The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-09-25
WHITE MITTENS.
by JOHN ALBEE.

only two actors on the narrow stage
which is set with rustic scenery.
There are road, trees, and in the
distance water. This latter looks as
if intended for the sen. There walk
along the road toward the sen a young
man, tail and stalwart, and a young
woman, also tall and of very slight
figure. Her eyes and hair are dark,
and her features are somewhat too
sharp for II handsome face. Her
name is Rebecca Champernown. She
is the last descendant of a very ancient
and famous family, whose pride is al
most her only inheritance. No one
could have believed that she would
fall in love with fisherman least OF
all her mother. But so it has hap
pened. She loves Reuben Gage, cap
tlin of the fishing schooner Anna
Sheafe, and they walk together and
meet ms often as they Gun find oppor-
tunity.
As Reuben and Rebecca walk along
the road they do not appear to talk
much. She seems cold and distant,
but in her heart is fire OF love that
burns more fiercely the more she re-
presses it. And she is obliged to re-
press it. for Reuben is shy, awkward
and Indemonstrative. Yet in some
way, perhaps by her womanly intui-
tions, she has discovered his great
manly, affectionate nature. They
have now been intimate n whole year,
and every one supposes them lovers
and probably engaged, but in fact
they have never yet exchanged n word
of love. Reuben has often been on
the point OF speaking, but the right
words failed him and something arose
in his throat that choked utterancr.
And Rebecca has waited, eager,
little impatient at times, and at others
almost tempted to speak out herself.
That, indeed, is just what is needed;
she is conscious of 1t, and yet-"How
can II" she asks herself. Then she
goes home from her interviews with
Reuben to her room and cries until
her eyes are red and swollen, and her
mothers reproaches follow, aud make
her life so wholly miserable that she
wishes herself dead. She RECEIVERS
herself in day or two; looks for
ward with longing to their next meet
ing, which is always timed by his re-
turn from his fishing trip, aud thinks
matters between them will surely he
settled. She longs for something to
happen that will decide the question.
But she is not going to give up Rsub.
en-; no, her heart is unalterably fixed
and If she dies IN old maid her uifsc-
ton can never decline.
Reuben is equally pcrplexed in his
simple mind; he is sure of only one
thing, that is the state of his own feel
ings, but he is not yet able to decide
whether Rebecca loves him. He
would like n sign, something, how
ever slight, that would show him
where he stood. Men are always long
ing for this sign, some token, not
words, but more certain, more signii-
icant, something to treasure and re-
member as long as they live.
OF lnte he has been unlucky on his
fishing trips in the Auna Sheafe, n
small vessel which he commands aud
of which he owns one quarter. After
the vessei's expenses were paid there
has been little to divide among the
owners. The winter was coming on
and with it the hazardous and often
Improbable business of trawlinp.
He met Rebecca less and less often.
Somehow without money in his pocket
he could not enjoy 50 much being with
her, felt less nun aud an inequality
he could not explain. Then it was,
however, that he discovered the depth
of his attachment. His companions
noticed 1t aud rallied him about it,
and behind his back expressed them
selves in the customary village slang
and gossip.
'There's no more fish in the sea for
Reub, they said. He is getting his
line on dry hud, ovor at the Cham
pernowns; pretty dry it is. Small
catch there; a big name and NOT