Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-08-15
FEMININE STRATEGY.
CHAPTER /.

He had been telling her all he had to tell,
and now she stood there quite still. neither
by word nor glance vouchsafing the answer
for which he pleaded.
Il must know the best or the worst,
Christine" he whispered. Speak to me,
darling"
She started violently, and vivid color
rushed 10 her cheeks. Her broad garden
hat hid that but it could not shut out the
sigh which died away In II low. half sob.
softly. so softly that the words came al
most in murmur, but can not be your
wife"
4 understand" with short. hard laugh;
you will not. Pray, be frank"
AT this she silently removed her glove and
held out her hand. A soft. white hand ii waa.
and one little finger was encircled by heavy
band of gold.
Married."
Not yet" And Miss Illerton's voice grew
frmer now. Il am engaged to Arthur
Cover"
Her companion was a tall. dark man.
with II sunburnt face and IL heavy mustache
and honest brown eyes. evidently not the
man TO be easily overcome by any passing
emotion. yet now he fairly staggered be-
meath tho blow her words had dealt; 50
when he. spoke again it was with u calm
desperation.
Forgive mo-" said he; L have had so
many hopes that
rupted. turning upon him sharply.
Il waited to tell you. was fool. that is
Let us havo done with folly" COM
menced Christine. almost wearily. Then,
with sudden. passionate outburst-"Ah
why need you have done this2 Could you
not see? could you not unde. stand2"
Now he caught her outstretched hands.
and. holding her in his arms. pressed
her close upon his breast. For one little
mi ant thn aut N
a rain Of kisses, for one littl" :.,oment only;
then. adroitly freeing horsef. she said but
this:
go now. Ralph"
"ChristiGa!"
Co." she repeated; 1T Is too late; under
stand me-too latel / shall marry Arthur
Cover, and would not do otherwise now.
eyenif | could"
And so. quitting the deep shadow of tho
willows, never looking back. Miss Illerton
walked down the garden path, her dainty
white gown nuttering in the mornin..
breeze. her whittier face hard and fixed and
strangely stern.
Some one met her as she crossed tho
hall.
Gone"
Are you i'll. dearf"
No; 1 Will be down presently. Clara. "
passing on quickly.
This abruptness would nave offended al
most any other woman. but Clara Volney,
being unlike almost any othor woman.
simply turned away, pained pitifulness
easily read In the troubled glance of her
blue eyes.
She stood leaning against the doorway,
Just a little tinge OF color In her checks
her slender littlo fingers mechanically
threading an unruly yellow curl, when Miss
lllerton sharply called to her from the gal
lery above.
"Clara!"
Yes, dear"
Il want YOU"
obedient Clara was presently in her
cousins chamber. listening to IL half con-
fession born OF self rebuke and wild
yearning for some word of tender consola-
ton.
"Wo have no secrets from each othor.
have we, Clara?" commenced Miss Illerton.
NO. none"
From the time-so long agoi-whcn my
poor father died-from the moment when
he put your hand in mine and bade US love
each othor not as cousins only but as
sisters dear, have l ever, by word or deed,
put that last counsel to shame. Claraf"
Never. Christine"
Think again"
Never" reiterated the girl.
1T is falsel" cried Miss Illerton. her
cheeks ablaze now; Il have wronged you
by foolish slence: l have nsulted the
dead by willfnl disobedence; in nothing
have l acted like u sister; II sister would
have gone to you and said: Clara. have
promised to bo Arthur Covers wife: this
ring l wear is the token of love- | am
happy, share my content. That is what II
sister would have done--what / should
have done; Is 1t not2'
Arthur GowGr2"
The flush had quite faded from Clara's
cheeks, but her eyes were bright with somo
keen emotion of surprise or Joy. or maybe
pain.
Yes" wont on Christine never hoedlng
this' and lust now, in tho garden. who
should como but Ralph Gresham. and-he
loves me. Clara"
"Well?"
But it is too late said Miss Illerton,
What did you toll him2" asked her
cousin, eagerly.
What have told you-that 1t was too
.ate, and that would not. even II could"
She spoke very slowly. marking each word
with lingering emphasis; then. as the last
fell from her lips she started up with merry
laugh. Just think of it, Clara-Arthur
Cover! Did tell you what he said? LIS
ten. 1t was the drollest wooing He took
my hand and slipped that ring upon my
finger; / knew then what was coming. and
SO kept very still. Christine said he. 1T
Is our parents wish. you remember. that
you should bo my wife-will you eonsent?'
And | consented. OF course. So. there.
hOm, tldL lIbuDlbSOilO III
and am to marry him, and For heav-
ans sake. Clara. open that wil.tow! ono
stiles hore"
She camo and stood by her cousin. and
In silence the two looked out upon tho
stretch OF land whore tho IA t brown tracts
were all cut by low fences, and then be.
yond upon the dark belt OF woods. now soft
ened ana snadowed by tho purple haze ol
the fast falling night.
, Presently, turning to Miss Illerton. Clara
asked. in n hail. whisper:
Are you happy. Christine?-
"WhoY /? What IA dron question: Wby.
am now the happiest woman in the world
u
The next gray daybreak stole in througb
that same window upon u woman who Ind
passed the lyelong night crouched in TINT
great chair, her head resting upon the
broad sill.
A pale faced creature, who looked up list
lessly when the swallows commenced twit-
tering in the far-re aching caves. and then
with sigh and shudder turned from this
ever new glory OF the coming day.
20. Lord" she cried. and said no more.
You are not to Judge. Surely this was 0
cry ior Thanksgiving. for by her own con-
fession. she was the happiest woman In the
world,