Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-03-04

| SoinS W pe peSb lhau, is going down
and he will see you safely back. You
know he is an American, graduate
in medicine, and has been studying in
Edinburgh. He is going to spend
this winter in the London hospitals,
and | know you will like him. I hear
hustle now. l believe he has come.
Will you excuse me till go down and
see?"
OF course zona would, and Louise
soon ran up again.
''Yes, it is he; and now, dear, din
ner is ready. Let me help YOU"
"Oh, Louise, dear, you must excuse
me from dinner. can't go down with
this horrible black eye"
Thus Louise went down alone to
dinner, where she related in full the
sad journey which her friend had
"Would she recognize the villain,
do you suppose?" asked DR.. Pierpont,
who had listened with much interest
to Louise's recital.
81 don't know, indeed" said Louise.
"She says he was tall, powerful fell
low-very sinister looking"
"You had better let me see her eve,
at all events" snid her cousin. "lf
you don't she will not be fit for duty
tomorrow.
"Zona," said Louise, as she came in
after dinner, "Cousin John thinks
you had better let him examine your
eye. He saws it is dangerous to let the
Inflammation run on, and he thinks it
will be quite well tomorrow if you get
a good nights rest"
swell, if you wish it. I don't want
to spoil your wedding, after all.
"Miss Sheldon, my cousin, DIR. Pier
pont, said Louise, as she ushered in
the doctor. Zona, whose vision was
much impaired by the sore eye, did
not recognize him as the man in the
corner. He merely bowed.
ga clean pocket handkerchief.
Louise" he said cheerlly.
AT the sound of his voice Zona
looked up quickly. A twinkle shone
in John Pierpont's blue eyes.
"Now, Miss Sheldon, one moment
and it is out" he said.
"What instant relief" exclaimed
Zona. "Thank you, doctor"
"You are quito welcome" he re-
piled. "By tomorrow | hope you will
have quite forgotten it"
There was little sleep that night for
Zona Sheldon.
"What n little idiot [ have been
How could have imagined such things
of him? Ho is tall and powerful
that was right. But dark and mur-
derous looking! Why he is fairer
than I. What blue eyes. and what
pleasant smile! Oh, how can I meet
him in the morning? L wish Louise
had not told him."
But sleep came at last, and Zona
woke radiant as ever. She dressed and
went out into the park to settle how she
should meet DR.. Pierpont. But it was
settled for her; n sudden turn in the
path brought her face to face with
hire. A moments confusion-a flush
that dyed her whole face, and then
The smile on his became contagious,
and she burst into peal of merry
laughter, which he echoed.
"Dr. Pierpont," she said, Il hope
you will be merciful and keep my Sc
cret."
"I am not likely to tell secret so
much to my disadvantage. What was
il? Villainous-"
"PleGse, DOCTOR" she implored, 81
did not notice your looks at all. l had
parted with my senses"
every we'll, then," he said. SIT is
II compact. Let lis go back to tho
house for breakfast and say no moro
about it. )"
Had not the whole household been
absorbed in the wedding, they must
have seen that there was secret un-
derstanding between the compatrlots
which quickly ripened into intim-
acy.
"And Zona is to go back to London
under your escort. John" snid Louise.
"Provided she is not afraid to travel
with me-" he said, with u laughing
bow to Hona.
A smile was her only answer.
They were seated-the sole occu-
pants of the compartment.
"Will you tell me one thing?" said
zona. "What was 1t you took out of
your satchel and put in your side poe
ket?"
$50 you don't wholly trust me, even
yet" ne said with smile. sit was a
mirror. You looked at me with such
n Mortified face that | thought there
must be something wrong with my
looks. Now, will you answer me n
question? Had you made up your
mind what to do if worse came to the
worst?'
eyes," she said laughing. 81 was
going to take off my watch and ring
and offer them to you, as well as my
purse. l iancied you looked at my
ring particularly.
81 did," he said after a pause, "be.
cause, you know the finger you wear
it on. May ask, Miss Sheldon, il
there is any particular significance in
it?"
SIT was given me by my mother, u
she said simply.
"Then," he said, "will you give me
the right to put one on that iingerT