Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-30

thought better of it. "And you took
me home," she went on lamely.
81 bought that COLT" Cotter said.
"He is out on the farm now."
There was silence for moment.
Wagons numbered along Center street
and storekeepers called sociably from
curb to curb. Cotter drummed on the
table with his fingers, and smiles
tucked themselves under his mustache.
'Do you remember the picnic at
the island, when we rowed home in
the moonlight, and"
"Our skiff stuck fast on a sand
bar"
"And I had to carry you ashore be.
fore could get it off"
Mrs. Hit laughed, but the white
territory of her forehead took on the
red, as Cotter, still smiling, still look
ing straight into her eyes, with an ex-
preston that made her uneasy, went
on, II was choking over-the choke
bic words, when that skilf stuck. l
suppose if I had gotten them out, I
should have asked you what Mrs
Shears said-only L did not connect
her with it then"
A look of disdain swept the blush
out of Mrs. Hits face. "It took
dozens of times before you awoke to
that, I suppose?"
''Not exactly dozens"
"And" - furiously - ''you would
have married dozens of girls if she had
let them alone, l suppose?"
Cotter leaned across the table and
took her hands. Lucy" he said,
"would you havo married me if she
hadn't meddled.
The stiff bosom of Mrs. Hits laven-
der shirt waist heaved once or twice,
and her sailor hat bent down until
Cotter couldn't SEQ anything but q
pink lip twisted under the clutch OF
white teeth; but hot drop splashed
on his thumb, and brought him
around the table as if he were an auto
maton and his spring had beeu
touched.
Two or three minutes later, when
there was calm, Cotter asked,
"What did Mrs. Shears say to you,
anyhow"
"You know-I married Tom," she
began Eesitatingly.
"Yes!" he said impatiently. Tom
did not seem to belong here.
"I-would you like it now, if I-if
anybody were to tell you that I kept
all of Toms things by me and kissed
his photograph good night, and"
"No." Cotter's voice was cold.
Lucy went on rapidly. "Do you
remember the story of the bride who
cried and explained that she couldn't
be happy, because. if her husband
loved her as much as he said he did,
he couldn't be sorry his first wife died
and If he wasn't that made him too
brutal for her to love?"
"Well?"
"1'm not bit like that!"
"Know this" Cotter said solemnly;
81 never knew what love was until
knew you; 1 never loved any woman
but you."
Lucy looked at him. As q sage
long ago discovered, whatever wo.
man may doubt, that statement she al
""fo cSilCfcos
"Those others?"
"Figments of my imagination.
She held both his hands, and
looked into his face, with hers against
his coat.
81 knew it," she whispered, "when
you came in and asked that question.
1 think I always knew that you would
come"
Cottor was standing where he could
see out OF the window. The pumpkin
phaeton was going by, with the pretty
girl from Minetta street sitting by
Mrs. Shears and looking rather un.
happy. For the thousnndth part of a
second Cotter had sinking of the
heart. 1t was all up again Mrs.
Shears was telling that girl that he
kissed his wife's picture good night.
He gave est" of indignant amuse.
ment; and then he remembered, AMI
looked happily down into Lucy's face.
-Munsey's Magazine.