Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-18
would never suspect you of anything

served your good opinion, bat Mary
says"
who cares what Mary says?"
"Now l am sure you don't like
her."
"Well, if the truth must be told, I
don't"
"Why not? She likes you; she said
only yesterday that she thought that
you were an estimable young man."
q Mr.. Armstead looked intensely dis
gusted.
"Estimable. indeedl fatter my
] self" he broke off. "I don't believe
she said anything of the kind; be-
lieye you made that up"
"Am to understand that my verac-
ity is in doubt?"
"There are some questions that are
better left unanswered" he replied,
pensively.
"Well, you can believe it or not
she said it; she has little way of say-
ing things that fret people; not that 1
think that she means it,"
"How charitable The improving
books are getting in their work; but
to return to our murtons and answer
your question. My reason for not lik-
ing Miss Netherton is, perhaps, q
childish one, but she told me piece
| OF bad news once, and told it with SO
much relish Tor SO | imagined) that L
| can't quite get over it.
1.-The ideal Why, she imparts the
most trying bits of information to me
about myself all the time, and it never
phases me. Life is too short to worry
over the Marys one meets.
"Oh, you are so suhlimely indiffer-
ent that you can afford to ignore her
but 1 am desperately human, and ]
can't help caring about things. It's
absurdly old fashioned, l know, and l
intend to get over it some day, but in
the meantime my friends will have to
be lenient with me-"
Gle grows sarcastic" she said. 81
ought to feel crushed, of course, but
am not. I suppose that is another ev-
ldence of my sublime indifference.
'You may not know it," he said,
politely, "but there is caterpillar
perambulating up your sleeve"
Instead OF crying out, as he had ex-
pected her to do, she calmly tipped
off the intruder, smiling meanwhile in
n superior way that was meant to ex-
asperate.
"What nerve" he cried. "Miss
Netherton herself could not have done
it better"
"Do you know" she said, "I think
you are in a very censorious frame of
mind; indeed, during your whole visit
you have been anything but agree
able"
"Thank you go much"
81 never was SO disappointed in
anybody. had been looking forward
to your coming, and welcomed you SO
cordially, and here, instead OF being
nice and amusing and kind, as you
used to be, you do nothing but frown
at mo from morning till night. What
in the world have 1 done? And if you
are SO unhappy with us, why did you
come? Nobody made you. This is a
FREQ country, you can do exactly as
you please"
He looked at her steadily.
81 came down with the intention of
proposing to you," he said
This reply was SO unexpected that
she was for the moment disconnected,
but she Immediately rallied and said
lightly;
"Well, you have evidently thought
better OF it; SO that need not worry
you"
"Yes," he answe red, slowly, 81 have
thought better of it,"
Now Miss Howcott believed herself,
and not without justice, to be q very
et-tempered individual. She hated
quarrels aud avoided "scenes" as most
people do rattlesnake but it was
not in flesh and blood to listen calmly
to a sworn admirers declaration of in
dependence, especially when it was so
impertinently worded.
"You were always CLEVER" she said,
cndeavoring to keep the anger that
was consuming her out of her voice,
"and can but congratulate you upon
having displayed your usual good
Judgment. Few men, believe, enjoy
being refused"
ooh, that was not the reason" lie
cried.
The blood swept to her cheeks and
her eyes flashed, but she held herself
well in hand, for, be it confessed, an
overwhelming curiosity to know why
he had changed his mind had posses
sion of her, so in response to this
added bit of rudeness, she said Ian
guidly:
"No? Well, my imagination is not
my strong point, so l fear l shall have
to remain in the dark. "
81 should think you would know, "
he exclaimed.
"Do you? l am afraid you have
credited me with brighter mental abili-
ties than possess.
eff you do not understand it, it is
because you Will not"
ooh, of course, there is one solu-
tion, but that is SO little factoring to
| NV self-esteem that | refnsa to thin Il