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

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at another girl since got your promise?
Mo- and | never would have. You've
no such notions, though. You suit
yourself and Joe Martin. You've shown
that you don't care straw for me or my
rights or my fcelingsr'
They stood at the Gibsons' gate. Katy's
cheeks were pink, her hands tremulous
with the shocked resentment she could
not keep back. But she forced herself
to say:
"Harlan-why, Harlan do you be
lieve that?"
''Believe it," said Harlan Chapman
severely. 'Do believe my own eyes and
your own admission? Believe ito
They stood hotly facing each other
for an instant.
'You will excuse me from my engage
ment with you this afternoon, will you
not;' the young man demanded, stitily.
and from all other engagements
all!' his sweetheart flung back, and
turned and ran into the house.
'Why didn't Harley come inN said
Salina, busy with some last button holes.
"He'll--never-come in-again" her
pretty sister sobbei, burying herself in
the sofa-cushion.
Harlan Chapman stalked home and
ate his dinner, and sat down on the
porch and read an article about trout
fishing in late magazine.
He read it thoroughly, examining the
illustrations attentively, and striving to
CLEAN all possible information. But
/ when he had reached the tail-piece he
somehow felt that he knew less about
trout than about any other fish, flesh or
I fowl, under the sun.
He tossed the magazine from him. 1t
slipped from the porch into the petunia-
bed, but he did not bestir himself.
There was no use in pretending, and so
he gave it up.
He could think of nothing but Katy
Gibson-Katie Gibsonl
Funny how she had grown into his
life till this breaking with her made him
feel like balloon sailing off alone from
the face of the universel Queer what
habit could do!
He tried to quiet his singing sensa-
tions with such like philosophical mus
ings. But, makicg dismal failure of it,
he got up and strobe up and down the
porch.
He did not feel like conquering hero
exactly He knew he ought to. He had
been hghtly-nay, wretchedly--treate
/ by the girl Of his heart. He had con-
| fronted her with his knowledge of it,
and she had defantly admitted it.
Hence she was the girl of his heart no
longer; perfectly plain case-plainer
than pleasing.
The young man fell, inconsequently,
-. 4, ,,,t. oh i l.,
which one particular grimacing laugh
of Katy Gibson's always produced
/ Catharine Eleanor Gibson! He had
been used to fancy how that would look
on their wedding next winter.
HIM! How about Selina's trousseau,
anyhow? How would she get it? 1t
would make rather a balk, that. He
had promised Selma to see it through
and he had backed out, and it was rather
rough ON Selma.
Really, he hadn't anything against
| Selma. 1t was Katy, of course, and in
strict justice Selma ought not to suffer
by Katy's shortcomings.
He was wandering down the steps
when that conviction forced itself upon
him. He thought he would drive up
and get Selina's trousseau, anyhow. He
didn't see how he could decontly get out
of doing that much.
He put in the horse with alacrity By
the time he had done it he was quite in
the spirit of the thing 1t was more
than he ought to do, anyhow He
drove out of the yard at a rattling trot.
1t seemed odd not to have Katy with
: him-not to see her pretty, straight little
{ profile against the dark-blue carriage
lining, and her yellow hair.
He congratulated himself that his
shortest route was not past the Gibsons'.
His horse would be sure to turn in there ;
he did so usually of his own accord.
Here was the lot where he had once
stopped to get wild-roses for her; here
was the house she always declared was
top heavy.
oh, well, things would remind him of
her, of course, for some time yet That
was natural. And Miss Green's chimney
was in sight.
Miss Green was watering her window
plants. Mr.. Chapman was familiar fig
urc now, and she nodded smilingly.
"Selina's trousseau" said Harlan,
eagerly SIS it ready"
"What?" said the dressmaker.
"Oh, Miss Gibson's dress, you know r'
said the young man, blushing. "That's
what we've called it, you know"
Miss Green laughed.
~ see. Well, it went just about
twenty minutes ago. Miss Gibson's sis
ter came and got it"
ooh - said Harlan, with several emo
tions distinct in his voice.
He went stihly back to his buggy.
SO Katie had tramped away up here
and got it, without giving him ghost
/ of chance to do it himself, as she
ought to have known he would if she
let it alone2
What. nonsense to take fourmile
tramp for nothing when she knew he was
always ready and willing! What was he
thinking of, though! He had been ready
and willing, but he remembered that all
that was changed. She had been wont
to command him prcttly. Would she
ever again!
A plague on Joe Martin and his imper-
tlnence, anyhow, to have interfered in .
the happicst affair the sun had ever
shone on! Without doubt that had been
his object eXactly-to undermine things
by sly degrees and win for himself the |
girl he had once sued to vainly.
Harlan's heart bounded at that. Yes, /.
vainly Joe Martin had done his humble
level best, and failed, and he had won
the dear prize he had sought.
And she was a prize The sweetest
girl in town, and the brightest and the
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