Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-01-01
SELINA'S TROUSSEAU.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.

and gsve glad exclamation, "Oh, Har-
ley" and walked on with him in gay
contentment, the state of affairs which
caused the proceeding being just what
was indicated Katy was engaged to
Harlan Chapman.
''This Just came" she said, holding
aloft long package. 'lts from Aunt
Ann, and | know it's sugar-spoon-I
feel it; and Selma has got two already
ono from Cousin lothian and one from
Uncle Sam. Also, to wit-two lamps
and three clocks. We're looking for the
third lamp and the fourth clock every
minute"
Katie looked up at her tall lover with
her charming blue-eyed, bright-compleX-
ioned face radiant with the fun and good
nature never absent from it.
When Harlan Chapman, whose family
was one of the best and the best off in
town, had engaged himself to Katy Glib
son, whose father was only an inditler
emily successful millwright, his dignitied
relations had shaken their heads till
they had seen Katy Gibson. Then they
had stared little, smiled, beamcd,
patted her on the head, and congratu-
lated Harlan.
81 can't realize it, " said Kitty, with a
sisterly sigh, "that day after tomorrow
Selma will be Mrs. Mclean and be 60
ing to West Lyme to live. Oh, dear, but
she will. Almost everything's done
the cake and the dish borrowing and the
goodness knows what, l know my
heads in muddle. And it's this after
noon, you know, Harley" said Katy,
giggling again, ''that we're going after
Selina's trosseau."
Selina's trosseau had been a joke of
long standing. With one exception
every article of Selina's modest little out
fit had been made by her own busy
hands, or by Kitty's or her mothers will
ling ones.
The exception was the simple blue
cloth gown which would serve double
duty as bridal robe and travelling gown.
That Selma had intrusted to Miss Green.
Miss Green's unpretentious shop was
two miles away, and the Gibsons had
never known horse and buggy. There
lore, Harlan Chapman, who owned
three horses and two buggies, had taken
his prospective sister-in-law thither as
often as fitting was necessary, with
Katy always Jolly third. And he and
Katy had wrurg unlimited fun out of
it,
They called it Selina's trosseau, never
referring to it otherwise. They spoke OF
Miss Green as Worth, and supposed
Selina's trosseau to be valued at thous-
and dollars. They dwelt upon the diff
Guilty of getting it through the custom
house, and of the many descriptive col
umns which the New York papers would
wish to publish about it, and of the an
noyance certain to be suffered through
greedy and clamoring reporters. They
rung the changes mirthfully, and Selma
had laughed till she was lame.
you're going to take me up for it
this afternoon, you know, Harley" said
Katy.
And she looked up at her lover with a
sudden little gasp.
Harley hadn't uttered syllable vet.
WHATS the matter, Harley2" she
marveled.
"There's matter enough, Miss Glib
son" said her lover, shortly, and Katy's
heart stood still
When had he ever called her Miss Glib
son before2
He was handsome fellow. And now
his fine eyes were stern under their
straight, dark brows, and his we'll CHS
eled lips were firmly set.
"What is it, Harleyln said Katy, in a
voice made feeble by dismay.
81 saw you last night, then" said her
lover, land I'd like to know where you'd
been with Joe Martin | saw you, | tell
you'll
Katy raised blank face.
tln Ill.
Harlan burst forth Il know he was
going with you before | cut him out, and
that he's been grumpy toward me ever
since. Eyerybody's known that every
bodys known it was fair and square
deal, too. wanted you and told you so,
and you chose to take me; and thought
my troubles were over when you told me
you could never love Joe Martin, and
you'd told him so; and you did care for
me, and you'd be true to me always"
If Katy had listened to the thrill of
fondness and yearning in his voice,
But what she heard was the accusing an
ger in it, and her guiltess heart re-
belled
'What | didn't know was that YOU
hadn't got over liking him. | trusted
you. believed what you said, and I'd
never nave suspected you of keeping on
win MN to amuse yourself or make
1901 OF me-or goodness knows what
you're afterm
.'Harlan" said Katy, warningly
Her eyes were bright with indlgna.
tion.
''Going out with him in the EVENING
is keeping on with him, said her lover
sternly. 'lsaw you together last night.
Did /, OF didn't L"
In his cold displeasure he was whole
leagues away from her, and Katy's chin
went up, the brightness of her ewes in
creasing to a flash.
"You might have She answered
calmly.
A hot flush rose to Harlan's check
lie had to steady his voice Letore he
spoke.
81 won't ask you where you had beer
or anything about it. ! won't humble
myself to that extent. Oh, don't sus
pect you of much! | suppose he begge'
you to take walk with him littl
ways and talk ever old times, and | sup
pose you hated to say no and went, and
suppose | might have heard all you said
But don't like it 1t was no way t.