Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-01-15

/ good bg, preparatory t0~starting on ,
long Continental tour. had just re
turned from Greenwood, about weel
after Bessie's death, when he was an
nounced. With glad little tlutter oi
my heart ! went down, sadly but calml y,
TO meet him. As entered the parlol
/ little Howard was lamenting, most clam,
orously, over something, which seemed
to distress him exceedingly, and upon
Inquiry, found it was in connection witt
| Philip. .'Oh dear." sobbed Howard
| "Mr. CarrinQtonS going away for three
wears; and love him, and don't want
him o go and mammals gone, and every
body! Oh dear"
With laltering and astonshed voice,
turned to Philip for his explanation,
! With strange and digniiied demeanor,
( he answered evasively. "Howard is
excited, and makes great deal about
nothing
"Ain't you going y shouted Howard,
from behind the door, where he had hid
den to conceal his tears. AnXiously ]
, waited his reply, looking steadily at
| him.
"Yea. go on Wednesday, Miss Ruth.
Won't YOU give me your blessing, and as
many commissions as l can conveniently
execute in three years ~
| almost tainted, was so overcome
with astonishmcnt ard sorrow. Was
this my old Philip We were certainly
not engaged, but still we had loved each
other before Bessie died. Happily my
pride came to my assistance, and an
swered haughsily, "Thank you. can
nnrrhaen what I mad here -
With few atiectionate farewell words
to the children, he rose, and taking my
hand in his said Take care OF your
self, Ruth; when you need friend, think
of me. Good-by, and God bless you all
and hastily kissing little three-year- old
Ruth mot me), he was gone.
When the front door closed | few TO
my room, where no one can ever know
how suffered
But how my tide of recollections have
drifted me away from that unhappy
Wednesday, and my needlework! We
were Just seated at dinner, / with dis
heYelled hair and morning dress, for it
was showing hard, and | expected no
visitors, when Mabel CRrrington'S little
open carriage drove up, and she with her
sister Edith alighted. For a moment l
felt wickedly rcbellious, and wished l
was fashionable and rich, but soon for
got these inconsistent emotions in my
desire to touch up my appearance before
they should enter. But a little reflec-
tion induced me to conclude that |
would see them in my housewife garb.
They both rushed at me with such yehe-
meuce and affection that | was non
plussed, and really would have preferred
their statelincss.
my dear Ruth simpered Mabel,
"we are getting up tableaux for Satur.
day night, and you must form one of the
party we need you for several charac-
ters. Let me see what are they! Morn
ing, Noon, and Faith Now don't
shake your head; we have calculated
upon your lovely face, and certainly
shall expect you. Your sister has been
nobody will think strange of it," &c,
&C., &C., until in perfect desperation, l
promised to be present at the rehearsal
the next day.
knew full we'll that somebody had
failed them, and in an extremity they
had thought of me; still decided to go,
for felt impelled by strange force,
which could not explain, to enter the
Carringtons' house. wanted to see
Philips home.
was in a strange futter Of excitement
from Wednesday till Saturday. 1t was
not that feared my ill-success in the
personitication of the various characters
assigned to me, or that anticipated with
enthusiastic delight the fashionable and
uncongenial entertainment; but there
was that premonition Of looming
events
All! how often "they cast their
shadows before
The intervening days few by swiftly,
and with strange emotions l recognized
myself in the elegant mirror in "Miss
Esther's boudoir.n / was actually per.
mitted to dress in this fastidious lady's
room. The house was so immense tha
the amateur performers had ample &c
commodations, each young lady being
offered separate dressing-room. BY
| strange accident, or as it afterward
proved loving providence, Miss Carr
rington's charming little apartment wa
chosen for me. My coadjutors all bein.
well acquainted, preferred to arraag
their toilets merrily in trios, and quar-
tets, rather than be located alone.
had noticed when entered the room
a very old fashioned cabinet, occupyin;
an obscure corner, and looking decided
ly lonely, and out of place among its very
modern neighbors. Being extravaganza,
fond Of antiquities, | prepared for /
leisure examination of it during the long
intermission between my first and seconc
tableau. The top was glass; and under
meath were choice specimens of shells
which attracted my eye and attention sc
much that sat down and proceeded to
look them over, leaning unconsciously
against the side of the cabinet.
In doing so, | must have touched a
secret spring, for the whole panelled side
fell out, as the lid of desk when you
drop it to write upon, and letters, books
and papers were scattered around. | re-
placed all the articles, without glancing
at their wrappings, until picked up a
little box neatly tied, whose handwrit-
ing was 80 singularly familiar, that al.
lowed myself to read the signature;
Miss Ruth Sidney"
certainly that was my name, and this
package belonged to me indisputably. |
determined to open what l felt must be
mine. So, closing the parcel as best |
could, / undid, with trembling fingers,
the mysterious bundle. lnclosed was a
dainty white box, with few withered
flowers, and letter for me, the perusal
of which produced such mingled emo
tions that | cannot now tell whether Joy
or sorrow, love or anger, were the most
prominent. 1t was from Philip, reveal
ing his passionate love for me, and re-