Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-20

you may not mean all you say, and I
hope you are not $3.50 puerile as you
choose to appear. I don't suppose
that my opinion is anything to you,
and of course poetry is all very we'll
in its way. But If it were "a brother
of mine would rather that he did one
such deed as that of last night than
write fifty prize poems :"
The color had faded from her cheeks
and her eyes flashed as she spoke. AS
Abercrombie looked into their depths
his own ordinarily impossible face
showed signs of emotion. He uttered
happy little laugh and Strengthened
himself up with an unconscious
gesture.
They had walked on and on while
the others had turned back, and were
now quite near the scene of the
previous nights episode. AS they ap-
preached it they saw group Oh tho
bank eagerly talking.
Among the colloquists were man
and woman, holding little girl be-
tween them Abercrombie recognized
them in moment. The child looked
pale enough, but the man appeared
none the worse for his narrow escape.
AS Abercrombie and his companion
slowly passed the woman looked car
nestly in his face, and then ran for
ward and seized his arm.
you're the gentleman who saved
my man and little girl, she cried. 81
know you are, for 1 saw you plain in
the moonlight. Tom! Tom !" and
her voice broke hysterically.
The man stepped forward and took
off his cap, and the others gathered
around.
"Was it you, sir?" he said, seizing
Abercromble's disengaged hand and
looking him earnestly in the face.
"Yes, / am sure it was. Oh, sir, take
fathers blessing she's our only one,
sir, and It'd a broke our hearts to lose
her."
Abercromble stood tho picture of
embarrassment. Had he really been
poet he would doubtless have been
charmed with the situation, but being
mere athlete it was rather too much
for him.
"Don't say another word" he man
aged to remark. ''I'm rs happy as
you are to have been able to help you.
After all''-and he smiled at the recol-
lection the words called up-''it's only
matter of being ablo to swim. And
how are you, my dear, after your
ducking?" and he bent down to kiss
the child's pale forehead.
They reluctantly let him go with a
fervent "God bless you, SIR" and as
he and his companion began to retrace
their steps an excited member of the
family group called for cheer from
him, ana its echoes followed the pair
as they walked away.
AS for Miss Vernon she was pitt
able state. She had seen and heard
all, and her mind was filled with moth
ing but the thought of the CHASTITY,
egregious mistake she had made.
"Mr. Abercrombie," she said, in
choking voice, ''you have treated me
shamefully, and I'll never forgive
you"
''Do not say that" he reioined with
m earnestness that seemed to make it
quite right and proper for him to take
her hand. 81 assure you it's not my
fault. 1t is just an absulb misun-
derstanding from beginning to end.
Mrs. Skimploy mixed up Wedgewood
and me and l was silly enough to
humor her mistake"
"But you have deceived me-" said
Miss Vernon.
eff you will forgive me, swear to
you that I will never do it again. +"
pleaded Abercrombie, still prisoning
the hand that sought to be free.
Moro than year had flown since
this little episode occurred, but if you
Glanced to be at Henley last July and
happened to pass Mrs. Skimpley's s
houseboat, tasteful thing in green
and gold, with striped awning and II
profusion of flowers, you may have
noticed on it tall and sweet looking
gill with a delicate complexion, and
golden brown hair.
If she was ungloved you will have
noticed ON the third finger of her left
hand diamond ring, and in all prob
ability you also saw near at hand the
donor thereof-a pale fellow in most
Immaculate fannels. Temple Bar.