The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-21

| OF justice. lie inquired TOT tne WHNie-
abouts of an acquaintance, and discov-
ering a friend in the head 'of the de-
partment, secured his release.
The liberated prisoner did not appear
as grateful TO his benefactor as might
have been expected, but Good Samar-
itans are doubtless used to ingratitude.
Whatever cordiality was wanting in the
| behavior of the one was amply made
up, however, by the exuberant gayety
of the other.
you are as fine as silk tonight"
muttered Lynde, in a temper that coun-
tcnanced sarcasm and slang.
THAT is fact, and I'll bet can sur
prise you"
"How?"
"The very question Mable put to me-"
The angry curiosity of the listener
permitted itself no expression. After
an appropriate pause for the word of
interest that came not, Bierly continu-
ed: "To tell the truth, / am as good
as engaged"
ITO whom?"
"Oh. say, Howard, don't ask a fellow
to spell things for you. Where is your
imagination or memory, for that mat
ter? l hope you wish Inc joy" The
tone of triumph was extensively evident
in these sentences.
II wish you good morning" Lynde
turned down side street of his native
city which they had now reached. He
| caught a mocking laugh from behind.
The next afternoon Mabel received a
letter, but being in hurry to dispatch
an errand, she thrust it unopened. into
her belt. The next moment found her
spinning over the identical tow-path
| of the previous scene. She rode rap
| idly for woman, and soon came up
to detected individual who was pedal
! ing in an aimless fashion, which be-
| tokcned no goal. The two We're within
! 81 sLeaking distance before mutual recog-
milton.
why Howard, 1 didn't know it was
! you"
Good afternoon, Miss Stevens" came
! stiff1y from the wheel.
| The effect of an unexpected slight has
often been likened TO a blow, perhaps
because it brings the blood to the sace.
! Her retort was an icicle.
II hope Mr.. LynGe will pardon my
| familiarity"
Unless Mr.. Bierly objects, there is no
| harm done"
The girl stared in blank amazement.
81 don't know what you mean," she
| stammered.
You seem to have forgotten last
! night, and sundrv previous affairs
which made it surprise to me-"
Il only remember that you stayed
away from my bicycle party"
Perhaps il YOU knew why I didn't
come, you would not feel so happy"
You are, evidently, inclined to add
very little to my happin ess at present -
| Tears of VeXation stood on the brink
| of her eyes as she spoke ana rode for
| ward.
| He watched her without deigning to
! increase his snails pace. The grow
ing interval Of material separation be-
came emblematical of the severance of
! their souls.
| The discerning person cannot have
failed to notice that events progress in
spite of incidents. If a grlndstone is
to burst. there is no use in pronouncing
it unsafe and ordering it stopped. Be
very sure that the catastrophe will oc-
| cur before the steam can be turned off
| There was once a patriot who cele-
brated Independence day by exploding
a hundred cartridges in a heavy iron
box. When the last fuse had been
lighted, he took the unusual pre- recaution
of stepping behind tree, several yards
distant. In vain! The box, after re-
sisting ninety-nine conclusions, burst
| into score of pieces; one of which,
striking the tree in a tangent and pro-
ceeding in curve, killed him as if by
miracle.
Thus, if it is written that a man and
4 woman shall come together at a cer-
tain time and place, it is futile to con-
trlve barriers.
Mabel had not gone far when she
thought OF the letter. In looking to see
II IT was still safe in her belt, she nee
essarily took her eyes from the road.
| Immediately there was a sharp re-
port not unlike thar which accornpan-
! les the uncoupling of air-brakes. The
soft rubber tire had received a wound
which let cut the pneumatic cushion as
a writ of habeas corpus lets out the
prisoner. This puncture was the work
of certain bits of glass, which the mall
ice of Bierly had broken from a bicycle
lamp. The very thing that should have
prevented a meeting between his
| sweetheart and his foe was about 10
bring them together. Malignity is a
| boomerang.
ing kit are sometimes compelled to halt
until the appearance of another and
more proVident wheelman.
The young lady sat for a long time
at the wayside, ruminating upon the
strange conduct of the detected indiv-
idual, and endeavorng to account for
it, She remembered with chGgrin, that
Lynde had been continually in her
thoughts during the party. Embitter-
ed by his absence, it had passed like
an unpleasant dream. AS to the part
in which Bierly had figured that was
nearly forgotten. It never entered her
head that he considered himself her ac-
cepted lover. True. he had adopted a
somewhat sentimental strain when
chance left them alone, and but for
the disturbed equilibrium Of a flower
pot, might have said something foolish
There was nothing in the memory
however, to mitigate the surprise OF
the following letter, which she now
read
my Darling:-I could hardly believe
in my good fortune, were not every par
| of la