Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-15


to fall so desperately in love with Oc-
tavia Mockbee was mystery, seeing
there were plenty of other girls quite
as pretty, and with more amiahle dis
positions around the village ofiHills-
dale.
However, love is proverbially blind
to all defects, and though Octavia
was as heartless as one of the marble
Bacchantes at Forest Park, she was
really very attractive-looking, with
her red lips and Spanish black eyes.
And as Jerome Meadowgay was con-
sidered quite an eligible match among
the bellies of Hillsdale, the course OF
his love seemed to drift placidly along,
and bid fair to run in a smooth chan
mel for time-until Ferdinand Foth.
ergill appeared upon the scene. Then
everything was changed.
Mr.. Fothergill was an insurance
agent, and made plenty of money; at
least he spent it plentifully, which
amounts to the same thing as far as
appearances are concerned.
4 He was dashing young man, with
sharp gray eyes, and whiskers cut a Ia
Vandyke.
He wore seal-ring, dangling gold
watch chain and the finest of broad
cloth attire. - And as Octavia Mockbee
was one of those persons who are
caught by superficial attractions and
outside glitter, she straightwvy gave
Jerome Meadowgay the cold shoulder.
| The forty-acre farm, well stocked
and timbered, with it's snug cottage,
Gothic-roofed and covered in spring
with clambering hop vines and Vir-
ginia creepers, whereof Jerome had
hoped to make her the mistress of
compared to the prospects offered by
the dashing city dude, soon ,dwindled
into insignificance.
And in spite of all opposition, Octa-
via determinedly took her fate into
her own hands and made no secret of
the fact that she was 'off with the old
love, and on with the new"
Seeing that she was determined to
follow her own course, Grandma
Mockbee and Aunt Adaline decided to
give her a respectable wedding, at
least.
'1t's the best we can ,do fur her, :"
sighed the grandmother. '.A willful
girl must have her own way; but if
she lives to repent, itwon't be laid to
our charge"
And so the wedding drew,near, and
there was whisking of eggs and baking
of cakes, to say nothing of dress
making and clear starching, within the
old Mockbee homestead.
The prospective bridegroom had
gone on collecting tour which would
detain him till the eve of the wedding
day, and the morning before the aus
picious event arrived.
Octavia was trying the effect of a
pale pink necktie against her creamy
complexion; Amt Adaline was basting
the box pleats in a silver gray poplin
that was to do dulty as ''second day"
dress Grandma Mockbee was thread
ing the laces in French corset, over
which the wedding gown was to be
tried on.
Margie alone was idle, having re-
fused to lend any assistance whatever
toward the coming festivities.
81 shall not help to injure poor
.Jerome!' she declared, with curl
ing lip.
'Poor Jerome, indeed !" mimicked
Octavia, sneeringly.
She was about to add some stinging
remark, when a scream from the dress
maker, Miss Martha Phipps, drew
every eye in her direction.
"Oh, Miss Mockbee- Octavia-look
here! L don't understand it. Maybe
it don't mean him, though.
'Dear me, what fuss you are max
ing Miss Phipps!" cried Octavia, i'm
patiently. Cant you tell what the
matter is, or have you lost the use of
your tongue?"
Miss Phipps resented the caustic
speech with toss of her head.
"No, haven't lost the use of my
tongue, she responded, spitefully--
''nor my eyes, either, or L wouldn't
have spied this notice in the Poplar
Bluff Gazette It's the marriage Ii
cense of Ferdinand Fothergill, Hills
dale, and Miss Amy Cotterill, of Pop
lar Bluff +"
cts lie p shrieked Octavia, evil
IDENTIFY verging on Mysteries. 81 don't
believe word of it p
'It's right here in black and white"
asserted'Miss Phipps. holding up the
paper.
And at that very moment letter
WAS brought by special carrier, ad-
dressed to Octavia.
She tore'it open and read:
Dear Miss Mockbee-Owing to the hard
times and business reverses. l regret TO saw
that find myself unable to support a wife.
Under the circumstances L cannot afford TO
marry for love alone, and. therefore, give
you back your freedom, and hope you will
soon forget that there ever was such per-
son as Ferd1nand fothergtil.
"Three years since went away.
bachelor forlorn," laughed Jerome
Meadowgay, as he strobe along toward
the Mockbee farm and turned his
steps toward the old stile at the foot
of the lane.
I