Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-20

|
| Lenten restrictions With the reopen
ing of the season had come a piece o
news that startled New Workers. Mis-
Halliday had broken her engagement tt
the artist, Jack Masterson, and was en-
gagged to Mr.. Alfred Stirling. Yet il
the Academy hung Jack Masterson's pic
ture-his best effort, the critics said
and its fascination for his friends lay il
the sparkling eyes and laughing face o
Clara Halliday; but unprejudiced OBJ
servers said its beauty lay in the calm
sweet face of the other figure. Anc
then it began to be whispered about that
he had fallen in love with the blonde CIR
in the picture while he was painting her
you know, and that was why Miss Halli
day broke the engagement.
But neither Miss Halliday nor Jack eve
denied or affirmed these rumors, and they
soon died out; for the world had more
important subject to discuss, which was
WHO is Mr.. Alfred Stiriing3 Nobody
seemed to know. He appeared at a tea
! given by Mrs. Van Buren, jJst before
Lent, and although Mrs. Van Buren,
could not remember him, he was so very
handsome and charming she was very
| glad to think that as he said, he had met
! her at Bar Harhor two years ago, before
| he went abroad and coming to call upon
her that afternoon, in accordance to her
| kind invitation of the Bar Harbor sum
mcr, he found the reception in progress,
and had presumed to make his call just
the same All this she learned when he
called some evenings later, and it WIS
with positive delight she hailed the ad-
vent ofa new young man so desirable
in every respect as he seemed to be. Soon
his various charms won him place in the
regard of all her circle, and he became a
veritable lion. He sang so remarkably
well in high tenor voice; he talked so
tluently upon all matters of general in
terest he recited poems of love and valor
so sweetly; he played dance music so
fascinatingly, or danced SO beautifully
himself, that all the girls lost their hearts
to him; while the staid fathers melted
before his choice dinners, given unosten-
tatiously in his sumptuous apartments,
aud the mothers succumbed without
murmur before his conservative religious
views and faithful attendance at Lenten
services.
And now, in a few short weeks, he had
NOu tuc llauIl, IL uOI lic Lcdlt, VI thc
beauty and belle of the season-the
wealthy Miss Halliday. And so, aloud
rose the cry from the mouths of less sue
cessful rivals, "Who is Mr.. Alfred Stir
ling?"
But all this mattered not to Miss Halli-
day, or to Mr.. Strings numerous friends,
and all went gayly as Il marriage bell
through the summer season, every one
envying both lover and maid in their
apparent happiness.
In the fall the society papers an
nounced that new firm of brokers
would be announced upon the Exchange
i. c., Bradford & Stirling, and that Mr..
Stirling would probably be married early
in January.
And JACKIE Well, Jack worked away
like Trojan, holding his head high and
going about the same as ever; meeting
his old love and her fiance constantly,
and bearing very friendly relations with
both. Whatever he suffered and he
did suffer-he never discussed it, even
with me, his chum and brother artist.
We dined with Mr.. Stirling at his club
and in his rooms, and both voted him a
mighty fine fellow, though | think both
of us had an incxplicable feelng-ap-
parently unfounded-that he was not
just frank. | know | did. However,
we never mentioned it, because, | sup
pose, we were ashamed to put ground
less suspicion into words.
And the little model? She never ap-
peared again at the studio. Jack wanted
her for picture, and advertised as
guardedly as he could, but to no end.
Finally we gave it up and decided to
stop worrying about her.
One morning, late in November Jack
and l went down to Strings office to
see him about some club matters. Mr..
Bradford was in the office and Stirling,
he said, was due in few moments. He
had been in Boston dav or two, and
was coming over by Fall River last
night, and ought to be here now, but of
course the boat was liable to be late this
season. So we sat and chatted while we
waited.
Suddenly the door opened, and in
walked little woman. "Ada, by
heavensm l heard Jack whisper; and
surely it was she, but Ada so thin, so
pale, so sad, it made my heart bleed.
Without noticing Jack or me, she walked
up to Bradford and said
"This is Mr.. Bradford2"
eyes"
els Mr.. Stirling in 2"
No, madam, ~ said Bradford.
"Where is he? Oh, where is he9" said
Ada with trembling voice; "he ought
to be here. 1t is late-see, it is eleven
o'clock and he is not here. oh, Mr..
Bradford! I am his wife, and | have
come to find him. have not seen him
for months, but know some i'll has be-
fallen him. Last night dreamed"
Here the door opened and in walked
Stirling, but Stirling greatly changed
so old and haggard that we scarcely
knew him. The moment he opened the
door and saw the woman, he said:
Ada" and with a cry of "Alfred! AL
fred " she flew across the room and fell
sobbing upon his breast.
And this is the story we gathered from
the incoherent remarks of these two peo-
pie so strangely thrown into our lives.
Two years ago, Alfred Stirling, who
was Bostonian, went up into little
New Hampshire town to spend the sum
mer, and there met Ada, who was teach
ing school. Her beauty and innocence
won his heart, and after very short
courtship they were quietly married.
But his mother, a proud old Puritan,
dsproved of the match, and, before she
ever saw Ada, took violent dislike to
her. No amount of kindness or attention
which the girl might bestow upon Ma
dam Stirling could win her heart, and
she persisted in her belief that Ada had