Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-16

",
They are loyal"
Miss Moore said that she must 30
back to town.
"As it is late, she'll have to leave
my horse with you, Captain. 1 shall
send for him tomorrow. / reckon l
can walk to the train in this rig"
She looked down somewhat doubt
fully Mt her ridingskirt. Pearce said
that he would be glad to go with her,
and though it was not apparent in just
what way he could overcome the dis
advantage of the long dress, she seemed
to be grateful for his escort.
We'll, that was the beginning Of il,
and the end is not yet. An incident
that occurred under large tree in the
old Confederate fort on the mountain
may give hint of the trend of events.
Pearce land Miss Moore were under
the tree because it was the shelter
nearest when rain suddenly began to
fall F.; and it rained, probably, because
n number Of young folks of the city
had come up on the mountain to spend
n September day that promised, in the
llol HiuS, " De DISdsuut.
Mr.. Pearce was not in good humor.
He and Miss Moore had separated
themselves from tho others. One
topic of conversation had led to an
other, which, in this instance, was n
declaration by Mr.. Pearce that he was
irretrievably in love with Miss Moore,
and that if sho refused to make HIM
happy he should he forever miserable.
At critical stage OF this declaration,
a rnindrop kissed the girls check.
ooh, it's going to rain !" she cried.
The next instant the downpour be-
gan, and both rushed through breach
i'll the earthen wall of tho fort to the
tree, whose branches, TO which the
leaves vet clung, offered protection.
There they stood in silence for several
minutes, she busily brushing rnindrops
from her hat, which she had taken off,
and he watching her, moodily.
The silence became oppressive, and
she glanced ct him, curiously and
apprehensivoly, from under her lashes.
lie caught the glance, and, moving to.
ward her, said:
"Well?"
ooh, don't" she exclaimed, start.
ing away, her eyes still fixed upon n
ribbon with which she was working.
"Why, Katherine-er.-Miss Moore
-"
cob, you mustn't"
He walked to the edge of the circle
protected by the leaves and looked
out over the clay wall of the fort,
down which tiny rivers ran. She,
having dried her hat, placed it again
on her head and began brushing her
skirt where, here and there, rain had
spotted it. She glanced several times
at his back, stubbornly turned toward
her. do eyinced no intention of NOV
ing, nor of speaking again, and she
became nervous. The situation was
unbearable, and she exclaimed
'We must get back to the others" !"
eve can't very we'll go through this
rain" he snid, without turning round.
Another prolonged silence, broken
only by the monotonous fall OF the
rain. Finally, when she had almost
made up her mind to gather up her
skirts and run to the hotel, quarter
of n mile away, he turned and came
quickly toward her.
He put out his hand as though to
take hers, bus she quickly put her
hands behind her and stepped back.
He folded his arms and stood before
her, looking earnestly into her eyes
that she raised 10 his, almost appeal
ingly.
"Katherine," he said, 81 love you.
VIII you be my wife,"
A beautiful color stole slowly from
the ribbon Mt her throat, up, up until
it tinted the e1ges of her small, per-
fectiy formed ears. His gaze held
hers for moment; then her eyelids
fell and their long lashes swept her
cheeks.
"Mr. Pearce," she said, slowly and
hesitatingly, "l am SO sorry, but II
| can't"
"Because you DO not love me?"
She looked up quickly into his face !;
then down again; but she did not
reply.
"Kathcrine, tell me-" he said,
"Why is it that you cannot marry
mo?"
Because" she was very busy dis
lodging IL half buried stone with the
toe OF her shoe -"because-you are q
Yankeel"
Another swift glance met his steady
look. Then she moved little further
away and stood half turned from him.
HIS first impulse was to laugh. Bat
that passed almost as it came. The
gray, brass buttoned riding habit, the
flushed cheeks and bright eyes with
which she had listened to "Dixie, ~
flashed across his mental vision. The
"Yunkee" might be an obstacle not to
be laughed away.
"Gut | am not Yankee" he said,
with emphasis. "I am from Illinois. :"
1t seemed long time to both that
they stood in silence. Again she was
the first to speak,
"This is an awful rain," she re-
piled.
eyes, q very wet rain," he replied.
ooh, you are going to jest about
it"