Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-13

SUBJECT only at that instant, SO when
Weymouth smote him on the shoulder
and said, 'fHullo, Dick |" it took him
some moments to collect his thoughts
sufficiently to reply in suitable man.
| ner.
"Good businessl" he said ioyfully ;
''just the man l wanted to see."
His remark was not solely prompted
by the exigencies of the moment,
though Charlie Weymouth thought it
was, and smiled cynically. Dick
hailed hanson and bade the driver
take them to a restaurant
''Got something to tell you, Charlie,
so come and have chop" he began,
as carelessly as possible.
Weymouth lighted cigar and
smiled cynically again. 1t was not
difficult to play the cynic to Dicks
confidence.
"You need not tell me much, my
boy; it's written all over your face, !"
he said, dryly. "Who is she, eh?"
Dick pushed his hat on the back of
his head aud smiled savagely.
"Oh, of course; there never is any
news to tell you. You always do know
everything before you are told, don't
you? Perhaps you can better tell me !?
Oh, go on; don't mind me. I sup
pose Kit told you the rest as well,
didn't she?"
"She told me about the box, yes.
I'm coming on Thursday, of course.
Now, who is she, please? Kit said her
name is Pauline, but that's ell she
said"
Dick was quite sure at that moment
that there was only one Pauline in the
world, but he explained that her sec
ond name was Duncombe.
'Duncombe? Pauline Duucombe?
Ohp' said the other slowly.
"You'll see her on Thursday, and
then you won't wonder / was struck"
Dick ratified on, happily. 81 met her
at the Academy conversations, you
know. BY Jove, isn't her Queen of
Sheba' strong Have you seen it?
CAM think what she sees in me. Ac-
tually asked me to point out my pict-
ure to her, and didn't say word
about its being skied, and said there
was tone in it? Have you got the
cheek to say woman can't criticise?
But you don't mean to say you haven't
heard of her? Pauline Duncombe?
Why, all the worlds talking about her
picture. It's the bit of the season."
Dick went on until he found that his
companion was not listening and that
his cigar had gone out.
"You're as bad as Kit" he grum-
bled. 81 never can get any one to
listen to me for five minutes together.
Wait until you see her, that's ALL"
81 needn't wait, old man. know
her slightly by repute already. Ihave
seen her, too. Is it really Pauline
Duncombe?"
"That's what Pm always asking my
SELF" said Dick, with o contented
laugh. Weymouth drew away his
hand abruptly.
"Here we are," he said, and paid
cabman in spite of Dicks remon-
strances ''This is my show, he said,
when they had selected table in the
restaurant.
"What for?" said Dick, hotly. "I
asked you to come and dine with me.
You think you're all there because
you're going to walk on in the new
piece next week. What on earth are
You doing it for"
"Because l made you come here,"
said Weymouth, quietly, but he need
not have trouble to explain, for Dick
was staring straight at table in the
opposite corner of the room.
"We will have some SOUP" added
Charlie to the waiter who was linger-
ing for their order. ''Its warm in
here" he went on, selecting sar-
dine.
ITS Paul1ne" said Dick, softly,
still staring at the distant table.
eyes? Not alone, surely? All
no."
Father, 1 suppose" said Dick,
making feint of swallowing some
soup.
ooh, no, l should think not" said
his companion, with the usual smile.
"That's not her father. That's tho
Duke"
Duhe! Nuub Duho! asked DlCk,
resentfully.
"The soup is not SO good as usual.
What Duke? Oh, the one she always
dimes with here. They said they were
engaged. Seems probable, as she is a
decent girl enough"
When they had got their fish, Wey-
mouth turned once more to Dick.
"Cheer up, old mani You've only
seen her once or twice, and you're
we'll out of it, If you weren't such
maiden, this sort of thing would have
happened to you before. 1t won't do
you any harm, anyway. I'll get o
fourth for Thursday, and stand sup
per afterwards. Ah-have some
Chablis"
But Dick had pushed back his chair,
and motioned to the astonished waiter
for his hat and stick. His face was
rather set. but otherwise he did not
seem disturbed, and he smiled as he
held out his hand.
'I'm afraid I can't wait arv Iono