Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-06-15

q fellowship necessary
to an enjoyable trip did not exist, be.
cauae Florence had wel-founded sus-
picion that her dear Aunt had that
morning Intercepted letter from
Fred Lumsden, and the Aunt was feel
ing that her wholly unprejudiced lec-
turo on the evanescencc of misplaced
love and the durability of American
dollars was not being properly appre-
ciated. 1t is probable that. in spite of
the glorious weather, nothing more
exciting than an ordinary family
quarrel would have happened had it
not been for the effervescing energy
Of Fred, who appeared on the scene in
that unexpected way peculiar to true
lovers.
Good morning, ladiesl" he called,
with an effort at boldness that only
made the blood mount to his cheeks.
beautiful day -or-isn't it?"
Beautiful ! I'm SO glad to see
you," said Florence, with an accent
of sincerity that was perhaps empha-
sized in order to spite her Aunt.
Perfectly charming" said the
aunt, in the tinkling tones that re-
minds one Of the chink of the ice in q
glass OF frappe tea.
II did myself the honor to call on
you," Feed explained, as he leaned
his wheel against the hotel steps and
took chair near Florence, "because
1 an going West tomorrow. 1 have
secured a position MS civil engineer
with Western railway company that
is projecting branch line, and as /
had tho day to spare, thought I'd
come down an. bid you goodbye"
$50 kind of you, | am sure" said
the dear Aunt 81 am so glad-for
your sake, Fred-that you have this
position, for 1 think a young man
should begin his life work as soon
after leaving college as possible. l
have no doubt that, iu a few years,
you will be railway mGgnate."
She ratified on volubly in this vein
for n couple of minutes, and all the
while her words had the gliD sound OF
wine being poured out of narrow
uecked bottle. 1t is note that you
catch only in the best socictv, and it
means that the accomplished lady who
is talking is all the time thinking hard
about something else. The tenor of
the Aunt's thoughts wero as follows
81 mustn't allow them to be alone
together. l know what these pnrtings
mean. He has come down to propose
TO her, and she-the little hussy--will
accept him. If | lock her III her room
it will cause talk, and | cant keep
track of them all day in these corri-
dors. o, what shall do?"
When the light finally broke, n
practiced car could have detected a
change in her tone, rs she exclaimed
enthusiastically:
"Really, Fred, am glad you have
come down, for havo been planning
for several days to take party from
here to the little casino they have at
Clam-Shell-o l-onthe-Sea, about fifteen
miles down the coast. We can spin
down there in couple OF hours, have
some refreshments, and then spin back
in time to catch your train for New
York"
''They will be along with the other
young people," she thought to her.
self, "and Will be kept moving SO that
they can't have long chat, aud, any
way, it is hard to be confidential on q
public road at midday"
The case didn't strike the young
people in exactly the same light, and
they accepted graciously.
The Aunt fastened to canvass the
guests at the hotel to get volunteers
for the trip, and introduced Fred to SO
many charming young ladies during
the next few minutes that he was EN-.
barrassed beyond words. Presently
the party was organized, and made a
start, amid much light hearted laugh
ter and badinage. The good, kind
chaperone brought up the rear, feel
ing triumphant and self satisfied.
"lf they can pedal and propose at
the same time" she thought to her