Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-09-18

r oof Mr.. Graham found Caroline and
George holding an earnest CONVERSE
tion. He looked surly and defiant,
and she was mad, but very much in
earnest. The janitor turned away,
but Caroline called to him: "Come
here, father, and hear what | said to
George"
"You had better fight it out your
selves, Mr.. Graham said, uneasily, as
he drew near them.
There is no fight, father. l gave
George his engagement ring because l
cannot marry mau that is not gen
tleman. He acted very rudely to Mr..
Henderson and made me very uncom-
Portable. He would make me
ashamed of him all my life, and I
broke the engagement.
"What have you got to say, George"
asked the ianitor.
81 won't have another man courting
the girl that's engaged to marry me-"
"You know very well that Mr..
Meigs comes up here only for smoke,
and because it's cool. In winter time
he will not come so often.
George held the ring on the tip of
his finger few minutes, and then
with a determined air went to his
work in the hot boiler room.
Henderson continued to visit the
Grahams daily, and when Caroline met
him she was cordial and unembar-
rassed. He soon noticed that her ring
was missing, and he began to ponder
the pl obability of her letting him put
another one on her finger.
One rainy day his business took him
to an Office on the top floor of a tall
building not far from that in which he
was employed. While there he saw
Caroline sitting under the tent in the
roof garden. When he returned, the
elevator boy stopped the car as usual
at the third floor, but Henderson ex-
claimed, rather impatiently: "All the
way up"
him, and was for a moment painfully
embarrassed. What had occurred? He
could not guess, but he improved his
opportunity, and in few words told
the story of his love.
'It isn't fair" she said, recovering
herself
"Why?" he asked, surprised at such
a reception of proposal of marriage.
Because" she could get no
further.
81 love you," he said. ever since
that day You saved my life I've been
getting deeper in love with you"
"That's Just it," she exclaimed.
''You wouldn't"
Her words stuck in her throat again.
He stared at her moment, and then
CLEAN of intelligence shone in his
eyes.
"You mean if it had not been for
that should not have loved you?"
eyes, )" she said, family.
With feeling that his case was hope
less because it needed argument to sup
port it, he set about to explain how his
affection had grown. 1t had begun with
gratitude and developed into love as
he knew her better. 1t was SO deep and
, strong and admiring, as if it had come
q from daily association, and not with
, such an impetus as it had been given.
, But she would not be persuaded.
! '1t seems to me-" she said, slowly,
, HS IL YOU tuouSHJ you luusb
81 do, he said, earnestly. 81 must,
because l love you, and will be most
unhappy if you do not love me-"
81 don't, and / am sorry you feel
bad about it.
She was as simple and straightfor-
ward ms a child, and with sigh he con-
fessed to himself that it was useless to
plead further. Yet he fumbled for
words to express to her clearly that he
was making no offer of himself rs pay
ment of an obligation incurred by him
when she saved his life, and that he
really loved her.
"Please don't say anything more,
Mr.. Meigs. Let lis forget about it, and
you must come up here as usual. We
shall always be glad to see you, and it
won't ever be as-as uncomfortable as
it was that day George acted SO
rudely."
ooh !" said Henderson, seeing, as he
thought, an opportunity to show him
self to her in a favorable light, 'He
came in the other day and apologized
like man for his rudeness. There
were lot of people in the office, but
he spoke loud enough for them all to
hear him. 1 was surprised, but l
shook hands with him and told him
not to mention it at all He seemed
very glad and We parted good friends. t"
AS he spoke light shone from Caro-.
lines eyes Illuminating her counte.
nance as its glow deepened. When he
ceased she was gazing out over the
bay, gray in the mist through which
steamers and tugs and ferry boats crept
cautiously. For moment she seemed
unconscious of Hendersons presence,
then she turned to him and said,
frankly:
81 was afraid George was not gen.
tlemen, but now believe he is one. l
suppose he couldn't help being jealous. "
Henderson could not find an apt
reply, and after a few minutes of
awkward conversation took his de-
parture.
The next time he met her she was