Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-26

s;s,s g s;i,.ss VI ing my presence in
Ssis,;, ~ sS;s,ssg II 49, the library?
And then de-
lightell, blisfal Selling shot through
me. staggered for moment like
one Observation-Disclosures with nv
own happiness. 7 said to myself a
few minutes since that if I could but
detect the portrait ON which Miriam's
attention had been fixed / would be
master of her secret.
Was that SO? had found the por-
trait. Had it really made nee the
master of her secret?
paused as put to myself the oues
ton, and drew deep breath. Then
l strove TO answer it with other aues-
tions. The master of her secret Was
that secret love and was it love for
me?
Yes, I felt sure of it. What other
answer could there be? She had loved
me all along. She had "let conceal
ment, like worm in the bud, feed on
her damask cheek" l was in the
seventh heaven of delight. Mine,
after all, would be the privilege of
breathing that potent word which
would start my Galateu into life.
l descended to the drawing room
and found that not only had the argu-
ment ended, but that irascible old
Mowbray had departed-and, of
course, Miriam had departed with
him.
"rhe old bear!" I exclaimed.
"That's the arimal he is, and not an
artichoke. He would be libel on the
vegetable kingdom! By Jove, Miriam
must have lively time of it, one way
or the other. / must change all that
by and by"
Was already beginning to regard
her as my wife, and was mentally en-
gagged in the prospective duty of clip
ping my fatherin-law's wings, when u
hand was softly thrust into my arm,
and, waking from my dream, l saw
the bright eyes of Kate looking up
into mine. They were usually dancing
with mlschievous light, but they
were serious now.
"Well, Bob," she asked, show did
you get on? Have you said anything
to Miriam? You have given me the
right to ask you, you know"
'To tell the truth, Kate, 1 have
scarcely spoken two words to her."
ooh, then L was not guilty when l
came upon you in the library of inter
rupting an avowal. ] felt very un-
comfortable at that time, for Miriam
looked awfully conscious and still
more awfully scarlet, and you looked
well, L don't know how you looked,
Bob. 1t was sort of expression
shall I say?"
"Please, Kate.
"Well, it was the sort of expression
you would expect to find on the face
of o man who had Just picked up a
parcel and wasn't quite sure what was
inside"
laughed.
"Your keen eyes don't miss much,
Kate. You have guessed somewhere
near the truth. When you came upon
mo in the library l had made dis.
covery, but it was only partial dis
coverY. l had found out that Miriam
Mowbray was. greatly interested in q
portrait. l could net al the time make
out whose it was. I have since ex-
tended my knowledge. T."
| "Well?" she asked eagerly.
"Now, Kate" I said, teasing her,
"that's where tho curiosity of woman
comes in. You are as bad as the rest
of your sex, declare. OF course you
are burning with curiosity to know
whose portrait it was-contess now p
"Indeed, sir, am not. 1 keep my
curiosity for better things. My wo.
mans wit is not 60 sluggish thnt it has
not already guessed your mystery"
"Ha! ha!" laughed. "You think
so, I'll forgive you if you have. Here,
I will tear this sheet from my pocket
book. Oblige me by writing upon it
the name of the person"
''In whose portrait Miriam was in,
terested?"
"Precisely."
She took tho paper and pencil !
handed to her and wrote upon it q
name.
She gave me back the pencil, but
not the slip of paper.
"Am I not to hold the paper?"
asked.
You shall see it," she answered,
folding it tightly up, "nfter you have
shown me the portrait.
"Very well, Miss Distrustful,"
said.
est was Miss Curiosity just now
You nre partial, Bob, to calling peo
pie hard names. You are as bad a
the rest of your sex, I declare" sh
said, partly turning the tables upol
me for my language of moment or S,
since. "But, come, take me to Sc
this wonderful portrait.
/ took her to the library, opene,
the album, and turned again to IN,
portrait.
"There, Miss PERT" said, pointin,
to it triumphantly with my finger
| "tlere is tho portrait in which Mis-