Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-26

at me ana then at the portrait. Then
she closed the album and looked again
at me.
There was lyok in her eyes such at
l had never seen there before. 1t was
Of wonder and yet of pity-pity fol
me, who considered myself the happi.
est man on earth
But that was the way with Kate. L
| she's woman of resource, she's o wo
man of surprises as well. With her il
is usually the unexpected that hap
pens.
81 have performed my part of the
bargain, Kate. have satisfied youl
curiosity. Will you now have the
courtesy to perform yours? You have
written certain name upon a piece
of paper. Will you have the kindness
to hand it to me?"
81 cannot, Bob-I cannot"
caught q distinct tremor in hei
voice as she said it.
"How SO? You decline to show me
that paper?"
81 promised to give it to you after
you had shown me the portrait, but ]
did not say Immediately after. You
shall see it some day I promise you.
ga sheer evasion, Kate, and not
like you. However, it is matter OF
little consequence"
"Of little consequence, as you say"
"The one important thing is that /
have made a great discovery all
through that album. You guess what
it is, Kate?"
"That-that-" she stammered.
"That Miriam Mowbray loves me ~
[ said triumphantly.
She glanced at me again with that
look I had just before seen in her eyes
half pity, half wonder; then she
said tremulously:
"You-you will speak to her to-.
morrow, will you not?"
''Yes. Kate. You are the only one
to whom l have whispered my secret !;
and-and know you wish me good
luck in my wooing."
"In that and in all things, Bob?"
The sweet eyes looked straight into
niue, as she held out her hand l held
it for moments then she withdrew it
hastily and escaped from the room.
The next day I visited the Now
brays. The time was opportune. Mr..
Mowbray was out, but Miss Mowbray
was in.
l hurry over that disastrous inter-
view. L urged my suit with what elo-
quence L could command. My pro.
posal was at first, received with chilling
silence, and then came the crushing
intimation that it was declined.
1 will do her the justice, however,
to say that she let down fellow as
gently as the circumstances would per-
NIT.
She acknowledged to me that she
loved another, and believe there were
tears in her eyes-I am certain there
were in her voice-as she made the
confession. Her father, she candidly
admitted, was opposed to her lover,
and had declined to sanction his ad
vances. He had promised, however,
to reconsider his verdict in the event
of the young fellows prospects i'm
proving in three years. That time
had nearly elapsed. Until that time
had elapsed they had given their sacred
word of honor that the secret OF their
love for each other should not be dis
closed, and they had further promised
that no communication should pass
between them.
could not but admire woman who
remained thus faithful both to her
father and her lover, even though that
fidelity proved at the same time the
death blow to my hopes.
think that stammered out some
thing to that effect as 1 bowed myself
from the room, and kept asking my
self: "Who is the mysterious lover
And why was she SO absorbed in my
portrait in the album?"
Life seemed very blank to me when
| stood once more in the street. What
should 1 do now? l scarce knew. One
thing, however, was very certain. Be-
fore / did, anything L must first con-
suit my cl um-my chum Kate.
turned my steps to her home. Here
greater disaster awaited me. Kate
had left Templeton that morning on a
visit to an aunt in Durham. 1t was
quite uncertain when she would re-.
turn, but she would not be back for q
month, at least.
1t was not until q day or two had
passed that 1 began to realize all had
lost in the sweet compeuionship of
Kate. 1t was not merely her loyalty,
her unfailing brightness and sympathy,
but not till then did I understand the
gap she had filled in the last three
years in my life.
You will say that 1 was tickle, i'm
questionable, infrm of purpose, lack
ing resolution and knowledge of my
own mind. Well, am content that
that charge should be made against
me. My simple reply is that you did
not know Kate. She was one of those
who. by their very unselishness, are
never adequately valued until you miss
their voice, their smile, their hand.
Most of us pursue our illusions. My
illusion was Miriam Mowbray. Slowly
l began TO see that in the background
OF that illusion there was q reality
I[ata Rrapd