The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-03-17
NUMBER IL.

blinds were fastened back, the parlor
was opened and busted. Miss Gene
We've was moving To and fro il her
best India silk gown, with a flower
pinned Enthusiastically in her hair.
round red spot glowed on each
cheek; her bony fingers trembled with
excitement as she Land down her spec
tacles-
Can you press over my leghorn hat,
Miss Seaman asked the beauty.
''Oh, my dear. I'm afraid not!' said
the little woman, with IA hysterical
laugh. Haven't you heard? I'm
TO be married very soon! Capt. Ed
ward Gleason-you may perhaps have
heard of him-he used TO be a resident
of Milltown-he has made a fortune. il
seems, in New York, and he is coming
back almost directly to-to claim an
old promise ! made him twenty years
ago. My dear, he has loved me
twenty years" Her eyes shone, her
voice faltered with the ecstasy of her
soul. And tomorrow he is coming
back TO me Oh. Miss Islay, il seems
almost like dream"
She laughed again. but her eyes were
full of tears. Isabel moved uneasily;
she was almost frightened at what She
had done. The joke did not seem half
50 jocose as it had at first, since poor
Miss Genevieve accepted it in such dead
earnest
She took advantage of the entrance
of a customer to slip out of the little
shop.
Girls" said she to her conspirators,
1--WE must tell her that it is only a
joke"
Tell heri" echoed Lucy FELTON,.
What for? She'll find it out soon
enough. She needn't have been such
silly, anyhow
1T will kill herr pleaded Isabel
No it won't. People don't die so
easily" laughed Lucy.
Heard the news about Miss Genny
Seaman" said Mrs. Webb at the
boarding-h house breakfast table the
next morning as she poured the coffee
and helped the eggs and bacon around.
Isabel looked guiltily up.
NO" said sle. What is it?''
Found dead IN her cheer" said Mrs.
Webb. "a smilin' as happy as a child
Some heart trouble, the doctor says "
Isabel drew a long breath. So she
had died and never knew how cruelty
she had been deceived She drew
Mary Crane and Miss FELTON, aside.
Girls" said she, you must never
breathe syllable Of this to any body.
Let the secret die with this poor little
woman"
but she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down her
checks, believing that her old sweet
heart was coming back TO her"
Yes, but that doesn't justify our
cruelty whispered Isabel And then
and there the three girls entered into
compact of sc crecy.
Miss Genevieve was buried in a shady
corner of the village cemetery, and on
the very day Of the funeral Isabel Islay
met tall, bearded stranger walking
along the street, scanning the houses
with keen, troubled eyes.
Can you tell me- said he, where
Miss Seaman lives-Miss Genevieve
Seaman
Isabel started.
Miss Seaman was buried this morn
ing" said she ''Ob, I'm so sorry, Was
she a friend of yours2''
They had stopped opposite the little
gate where the wheel tracks of the
hearse were yet visible. The sign
''Milliner and Dressm; kerr yet crealled
in the wind, the red sun was sinking
behind the low caves. and Miss Genny's
cat rubbed itself against the door sill as
if begging 10 be let in.
"A friendr' repeated the stranger. as
he drew an old-fashioned miniature
from his pocket. See, here is her
picture, I've waited all these years to
make a home for her and now-she Is
dcad.'
Isabel looked at the picture. Good
heavens had Genevleve Seaman looked
Is fair and dimpled and smiling as that?
And the thought flashed across her
mind that it was well that Capt. Glea-
son had not been undcceiyed. Yes
she repeated softly, ''she is dead"
And were you her friend?"
Yes, l was her friend-at least as
much as anyone here" falteringly
owned Isabel, feeling like an impostor.
Then perhaps you can tell me some
thing of her. ] wanted TO surprise her
and now"
His voice was choked, he turned his
face away.
Isabel told him. in a low, sweet voice
all that she could-au that was good
and cheering and hopeful-and Capt
Gleason went back to the village hotel
walking with his hands behind his
back, and his head dropping on his
breast.
For the time he truly mourned the
sweetheart of his youth, but no one
can grieve forever. Moss grows over
the fallen tree; violets bloom over the
new made grave. Poor Miss Genevieve
was dead and buried, and when the
next summer blossomed over the land
Capt. Gleason was married to Isabel
Islay.
''If death was really so near her, I'm
glad | wrote the letter that made her
happy" thought Isabel And Edward
will always think of her as young and
beautiful! But | never, never will play
another practical joke. Helen Hurst,
in Kansas City Times