The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-01-13
ly. I'm go and get her"
But he came back sulkilY.

didn't know 1t They're always gad-
ding about Have some maraschino or
Something?"
Cordial at this hour of the day?"
Tom protested, looking the soul OF
reassuring good nature and betraying
no excitement at the fact of Constance's
absence.
He even took up a newspaper
''He doesn't care" George unused.
gloomily. Maybe he isn't in love with
her after all"
And he sat and eyed his stalwart
friend, and thought what a good hus-
band he would have made for Con-
stance, and how blind and contrary and
exasperating they all were, and how
helpless he himself was to arrange mat
tiers as they ought to be arranged. lie
fell into unhappy silence.
HAS the cashier OF the Freesborough
bank really gone off with the funds?"
said Tom, with his handsome nose N
the paper. There's i ru:nOr to that
effect. Stewards his name. He's
rich enough anyhow. lie ought to
be -"
The bell rang again! It was Mrs.
Parfitt, looking pretty and pink
checked after the fresh air and as
blithc as though going TO the Carpen-
ters reception in her old beaded wrap
were not going to be a horrid neces-
sity.
''Oh, you, Tom?'' she cried, cordially.
II am so glad! Poor George is so
wretched with that cold, and you can
cheer him up.'
- don't need cheering up" said
George, huddling his shawl closer.
Where is Constance?"
''Conny?' said Mrs. Parfitt, brightly.
''Oh, we met Hugh Dudley in his cart
and he took Conny along with him.
What n stylish turnout he has,
Mrs. Parfitt unpinned her bonnet
''IIe did, did hep
Her husband twitched in his chair so
violently that his elbow knocked the
ginger tea cup to the floor. Tom picked
it up.
II wonder if that scamp has taken
the money-if it Will burst the banil?'
he said. Its shamer'
What banlk?" Mrs. Parftt ques-
toned
An animated discussion ensued. Mrs.
Pariitt knew the defaulting cashiers
daughter; Tom Danforth had known
his brother. George, who knew more
about him than either of them, con-
tributed nothing TO the conversation.
He leaned back and shut his eyes lie
confessed TO himself that he was en-
tirely out of temper; but he had-ccr-
tainly he had-ample cause for being
sO-ample dIstracting cause He even
began TO think about going upstairs 70
bed as q temporary escape from hIs al
fiictions.
And I'm sorry enough for Sally
Stewart There's COMFY said Mrs
Parfitt said she shouldn't be gone
long"
Constance came sweeping in. Her
stylish long dress trailed alter Aer
with fine effect Her light coat was
open and showed the whit silk vest of
her dress. Her little lat set back
prettily on her fair hai., which was
blown into many strayin" tendriIs.
George thought, with a mental
groan, that she had never looked SO
| lovely.
''Oh. Tom, you?'' Constance cried,
quite as Mrs Parfitt had done.
And then, not at all as Mrs Parfitt
had done, she gave him both her hands
and-it was no hallucination, it was n
fact-and let him kiss her.
She turned upon her cousin with her
blue eyes sweetly dewy.
do you like ii, George?'' she said.
"Are you glad? know You like Tom.
Aren't You pleased? We'd have told
you before, but we've only been en-
gagged week, and nobody but Kate
has known it so far"
And / thought l wouldn't blurt it
out" said Tom, standing. flushed and
bcaming. Il thought I'd let Conny
tell you, you know"
Are you two engaged?" George
roared. He sought vainly to get his
wife's eye. Then how about Hugh
Dudley"
Mr.. Dudley?'' said Constance,
vaguely. '-Oh. George! You haven't
thought that Hugh Dudley wanted me
or / him? Why, it's all about Grace
Quinby. They were engaged, you
know, and then they had some
ridiculous trouble or other; and Grace
and l have been so chummy ever since
I've been here that Mr.. Dudley came
right to me with IL. He's been here
two or three times to tell me things tC
tell her and I've told her all of them
for Grace was foolish and hasty, anC
it really wasn't Mr.. Dudley's fault al
all, and I've been anxious for them tC
make it up. And now they have. He
came this morning to get me to &c
there with him, and he met me on the
street and we went. And Grace began
to cry when she saw him, and l came
away and
Constance was sympathetically tear
full.
Wen never quarrel, will we, Tom?
she demanded, tenderly.
Tom strol1ed her hand.
''Kater' cried Mr.. Parfitt, sternly.
But his wife, laughing until her pinl
cheeks were red, slipped her han'
through his arm.
You're a dear good boy" sh'
avowed. land 1 was a mean, dreadful
girl to do it But, George, you wer
so cross about my jacket that / wante,
so-you're always a little cross whel
you're at home sick, you know-and
thought you'd know it so soon, any
how, and il was a temptation, and
I'm awful sorry" said Mrs Parfitt
pleadingly.
Where's my pocke tbook?'' sal
George. You shall have that jacket
/ meant you to all the time I'm over
joyed and rejuvenated and cured, ant
I'm going down to the office. e."-Waver
ly Magazine
PICKLEO PEPPERS.