Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-26
A SINGULAR EPISODE.

A MEMBER OF STOCKINGS MENDs HER FOR
TUNEs-THE NEAREST cRoss-RoAD TO A
| MANS GOOD GRAcEs.
Frank glanced over the story, then be.
gan at the beginning. He found it q
vivid pen-and-ink picture of himself and
his surroundings. There could be no
mistake. The description of his rooms
were minute, from the couchant lions on
the andirons to the clock on the mantel-
piece, with Boadicea driving in her char
lot, one of the wheels of which was the
dial plate Even the pattern of the car
pet and the inotfensive necktie he had
maltreated were mentioned
The hero of the story was named
Oliver Langley. He was a peculiar
character. His personal description tai
lied with Franks exactly. The fine
lights and shades of character, the things
bad and good which he knew about him
self, but supposed them unknown to any
one else, were described on paper with a
minuteness that was startling.
The hero of the story was q good
looking bachelor, who had been angled
for and flattered by women until, as u
natural consequence, he rated them as
about the easiest procurable luxuries on
the footstool, and made up his mind that
marriage in his case would be rendered
failure by its cloying sweetness.
But something unexpected happened.
A professional repairer of clothing came
to his rooms during his absence to put
his wardrobe in order. She was young
woman, with plain face, too thin by far
for good looks, nose long and unclassical
and pale, gray eyes. But her mouth,
that was expressive and seemed made to
invite the kisses out of which the upper
part of her face was likely to cheat her.
Then her voice was full of sweet vibra-
tions and her figure was good, though no
one ever noticed it, because her dresses
were ill-fitting. She had no accomplish
ments, unless her genius for mending
might be accounted one. She was de-
lighted to get hold of garments suffering
for the " stitch in time" and she was
elected to put Oliver Langley's wardrobe
in high state of repair.
One day this fastidous gentleman,
who would have turned up his nose at the
Queen of Sheba, said his lady friends,
came home unexpectedly in the middle
of the afternoon to find the mender
seated on low stool with one of his
stockings stretched over her hand, darn
ing leisurely and smiling as she darned,
as if pleasant thoughts kept her com
pany.
lie stood a few minutes unobscrved by
her, wondering how she could look so
happy over such commonplace work, for
the smile lighted her face wonderfully.
When she did look up she neither started
nor blushed, bat met his eyes with a level
glance as if he were the most ordinary of
men instead of an appalling heart
breaker. When she spoke her voice
charmed him; he, the fastidious, grew
interested in her, found she was alone in
the world, liked her better on that ac-
count and finally married her quietly and
took her abroad. Her possibilities un-
folded. Well-titting garments defined
her exquisite form. Her face seemed to
undergo "a transformation. She became
woman who, if not strictly beautiful,
was striking and fascinating.
All would have been well had she been
less demonstrative. Her first reserve
wore off. She had no eyes nor ears for
the admiration of others. She centered
her whole life upon him. Being gen
tleman he concealed his bored feelings
from her, and her own affection might
have blinded her permanently had sh,
not overheard him express his dissatis
faction in confidence to a male friend
His words fairly paralyzed her for mo
ment.
81 am cloyed, disgusted with so much
sweetness. | want wife who will starye
me into hot pursuit of her. Eloise is toe
devoted. She fairly stiles me-"
That and more she heard made up hel
mind on the instant She left the hous,
secretly within an hour, and when he
sought her he found instead brief note
quoting the words she had overheard Will,
1t tried to conceal the singing wound tc
her pride
t The story run that for a long time h,
could lind no clue to her whereabouts
, At length bright particular star" ros,
, upon the literary world. He sought n,
{ introduction and found that the brillian
writer was his wife, who had fought he
, way to success against terrible odds
But she was cold and unapproachabl,
: and he sued for pardon only to be re
pulsed. Whether she ever unbent tn,
reader was left to guess as in the case O
the Lady and the Tiger"
Frank was taken aback by the peculia
mingling of fact and fancy in the story
The writer had her finger upon chapte
of his life. Only one woman could hav
written it. He must find her, and tina
without delay. For two years she ha