Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-02-11

ONCE at this present time to do-to
do some special correspondence. A
typewriter is so cheerless, cold, don t
you know, and if You'll be SO kind"
She realized perfectly well that all
this was mere excuse, but glance
at the empty teacups settled her.
"Thank you, if l can do it. When
do you need me?"
Tomorrow morning." came the
eager answer, as his eyes fairly shone
at the success OF his little ruse.
bright and early-no, not that, for
you aren't used to early rising. Any
time in the forenoon will do excellent
ly, and you mustn't dream of incon-
veniencin~ yourself The work will
be light, [ promise you, but as-as
it's so important, it will be great
favor to me-"
All this time he had been getting
into his coat, as though fearing that u
delay might ruin all his plans. He was
new at deceit, and the strain was max
ing him decidedly irresponsible. Be-
sides, he knew that she wanted to in
dulge in good cry, and all the way
up to the club he was lingering at his
crookedly- y-buttoned macintosh, while
his dinner went untasted as he remem-
bered the sad plate of waters off there
in the dingy boarding house.
He went to the office at daybreak
next morning to trump up some plans
for this mysterious correspondence,
which he had promised Mrs. Morley
awaited her dainty chirography. She
was early too, however, and he ground
his teeth in rage as he noted how pale
she was and how frequently she lifted
her white hands to her temples.
"The poor idarling's hungry" he
gasped, as he noticed that her step
was n little unsteady.
1t was onlya few minutes past eleven
o'clock, but he couldn't endure it any
longer, so he said, with great show
Of studied carelessness:
"Won't you do me the honor to go
out to luuch with me, Mrs. Morley?
Yes, I'll grant it's little early, but 1
don't like to be rushed, and I'll have
to get back before one. You know,
Todd, you're going out at one."
.
looked triae quizzled, for there
hadn't been a word said about lunch.
Moreover, the two men generally went
out together, and Orr fastened to ex.
plain this away by remarking, as he
thrust his arm into his topcoat:
"You know, Todd, that man Smith
may be here at any minute, and one
of us must see him."
Todd nibbled at his pencil to hide
grin, but fell IN Immediately at the
mention of this fictitious "man
Smith" and bravely kept down his
laughter till Orr had tenderly bundled
Mrs. Morley up in her scanty wrap
and had softly closed the door behind
them.
Orr insisted that he always lunched
at the ladies tea room, though Mrs.
Morley noticed that he had to ask a
man which was his floor. 1t was n
place where she had often come in her
good old. days of shopping, and,
without word, led the way to fur
ther corner and set her teeth to keep
back the tears. Afterwards she mar
veled how even woman can give her
self up to the baser occupation of
mere eating, but he was SO glad in
watching her that he couldn't touch a
morsel. All at once she noticed what
he was doing and n flush of shame
flew to her face. An answering, reas-
suring smile met her glance, and all
barriers of pretence between them
finally went down in an ignoble heap.
81 was so hungry" she faltered,
simply.
81 knew it," was his low reply. All
the reserve, the awkwardness of the
night before had left him, and at last
he was master of the situation. "You
were hungry last night, too, Ruth,
but you won't be ever again"
Her eyes fell slowly on her folded
hands, lying helplessly in the cloth
before her, but she said never a word.
He went on softly:
"Ihere Is no use in my telling you
that L love you. 1 told you so once,
and you know have never changed.
You wouldn't listen then, but the
mistake is all past now," and he laid
niS puilu ONeE Aer TWO llUUle lfelnDllnS
hands, while she lifted her tear
brimmed eyes to look out on the gray
scene before her-a tall, bleak wall,
through the rain-splashed window.
"When will you remedy that mis-
take, Ruth? Do not make us suffer
any longer for past blunder.
She was suddenly conscious of the
fact that he had slowly drawn off her
wedding ring, and a gasp of fear broke
from her lips; it hadn't been removed
since Mr.. Morley had placed it there,
one flower-laden June night five years
ago. Then the full purport of his words
came to her, and she was frightened
that he had let it go SO far.
"Don't," she sobbed. trying to re-
lease her hands. "This is too soon
he has been dead only six months ;
why did l not stop you long ago."
Because" laughed Mr.. Orr, hap
PLY, 'because your heart was prompt
ing you until your sense of propriety
came in to spoil it all. Other people
have been considered too long in our