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

! tionate appeal, in his quick, impetuous
way, supposed that Ada had ceased to
love him, and, without word, sailed fol
Europe. And foolish Ada, making con-
fusion worse confounded, left the home
of which she believed herself an unwel-
come member, to seek her fortune in a
pitiess world.
1t was after battling unsuccessfully
many months, that she bethought her
self of using her beauty as means of
livelihood until she could get other
work and came to us. She noted Miss
Halliday's manner upon the day of her
visit to the studio, and so, after that pic
ture was finished, never returned for fur
ther employment lest she might make
trouble between Miss Halliday and Jack.
Since that time she had been teaching
school in small village out of New York,
and so had dragged out cherries exist
ence. From the papers she had learned
of Strings business venture, but never
for one moment gave credence to the
marriage rumor.
And last night, while sleeping, she
had seen Alfred reading paper some
where (she could not make out where),
in front of large mirror, and in her
dream was convinced that some horrible
fate overhung him, but again could not
make out what She tried to call him
but was voiceless. She tried to go to
him, but was powerless. Then she fell
upon her knees and prayed to heaven to
save him-prayed as she never prayed
beforehand while praying q great black
cloud bu h frn,,, bor cinht op1 cba
awoke. The terror of her dream was up
on her, and, arising, she started for New
y ork, to find him if alive-to be by his
side if dead "And that, Alfred, is why
l forgot my pride, and left my home at
midnight to come here" she said, in con-
clusion.
And Alfred's story was equally one of
hasty Judgment and consequent suffer-
ing. The ocean voyage cooled his anger,
md he Immediately returned by the next
steamer and FASTENED to his wife. She was
gone-had been gone for days, they said;
md no one had tried to find her. Dis
tracted, he sought her high and low;
advertised everywhere and travelled for
weeks ; but in vain. She was surely
lead, they said. and in despair he left
MS mother and his home and settled in
New York to forget, if possible, in its
noisy whirl, his irreparablc loss. When
he called on Mrs. Van Buren, he had not
the heart to recall to her mind his lovely
dead wife, with whom he had been so
in love at Bar Harbor,
and seeing Mrs. Van Buren had forgotten
all the details, he thought it best to let
her believe him bachelor, and so spare
himself needless pain. That accounted
personal history, and we, that is Jack
and |, felt the twinge of a guilty, sus-
picious conscience. When he met Miss
her gayety and cordial nature
soothed his aching heart, and so he
driftcd into an engagement, though he
was troubled occasionally by the convic-
ton that Ada was not dead. But why,
if alive, had she not answered his loving
appeals to her in the advertisements?
And why could he not find herr No;
she must be dead So matters drifted
on.
But about one week ago he came for his
first visit to our studio, and there saw,
for the first time, Jack s Academy picture.
In it he recognized Ada thongh he
never said word, and he knew she
must be alive if Jack had painted her
face within few months. OFF he flew
to Boston, there to renew his search.
Coming home last night by boat, he
could not sleep for thinking of her, for
his old love was upon him stronger than
ever with the first breath of hope. To
see her again! To tell her of his shame
and penltcnce! All heaven! would they
never reach New York Becoming con-
scious that his restless pacing was attrac-
ting attention, he wandered about mid
night into the engine room and sat down
in front of the mirror there to read his
paper; but he could not read. He could
only see her face. Suddenly he heard
her call-heard her as plainly as if she
we're at his side "Alfred,
Alfred, come away with mem 1t
was so terribly real that he jumped to
mis- feet and started for the cabin.
Hardly had he left his chair when, with
| terrible roar and crash, the walking
)eam, loosened by some break in the
shot down from its place,
md with its mighty weight plunged
through chair, and mirror, and floor,
eaving but a yawning cavern where
they had been. That was the direful
fate which had threatened him, and
Ada's prayer was answered, for heaven
mad spared him to her to shelter and
protect her in the years to come.
What called this to my mind to-day,
was the dinner | attended at Mr.. and
Mrs Alfred Stirling's last night, where
Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Masterson were the
honored guests. AS watched my fair
haired hostess, thought of her sad days
in the studio; and prayer for her future
rose to my lips Frank Les
les.