Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-19

haps it isn't, but thought maybe it
was. Is it wrong to break an engage
mont? Well, anyway, he wanted me
to promise, and l didn't see the use
just then; so [ told him that I'd not
really be exactly engaged until the
next time we met. Thought I'd have
time to think about it by then. Well,
then, when the order came for us all
to move, he wrote down that he and
lot of the others from Grant would be
waiting for their transportation at
Wilcox when our train would go by
at least, he hoped SO. He said he'd
see me there at the station when we
stopped, even ii it were only for
minute, and that then must keep my
word, and be engaged to him." An
other great sigh escaped her.
"But surely, Miss Kitty, if you don't
care for him, you won't promise to
marry him. :"
81 don't know"
'Do you love him?"
"I-I guess go.
'Don't you know?"
81 suppose not; 1 suppose I don't
know"
Kearney waxed exceeding wroth at
Il man who would bully a trusting
child into an engagement. "Why
nre you permitting yourself to be
brow-beaten into this?" he asked,
angrily.
"Oh please don't be cross-please. ="
Che WING nv, tho 1ara, -
He took her hand again. She was
not engaged yet. ANSWER me, Kit
ty."
"It wouldn't be right not to, would
it?"
Then Kearney went boldly to work
to prove that it certainly would be
right not to.
"But he loves me-" protested Miss
Foster.
$50 do what if he does? You
don't love him."
"But 1 ought to; maybe 1 shall.
And that was all that could be done
with Kitty.
Her mother came to the door of the
car. "Kitty, you must come in right
away. If your head aches, you can
go to bed
my heads better now," she said,
rising. "Cant just stay up until we
get to Wilcox? / think maybe Car
rie, or perhaps Mr.. Lowell, will be
down there"
They went back into the sleeper,
where the officers aud their wives sat
talking and trying to keep awake one
half-hour longer until Wilcox should
be reached. The companies from
Grant were expected to be waiting
there for the next train east, and
many pleasant meeting might be
crowded into the short delay at the
station.
Miss Foster got pillow and curled
up on seat. eff 1 fall asleep, Mr..
Appleton, will you waken me at Will
cox?" she requested.
"Certainly, Miss Foster" he an
swered.
Kitty closed her big, dark blue eyes
and thought. She thought how funny
it is when man who has called you
"Kitty," and has been awfully in love
with you, says "Miss Foster" and
pretends he is mere acquaintance.
She thought that Appleton was nicer
than Ferris, or SAKE, or Lowell. But
he wasn't so nice as Mr.. Kearney-not
quite. She thought she had done very
well with Mr.. Kearney. She distin-
guished in the matter of condolences,
did Kitty. She knew that nothing re-
duces promising situation to mere
friendship so quickly and successfully
as an open, frank, whole souled CON
fession. Such thing was clumsy;
and Kitty loathed clumsiness in these
matters. She had had withheld enough
of her plant to turn it cleverly to ac-
count. She had made Kearney sorry
for her, and had refused his advice
with prostrated grace.
Then Miss Foster fell asleep aud
dreamed rosy dreams until Appleton
touched her arm with book he had
been reading. "We are at Wilcox,
Miss Foster"
"Ohl dear. What did you hit me
with that hard thing for?" she cried,
jumping up. "It hurt" Her lips
trembled and her eyes filled.
"Kitty, child, l didn't mean to hurt
you. That is-really, l beg your
pardon, Miss Foster"
"Certainly, Fr-Mr. Appleton, "she
replied. rubbing her arm, with a