Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-18

trary). 81 don't think 1 thought
about it one way or the other," she
said lazily.
He flushed at this, but after a mo-
ment's silence said: "Under the cir
cumstances, suppose, I could hardly
expect anything else"
She looked at him hopelessly.
"Under what circumstances? wish
you would come out openly and say
what you mean, for either l am hope
lessly dense to-day, or you express
yourself badly, but I don't understand
you at oil"
"And yet it is simple enough. I
mean, that considering your engage
ment, it is not strange that I should
have but little place in your thoughts. "
"MY engagement ?"-amazedly.
"Oh, come now, don't deny it to
me-" he cried almost roughly. "for 1
have it on the best authority Miss
Netherton told me of it the night I
arrived. She said that you did not
admit to it, but that she knew it to be
true"
"Did she, indeed2 And did she
state to whom ?"-with ominous calm.
"She didn't tell me his name-a
New York fellow, she said /; somebody
you met at the Springs last summer. :"
"And SO that was why you"
"Whv [ did not propose to you.
But surely you knew that. have al
ways cared for You-ever since that
first night at the Deane's-so you can
imagine my grief and disappointment
when your intimate friend informed
me that l had come too late, and adj
vised me to hold my peace. No wonder
l haven't been nice and amusing;'
man doesn't feel like dancing at his
own funeral"
"What an ordinary expression,
she cried gayly. 81 am afraid you
are deteriorating; however, before
we go any further perhaps you
wouldn't mind hearing that I'm not
engaged, and that our excellent Mary
told you a-or, rather-she got things
somewhat mixed. That's more chari-
table, believe"
"Whatl Had she absolutely moth
ing to go on?"
'Oh, of. course" "-smiling--"I have
a good many friends who have been
very polite to me, and all that, but it
doesn't necessarily follow that | should
be engaged to any of them"
"Then why did she tell me SOP"
She laughed: "Ah, my friend, you
have much yet to learn; your educa-
ton in certain branches has been woe
fully neglected, and some day when I
have leisure 1 shall make it my duty
to instruct you about various social
matters that seemed to have escaped
your attention"
doesn't she like you?"
eyes, after fashion but l fret her
awfully l seem SO we'll pleased with
myself and people generally. She
thinks need taking down OCCASION
ally, and whenever l get too much on
the crest of the wave she does some
thing of that sort. 1t is o kind of
sacred duty with her, and is for my
ultimate moral good"
Mr.. Armstead remained plunged in
thought for few moments, then he
said:
"Women are strange creatures; I
don't understand them at all. "
''The worlds sagest philosophers
have been bafled by that problem, so
if were you wouldn't waste any
gray matter over it.
"Well, L won't. What is tro ubling
me at present is whether I have any
chance with you, for after what you
have said just now am almost afraid
to try my luck"
"What did l say?"
"Why, you intimated that had I
been bold enough to propose to you,
you would have refused me-"
"Of course, l said that land so would
any other girl who had modicum OF
pride) when thought you didn't in
tend to ask me-"
swell, l ask you now, and with all
my heart. Will you marry me? You
know that / love you, how [ have al
ways loved you, and surely if there
be any truth in the old saying that
love persuades love, You ought to care
for me little. I don't pretend to be
as clever rs some OF the men you
know, but will guard you tenderly
and try to make you happy. [ know
l am expressing myself badly-what
one feels most is always hardest 20 put
into words, but you, who are so sym
pathetic, will read between the lines
and guess at what l leave unsaid."
In his eagerness lie came and knelt
beside her chair, laying his strong
hand over hers she did not draw it
away.
at was absurd of me to take your
cousins word, without inquiring of
you, but if you will marry poor fool
who came near throwing away his
chances for happiness, you will make
me the bappiest man on earth"
She shook her head. "No," she
said SO positsvely that Stephen Arm
stead's heart sank within him. 81
would never marry fool. wonder
that you ask me to. Surely, I de-