The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-02-20
A MISUNDERSTANDING
Why Sylvia Told Her Escort She
Loved Another.

Loved Another.
''Going TO the literary to-night?''
Bob Denham nodded.
who are you taling?"
''Sylyia Merigold-"
''Oh!" said Reuben Bassett.
The single word was uttered so de-
spondently that Benham looked up aC
his cousin in manner half question
ing, half quizzical.
BIushing like girl Reuben met the
glance.
You seem 10 have, all the luck, Bob
Il don't think it's so much luck as
pluck" averred young Benham with a
laugh.
The mirth of Christmas was over. The
milder exhilaration of New Years Day
was alse a thing of the past. January
was cOr templating abdiG.tion in favor
Of February. The day was bitter and
brilliant. The glitter of the frozen
snow and the intense and cloudless
blue of the sky made ones eyes ache.
It was Saturday, and The main street Of
the little country town was crowded
with teams. saddle-horses and ponder
Gus farm wagons
just outside the post-ofiice-which
was also a general store-BenhaIn and
Bassett had met. They were typical
! young Western farmers, high-booted,
slouch-hatted, roUCghly-clad- But their
attire belied their prosperity. They
were singularly alike in appearance.
Both We're tall and heavily built Both
were beardless, and had the same reg
ular, if rather heavy features. And
both spoke in the same deep, quiet
voice. But while Benham's whole man
ner and expression indicated jaunty
| self-confidence. Bassett's were gentle 10
! the verge of timidity.
! Look here, Bob, - said the latter, sud
| denly, ARE you in earnest in that quar-
! ter?"
..Why?"
Only this: / had an idea you were
| engaged TO Lille Dix, that pretty little
schoolmarm back in Illinois,"
Yes" answered Bob, simply and
squaroly. Il am"
Then why" demanded Reuben, in
quick exasperation, are you taking
Sylvia Merigold around?''
For several reasons" avowed Ben
ham, promptly. in the first place she
is q nice little girl: in the second, the
Merigolds are our nearest neighbOrs: in
the third, she has no one but me TO take
her anywhere. Her folks don't want her
To go out with the Corey boys, and She
likes amusement. SO take her. But I'm
not in love with her and she's not in love
with me"
Reuben looked relieved, but not CON
vinced.
Does she know about Lillie?-
No, but I'd just soon she did. I'm
10 be married in the spring.
That SOP cried Reuben, with a de-
lighted smile.
They shook hands heartily.
80 you needn't trouble yourself TO be
jealous of me!' declared Bob, nodding
pleasantly. why in the world don't
you ask her to go 10 meeting and TO the
literary with you? 1 shan't stand in
your way"
''Oh, she wouldn'tr'
How do you know?"
''She never has a word to say 70 me-"
''As far as I've seen, you never have
word TO say TO her, You are dumb as an
oyster when you meet her. And 1 notice
you hardly ever ask her to dance. What
you need, Rube, is nerve!''
Reuben laughed, thrusting his hands
deep down in his overcoat pockets.
Perhaps sou
Tell you what" said Bob, suddenly
struck with an inspiration, ''you go 10
the literary tonight and take SYLVIA
II with gasp.
You! We can fix il in this way: I'll
call and tell her that l have to 90 10
Grassland tonight, and that you Will
take her in my stead. How's that?'
Reuben had grown radiant.
''Grand-for me. But She" stammer-
ing sadly, ''she wouldn't like it."
Try" suggested Benham, dryly.
Some further conversation they had
on the subject Then they separated.
And Reubens heart was lighter and
more hopeful than it had been for many !
a day.
The crowd melted away. The town
street was deserted. Dark and cold the /
night closed in When capped, coated !
and muffled Reuben Bassett jumped |
into his cutter and drove of in the di- /
rection of the Merigolds his pulses We're /
beating rapidly How would she re
ceiye himl Would she be angry and re-
fuse 10 go?
But Sylvia, calmly dressing in her own
little nest of a room up under the caves
OF the old farmhouse, had no thought of
being angry and no intention of refus-
ing to go.
Jingle! jangle! jingle!
She was just completing her toilet
when she heard the CHEEKY sound. She
stood on tip-toe and glanced at herself
in the mirror, a black-bound and ancient
piece Of furniture, which, truth to tell,
gave back a rather distorted reflection !
of the pretty young face consulting it.
But Sylvia was acquainted with its
pocUliarities and never unreservedly ac-
cepted its verdict. Now she nodded
gayly to the wavy countenance confront
ing her.
'.You look very nice, Sylvia" she
said.
She was trim and slim and dark
haired, with short curls clustering
around the white forehead, and bright,
sweet, 6rune little face. And in her
iress of crimson cashmere, all
with silver braid, she certainly
i'd look quite picturesque and charm
ng.
''SylviaT' called her mother
''Comingl' she cried
She pulled on her jacket, tied on her
'hite zephyr hood, and catching up her
lIttens ran down the steep stairway to
be kitchen. Ten minutes later she
as out beside the sleigh, where, in an
gony OF difiidenee and delight, Reuben
asset waited. He sprang out, helped
eF in Then the team trotted brisl1lv
n.
Jingle! jangle! jingle
There was no other sound for awhile.
cub felt himself relapsing into his
'uaI nervous silence. He made a
! rolc attempt at conversation.
II Is beautiful night" he said J
ms voice sounded husky and strange /
himself This was his first drive.
81 real tete-a-tete with the girl he
we'd. :
: IS itI she cried, with silvery laugh.
Vow think it's rather cold and
rk?' .s----.--...ss. :. I
ms was rather discouraging. What, c