Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-07

it. Tomorrow is the day promised
Mr.. Adlow to let him know. There it
all is, Ralph. Please don't think me
unwomanly in telling you this Our
relations have been unusual, because
OF those old-those dear old times, and
L feel towards you almost as l would
towards-towards brother"
"And am Ientitled to know how you
will answer?" asked, with thrill of
hope, for it was the first time 7 had
heard her speak tenderly of the "old
times"
Again she cast that strange, pene.
trating look at me, and replied:
al will write to him tomorrow, and
I will tell you how I have decided in
the evening""
All next day Grace kept her room,
and strolled alone. Her action puz-
zled me greatly. Why had she not ac-
cepted Adlow at once? Had she learned
something which made marriage with
him undesirable? Sometimes / felt
that had been weak in not declaring
my love in spite of Adlow, but l could
not make myself believe that she saw
anything but fun in our relations, l
roamed far, and without seeing Grace
again. conld not face the ordeal of
hearing that she had accepted Adlow,
and if she should tell me of refusal,
l feared that she would meet lightly
the confession that her boyish lover
was her lover still in manhood. was
weak-cowardly, but could not help it.
Late in the afternoon hurried back
to the house. Finding my uncle, 1
told him untruthfully. but excusebly,
perhaps-that / was called away by
business, and asked him to bid Grace
goodbye for me. He was man of few
words, and assented without comment.
l had previously obtained his permis-
sion to take some article from the old
cedar chest as memento, and / now
hurried up to the room to select one.
sat down upon the chest, fighting
my desire to call Grace from her room,
to tell her that our laughter over the
old times had, with me, changed to
love, and to beseech her not to marry
Adlow. But I conquered. Grace was
too noble, too just, to accept anyone,
even though soc might love him, in
this underhand manner.
l raised the lid of the chest and re.
moved the blanket, which was used as
a cover, when my eye caught sight of
an article which had not been there
before. Itwas letter newly addressed
and stamped. L took it up curiously,
and instantly was thrown into perplex-
ity. 1t was in Grace's writing, and
was addressed to Frederick AdIow-
the letter giving him her decision. I
plainly saw how it had happened. Hav-
ing written her acceptance, as believed
it to be, she had come into this room
to look through the chest, which had
been as interesting to her as to me,
and had accidentally left the letter
there. 1t was unsealed, and 1 stood
scorn, wild temptation to detain it.
l took step toward the door, with in
tent to call Grace, when heard hasty
footsteps coming.
She came in, anxiously, and found
me with the unsealed letter in my
hand. She paused in sudden confusion,
and |, distracted by the natural suspi-
cion to which the unsealed letter ex-
Tosed me, could only say
"Here is your letter, Grace"
"Have you read t?" she said quick
ly-a question she would not have asked
but for her confusion.
"Grace, said reproachfully.
"Please forgive me-" she cried, taxi
ing it from me. "Of course you have
not. left it here by mistake.
"And have Just found it. If you
will seal it will mail it as / go to the
train. am called away on business
Mr.. Adlow will be here SOON"
She had raised the envelope to iier
lips, but now stopped and looked at me
in that same peculiar manner.
"Ralph," she said, "Will you
She blushed and dropped her head,
but there was tone in her voice
which came as an interpreter of the
over which had so often puzzled.
l made two hasty steps forward,
paused doubtfully and asked:
"Will l never what, Grace?"
She looked looked up and l saw tears
in her eyes, but smile was breaking
behind them, and, dropping her head
again, she said softly and in her half
daring way
"Never be anything but my boyish
lover"
"Boyish," I repeated, new glad
light dawning upon my uncertainty.
I hurried to her and caught her hands
in mine. She let me have them and
yielded tremblingly as drew her over
and sat down with her on the old
cedar chest.
"Can it be true" cried, "that
your amusement was only meant to
hide--to hide"
'Just what yours was meant to
hide, wasn't it, Ralph" she interrupt
ed coyly.
"Yes, Grace, my love, which came again
as soon Us 1 saw you. But how easily
we might have missed each other"
'Indeed we might" she answered.
Then, in a moment, ooh, I'm so glad;
and tn think that this daar old cbas4