Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-16

indiffercntly on commonplace topics, but
they soon retired discreetly, leaving
Myrtle clear field and unlimited power
to torture her latest victim.
If she had been fascinating in the
Snow Queen garb, Norman found he
| very much more so in simply mad,
house dress of dark silk. She PLAYED
and sang for him in q manner that indi
Gated no superficial knowledge of music
''Since you are such lover of music,
you will enjoy the opera tomorrow
night. 1t will be treat for Springfield
people to hear Martha Shall we goF
He had been thanking her for Abt's
Goodnight, my love, and was tearing
himself away.
81 shall be delighted" said Myrtle
"Papa intended to take us girls"
He had not waited five minutes in the
easiest chair in the judges parlor the fol
lowing evening when she entered the
room, a striking contrast to the Snow
Queen, to be sure, but quite as charming
in black velvet sparkling with musically-
clinking jets, with Gold of Ophir roses
on her bosom, corresponding exactly
with the artificial roses on the black-lace
bonnet. Even the long tan gloves were
buttoned, and her fan was in her hand.
Norman's establishment revealed itself
in his eyes.
"What a remarkable young lady you
are, Miss Danal" he said, holding her
hand longer and closer than twenty-four
hours separation justified.
ooh, certainly" she assented, step
ping back little. sit is against my
principles to keep any one waiting.
Punctuality is one of my best virtues"
'And their name is Legion"
"Oh, no, indeed am not an angel.
My virtues are sadly overshadowed by
my faults"
He stood looking at her as though he
had forgotten all about the match game
at which they were playing with edged
tools.
~ have vet to discover in what respect
you are not angelic he declared.
"Oh," she gasped, with a gesture of
impotence, don't say anything to me
that you do not mean. Or, is hattery one
of your Irritation weapons ?"
There was a momentary impression of
seriousness in his splendid eyes, but he
quickly collected his wits.
81 always mean exactly what say,n he
said, smiling. 81 certainly did just now.
If you chose to habit yourself in such
celestial-looking raiment at Mrs. Wins
tons, the other night, | was not to be
blamed for recognizing the resemblance
you bore to angelic beings. That was not
what l called you then, however. You
looked like Snow Queen"
That sounds better. 1t suits my cold
hearted selfshness."
After that night the game became very
interesting, both to the contestants and
to the curious eyes of the spectators in
the arena of Springfield society. Not
that anybody suspected that it aCas a
game, entered into by mutual consent.
The Dana family had no such conception,
or the sedatc Judge and his excellent
wife would have rested more uneasily il
their shoes. AS it was, they only hoped
that Myrtle had found her real hero q
last, and would settle down into genu
inc love affair.
A month slipped by, and the June rose'
were making the air drunken with thei
sweetness. Norman declared he ha(
never enjoyed month SO much in hi
life.
ga Irritation is delightful affair un
tie. "Have l proved to you that yo
are worse fiirt than 1 am?"
"Not at all. Shall we try for anothe
month";"
"With all my heart" was the careles
reply.
The following month was, if possible
gayer than the first; but toward its clos
people began to go to the sea-coast c
the mountains or the lakes, and they wer
left to the quiet enjoyments they like
best. Springfield gossips had Statistic
themselves that the case had passed its cri
sis and would culminate in wedding an,
so left off their continued vigilance.
At the end of the second month Nor.
man was in a very serious mood.
81 am going away with my sisters mex
week to be gone the rest of the summer,
Myrtle told him, one evening. 'I sup
pose you will be off for some of the wat
ering- places in search of other worlds tc
conquerT
81 have not thought of going any
where. Does the second months enc
count me out ~
ooh, not necessarily"
care you tired of me ,"
"No; certainly not think you ar,
the only man | ever knew that / hav,
really enjoyed"
"Thank you," said he, gravely-sc
gravely that she blushed consciously
"There is more than that for me t.
acknowledge. l have enjoyed you 81
much that | do not see how can eve
live without you"
Miss Dana started. She had Won
dered, now and then, if this would
come, but had tried to convince herself
that it never would. She made
feeble effort to misconstrue his meaning
You surely do not wish to prolon.
this nonsense indefinitely ?"
"No; want the nonsense to end AM
the reality to begin"
She was sitting listlessly in one of tn
rich chairs, idling with the flowers h
brought her. He came from where h
stood by the mantelpiece and rested a
arm on the rolling back of the chail
bending over her brown head.
81 love you, Myrtle"
She turned quickly and looked at hil
doubtfully, the burning blush on HI
cheeks spreading to the very tips of hi
ears.
"Mr. Norman, you are carrying IL
ejst too far, - she exclaimed, still parr,
ing. "This was not in the agreement >
''Hang the agreement l broke m
part of it long ago--as long ago as the thir
time ever saw you-the night we wei
to hear Martha"
"Then you have not been playin
fair"
She was half laughing, half crying.