
suddenly turned from her dainty lowell
ness 20 look after the edark-eyed -,irl whom
lie had EeE, ,ec:ed for her.
''ELat WAS cousin Jack: who is the
Iady?" asked Miss Athertoa, after tley
lad passed with a few merry words.
''Miss Nalon."
''Ah, He has been IN love with her.
then, for long time. 1 hope she cares
for Jack, he is such noble fellow
Why was il that praise Of Jack was so
Suddenly distasteful TO Roy Howell. He
shook ont his rein impaticntly
Miss Nalon is betrothed, - ne said, dis
tinctly.
ITO jack"
"No; TO another" -
The pretty, babyish lips widened in n
soft, merry laugh, which somehow did
not please the youth.
''Then let that other man look to it. let
him guard her from my FASCINATING cor
SIM she said, ''or Jack will steal his
sweetheart; for Jack is one of tho very
incest young men I have ever met. Mr..
Howell, and such men as he seldom WOO
IN vain. You know him, though
"Nes, know him, but I have found
nothing wonderful in his composition.
The -snn IS setting. Miss AtAerUon: snail
we turn homaward?"
''Yes. and when we ride to-rlor-ov-''
Pardon RE; but have an engagement
which wall prevent my riding tomorrow,
She looked at him in wonder: for n
month he bad been her daily cavalier.
was tho pleasant Irritation a. gu eul and
her visit ouly half IEished2
Ali perhaps lac had heard OF bcr en-
gagement 10 leonard Blaine. the dandy
of her native city, and thatvya why hc
would notrIGe with her on the morrow.
a vain little smile dawnc,l on acr Inns
If he had Leonsri's money; but, p~hav,
she would NOT allow him to spoil her
visit by giving up those long, lovely
rides, those pleasant wandcrinas in TN.
sunset, those delightful rows oalhc river:
and whcn she parted witch him aa her
Uncle's be had forgotten al about his
slight uneasiness concerning Jack and
his Detrothed, and had promised 10 give
Miss Atherton a row the afternoon Of the
day that would follow on the morrow.
''Io-morrow win give To lone. ., he
Thought, generously; "I'n call around co.
night and ask her at what nour she'll be
ready. Guess III take Ler lo. a drive.
Poor child! she must have missed lne
Iately.''
But when he called at Ione's home in
the evening he did not find her, as usual.
waiting to welcome him with lo-a'ft
eyes and shy, sweet elances; she had
gone with Mr. Atherton 70 spend the
evening at Myra's.
He started she didn't miss him so
greatly, after all, then.
He sat on the veranda chatting with
Mr.. Valon until the evening was FAR