Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-27

By her own admissions, Bertha S
decision had been prompted solely by
fear Of her mother, and consideration
for James Hocken. But If on ooredec-
tion she were still willing to sacrifice
her happiness, Will Carter certainly
had no intention OF yielding to her
| weakness.
A fine seaman of whom Pengelly was
proud, for the past year Will had been
on board yacht cruising in the Medi-
terrranean. But for reasons best
known to herself, Mrs. Tregon had
discountenanced his suit, and, although
he had every confidence in her,
Bertha's silence had inspired misgiv-
ings not easy to nllay. Once more
free, he had returned at the earliest
date to England, and at Plymouth,
where he landed, had met q friend,
who, among other items of Pengelly
news, inform ed him of her desertion,
adding:
"And she'll be Mrs. Hookon in q
fortnight"
Determined to demand q full expla-
nation from Bertha herself, Will made
no comment, but his laugh was IN
mirthful. And with rage in his heart
he had hailed u passing cab, driven to
the railway station, and taken the
train to WalebridGe. Thence he could
walk to the pregons'.
But the house in view, in crossing e
the field, VIII espied Bertha in the
garden, and, with a muftied Alloy !
spedato the tree that sheltered old
Isaac. She had swiftly joined him.
Nevertheless, tho shock OF his return
was visible in her white face, and her
trembling lips would frame no vel
come. Looking at him imploringly,
her blue eyes filed. And longing to
clasp her in his arms, the reassuring
words which, while enlightenins him,
had chilled Jiln's father, did duty for
the reproaahes he had come primed
with.
But Will had taken Bertha by sur.
prise, and between her dread OF him
and terror of her mother, who ruled
the Tregon household with n rod of
iron, he rightly OWNED that she had
caught at the reGdiest means OF escape
which in her direction had presented
itself to her. Yet his faith in her firm
ness was limited the revival of fond
memories would tend to lessen her
mothers influence. And cunningly
calculating that apparent Indifference
would further incline her to be guided
by his counsels later, lie devoted
weei: to his friends aad generally en-
joylng himself. His disappointment
treated thus lightly, he succeed in de-
luding everybody, including Bertha,
who shed bitter tears In secret that he
should be SO easily consoled for her
loss. The bare sight of James Hocken
almost maddened ner; and she had to
hide her aversion to him, and listen
evening after evening to his dull talk.
And in another week she would be his
wife.
The tree beneath which she and Will
had parted had become her favorite
resort. Here she could indulge in the
luxury of "a good cry" unrebuked !;
and, grown desperate with the nearer
approach of the wedding day, sitting
on the gnarled roots one afternoon,
she burst into very passion of grief.
a face-Wills-appeared above the
we'll.
"Ahoy! Whatever's the matter, Miss
Tregon?" he 9ravelv inquired. "Shall
1 fetch Mr.. Hocken to 'ee?"
"I hate him! l hate him" she
sobbed Historically.
"That's bad" said Will sympathiz
ingly. "What's he been up to?"
up to! Isn't he old; isn't he ugly :;
isn't he stupid And-and-I hate
him! 1 hate hint" she reiterated.
"And | won't marry him. Mother
may storm, but 1 don't care"
Will vGulted over the wall.
On the day appointed for James
Hocken's uuptials the whole village
tlocked betimes to the church. But
neither bridegroom nor bride put in
an appearance, and by and by it was
known that Will Carter and Bertha
Tregon were missing, and that there
would be no wedding at Pengelly that
day.
Weeks and months rolled by, and
no tidings could be CLEANED OF the
graceless couple. They had clean van.
lshed, leaving no clew to their where
abouts. Mrs. Tregon's tongue sharp
ered TO double edged sword, ready
to slay friends and foe alike who al
luded to her daughter. And the dumE
misery OF Jim's plain face was pitiful
to see. Old Isaac's heart ached 70,
his son. If he had only prepared him
for the blow!
Curiosity was at length appeased.
An acquaintance OF the runaways
visited London, and returned with a
woful story. She had seen Bertha,
who had confded to her that after
being married at registry Office,
| VIII op1 bo1 dooi5od En- ,r, 30 A,,o,;