Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-10-31
DO LISTEN TO REASON.

Smoking TRANQUILITY in an easy chair one
evening in June, Major Hartwell was reused
from the deep and painful reyerie into which
he had fallen by IL step in the hall and
knock on his parlor door.
"Comel" he said, and a smile lighted up
his grave. handsome face. for both step and
knock were familiar to him, and ii there
was any man on earth whom he held near
and dear. that man was he who now en-
tered.
Il was beginning to wonder what had be-
come of you. Arthur" stretching out well
coming hand, which Arthur Hazard took in
warm grasp.
Il have been unusually busy" and Arthur
threw himself into a chair. I've been get
ting ready to leave town for u few weeks.
and haven't had time to even think of my
friends"
Then you've come to say au Teuoir."
Yes I'm off tomorrow by the early
train. wish you were going with me,
Cyril"
Il can't leave the city now. Besides.
shouldn't enjoy having nothing to do. l
haven't taken a vacation since l lett the
army. Where are you going?"
"To a piece called Westholt, down in
Buckingham County"
The Major started and shadow crept
over his face-the shadow OF a past sor-
row. the memory of which was very painful
to him.
Il am going to visit the big man of the
plaee-Squire Drayton," continued Arthur,
cdreleSsly. mdue his dCQud uIdnce IL lew
months ago by the merest accident. lie
was pleased to take fancy to me. and in
vited me to his place. Some one was tell
ing me the other day that the Squire had
one Of the prettiest daughters imaginable.
So you can prepare yourself for anything
In the way OF news when como back.
He paused, LAUGHING, and expecting some
facetious reply; but Major Hartwell was si-
lent. The shadow had deepened on his face
into look of pain.
Whats the matter. Hartwell2 You look
as II you had seen ghost. Are you envying
me my good luckT
No; l have no desire to go to Westholt.
shall never go there again"
Ali You have been there before me.
them"
Yes; I was once engaged to be married
to Lois Drayton."
You wers2 Fxouso me. Major, il had
known tHut I would never d ave spoken as
tiI but no hint ol anything Of the sort had
ever reached me. Are you w!lling to tell me
about ltt'
Yes: mad ] not boon. 1 would not
have mentioned t at H,. It isn't a very
long story. but t.uE lU l very unusual
one. met Lois urIyLon when my regi-
ment was stationed near Westholt. and we
were engaged for year. know she loved
me; nave never doubted that, though
what followed would have led almost any
man to believe her utterly wanting in any
thing approaching affection. We were to
be married on the 10th of October, and the
Drayton relatives far and near were einvited.
and the Squire had prepared for bontlres,
fireworks and general enthusiasm. / went
down to Westholt on the morning of the 9th
and had no fault to find with the welcome l
received from Lois. | thought had never
seen her in a happier mood. and we had
long talk about our future and made all
sorts of plans which l little thought were
never to be realized. We spent q very
happy afternoon in the great. dusky parlor,
and after supper the Squire took me out for
long walk, wishing to show me some i'm
provements he had made in drainage and
parking We left Lois in the hall, talking to
an old woman who had come to get some
medicine for sick child. / remember that
looked back when 1 reached the yard and
waved my hand to my little girl, thinking
how sweet and fair and gentle she looked
as she stood listening to the description of
the child's illnessl All. mel / did not
dream that 1t was, our last .parting-that I
was never to see her apainl"
Never to see her again." echoed Arthur
Hazard. as his friend paused.
NO; / have never seen her since that
evening. When the Squire and returned
to the house. a aycouple OF hours later. we
found that she had gone to administer the
medicine herselfto the child and on reach
ing home again had retired ut once to her
rom. and had sent for her aunt, Mrs. An
drews. who had taken the place of a mother
to her for many years. Mrs. Andrews
found her prone on rug her left hand
grasping IL In her agony.
Gently raising her. Mrs. Andrews endeav-
ored to learn the cause of her pale and agi-
tated condition. but she would eX plain moth
Ing. simply stating that great sorrow had
come over her life. She simply wished. she
said. to send Il message to mo. 1t was that
she absolutely refused to marry me. Yes,
on the very eve of our wedding she had
changed her mind. And she would give no
reason for the change. nor would she con-
sent to see me. Her father and aunt rea-
soned and argued with her In vain. She
simply wept and maintained her mysterious
silence And the end of ii all was that lett
Westholt the next day together with my
best man and the half-dozen bridesmaids
The affair created great deal of gossip,
but no one has ever been able to get to the
bottom OF It,"
against you" suggested Hazard.
NO: that question was asked her, and she |
insisted that she had not"
And you do not think her merely fckle3"
Il know her too well to think that"
And there was no other lover?"
NO. She had other suitors. of course |
but l was the only one for whom she had |
expressed any regard"
And she has never given any explanation |
of her singular action2"
Never. l sec her father occasionally. |
and he has repeatedly assured me that she |
maintains her mysterious silence. They |
never mention my name to her now. She |
requested them not to do So"
wish. Tor yonr sake. could get at the |
root of the matter. Major. Suppose try. l
will have good opportunity, you see"
You can try. OF course. Thank Won for
your interest. But there is no reason to
think you will succeed. Mo- | must bear
my sorrow as best can. l must not hone,
for hope would end only in despair"
In the train tho next day, on the way to !
Westholt. Arthur Hazard remembered the
story he had heard. and he folt great
curiosity TO see the heroine OF SO peculiar Il
tale.
Squire Drayton was tho richest landed
proprietor in the large and fertile county in
which Westholt was situated. His house
was handsome, rambling building sur
rounded by trees, and overlooking beau
fields
His family consisted Of his daugher Lois.
widowed sister' and nephew the son OF
Arthur liked Lois at once. She was n
refined looking girl OF about twenty We
years OF age. with large. soft brown eves.
an olive complexion, an abundancc of
chestnut hair. and a 1.-the and graceful 1G-
ure but she was sny.- y.-and reserved and
talked little. even to her father ~
Arthur rather prided himself upon hia |
ability to read character. He thought ho |
understood that of Lois. and the fact that |
she had been able to keep secret for three
years her reasons for refusing to marry the
man she loved puzzled him very much.
"She does not look like woman who
could keep secret" he hought Il should
say that she could be frightened into almost
anything. She has q weak mouth and Is
credulous and timid.'
This opinion was strengthened as he
became more acquainted with her. and he
felt a greater desire than ever to penetrate
the mystery which SUR ounded her broken
engagement.