Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-03
for obvious reasons "Beauty Mordaunt. .

1
brought her to her present home. Ant
Jack adored the child openly, but shyly
concealed, or thought he did, the pas
sionate love he felt for her mother. I'm
Gle Jerry guessed his secret, and one day
said to him suddenly: "Women dom
like dumb lovers, man. If you want her
speak out. You have my consent full
and free"
So on this hint, which half kindled a
hope, Jack tried to speak one balmy twi
light when he happened to be on her bal
cony alone with his adored, while Lily
wrapped in warm shawl, slept on q
rustic bench. "There was a man," he
began, breaking short silence that
had fallen between them and speaking
in constrained tone that told his lis.
tener of a depth of feeling below the
commonplace words, "a man who'd nev-
er had anybody to care for him since his
father and mother died, when he wasn't
much more than baby, and left him to
be looked after or not, just as it hap
pened."
Poor little laddiei What became of
him?"
HE was sent to boarding school while
the money lasted. Then that went, Just
as orphans money generally does go,
and the fellow was left to shift for him
self. He had rather rough time for a
while, but he came out west and struck
luck In prospecting before he was very
DID,"
"Oh, is he oldf" said the listener
blankly.
"Oh, no, not really, but he feels kind
of old. and forlorn sometimes, when he
hears other fellows talking about their
mothers and sisters and-wives," he fin
ished very softly.
"Poor fellowl" said Daisy pitifully.
"Yes, heis poor kind of fellow" pur-
sued Jack humbly, with no education
or bringing up or anything to recon-
mend him to a woman except just a
whole heart full of love for her, and
and-oh, Mrs. Lane, it's myself Pm talk
ing about, and l know | can have no
chance with you." And poor Jack, in
an agony of shame and fear that his
avowal had lost him even the merest toll
Grafton from the lady of his love, rushed
from the room. If he had been COM
posed enough to take one look, he might
have gathered hope from the bright
blush that suffused Daisys face and the
tender. happy light that sprang to her
eyes.
The beautiful color had not left her
face before Mordaunt's soft, we'll modu-
lated voice at the door sought permission
to leave for Lily pretty scented grass
cradle of Indian manufacture. made
from drawing of my own, he told Mrs
Lane with smile that brought out all
the uncommon beauty of his face. Daisy
resisted an impulse to decline his gift
because it would be such pleasure to
Lily, so she thanked him prettily and ex-
pressed her admiration for the ingenious
toy. Then the conversation drifted on
till at last he mentioned Jacks name,
looking steadily at her as he did SO and
catching u look of interest that infuri-
ated him. Jack seems very solemn
lately, but that's natural for fellow sit
uated as he is"
why, what's the popularity of Mr..
Dinsmore's situation?"
"Oh, ha. ha! Haven't you heard. And
thought you were such friends"
Heard what2 | really don't know
what you are talking about"
"Well, if Jack hasn't told you himself,
| don't know that have any right to-"
laughed 1.-THE beauty" But every one
knows that he's entangled some way
with one of the girls over at the fort.
Some of the boys guess he's married to
her. know he sends her money often"
Then, having planted the seeds of mis-
chief, he bowed himself out.
AS he left the little parlor he muttered
to himself: "Alls fair in love and war,
and this will be both if Jack doesn't keep
his ugly face out of my way. I'll have
that woman if | have to go through sea
of lies, and it's well struck in time. for
she looked pretty haggard when I told
that yarn. wonder if she's idiot enough
to care for that fool of fellow when
there's better men round" He had not
thought him fool once when he staid
behind their party at the risk of his life
to spend days and nights nursing him
through a brain fever, but one forgets
favors in love and war. Then in pur-
suance of his tactics he sought an early
opportunity of putting thorn in his
rivals side.
Don't the course of true love run
smooth, eh?" he said moclingly at their
next meeting.
81 don't understand"
You're conveniently stupid, old boy.
Well, never mind, was a little soft that
way myself till | found out in time by
great good luck that wasn't first on the
field"
Jack turned very red, wondering for
one wild moment if he was thought to
be the fortunate one who had made the
innings. The next remark enlightened
him. IA pretty woman like that doesn't
go long without some one getting a
mortgage on her. Daisy Lane was en-
gagged before she came out here. It's SO,
but please don't speak of it yet" 1t was
true, as Mordaunt said to himself, and a
huge joke, for of course she was engaged
before she was married, as poor Jack |
might have guessed if he had not been
too crushed by the blow to see the point
Of such wit.