Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-01-31


'Lika brother and sister?"
Exactly. We quarrel quite as
much, at least"
"And make it up, dare say? But
l an sure the quarrels are not serious.
Apropos, am l forgiven?"
''Was there a crime, Mr.. Holland?
Really, have forgotten.
'We were discussing"
George Meredith, was it not?"
''Then / am not forgiven for that
unfortunate fault of my youth? You
are very hard, Miss Lindsay. You
have taught me the error of my ways,
and yet You refuse to credit the con-
version How eau L convince you? [
am quite serious"
"Oh, I hope not" she said. 'Tt is
too warm for anything but frivolity."
He reddenel a little, and nervously
pluched the grass round him. Miss
Lindsay watched him with some curl
osity out of the corners of her eyes:
the symptoms were not unknown to
her. "There is a green thing on your
coat, Mr.. Holland" she went on.
"Ihanks." He flcked the insect
Off. 81 have something to say, Miss
Lindsay-a kind of confession. 1t is
stupid; but don't quite know how to
say it.
"Is it necessary?" she asked inno-
Gently. ST don't like confessions, Mr..
Holland. We are Low Church peo-
pie"
''It means lot to me-" he contin-
ued, and again there was silence.
Then he rose for the second time,
perhaps feeling that an upright posi-
ton conduces to q proper dignity.
She perceived her opening, and rose
also. "1tis time we were returning, -
she remarked.
Don't go just yet, Miss Lindsay, -
he pleaded, putting out hand to de-
tain her.
81 want you to listen to me for a
moment. [ won't keep you if"
But already she was half-hidden by
the shrubbery, and her only answer
was a bewildering smile. He had
perforce to follow.
"It seems more crowded than ever. -
she said as they picked their way
through the thronS. "Ahl there are
my mother and Captain Havelock.
Shall we join them?--I hope you are
attending to your duties, Ralph? Mr..
Holland aEd [ have been discussing
Meredith-and things. Tired, mother? ?
Oh! You must be. Mr.. Holland, will
you find my mother a seat somewhere
near the band, if you can? The
Hungarians are SO good"
"Delighted," he replied. Then
lower: Il may see you again before
you go, Miss Lindsay?"
eff You can," she repeated.
She watched them until they were
lost in the crowd, and then deliberate.
ly led Captain Havelock back to the
little nook. Some girls have no origi
nality. But it was still empty.
"Better 81 down, Ralph" she said
taking her old place.
"Fhanks; prefer to stand" he
said stifly.
1T is a matter of taste-or of com
fort" She gave him swift glance
"Not up to Simla, is it?'
''I'm sick Of it. Beastly pack.
haven't had chance of speaking tc
you all afternoon, Nell"
philanthropy is its own reward, ;
she said.
"I.'s not that-ATrs. Lindsay is ali
right. But there's that scribbline
fellow who's always dangling aftel
you"
''He is very amusing-and clever.
"Is he? He doesn't know one enc
of gun from the other, and I suppose
he thinks that horses were invented tt
drag the Chelsea 'bus-or wherever
he stays"
"Why, dear boy, to be groom il
not mans chief end. And you az,
very rude. Mr.. Holland speaks yer,
nicely ofyou."
"Confound his impudence!" and b,
way of relief, he proceeded to kick
hole in Mrs. Gurdon's turf. "Lool
here, Nell" he said presently; "I'n
going off to Egypt"
"Indeed! thought winter was the
proper season. Won't it be rather
warm there just now?"
'"That is, if they'll have me-" h,
continued, Paying no heed. CIV,
volunteered for Dongola. Kitchener
is going up to Khaltu in the au
tumn-at least hope So"
"In Cooks,boats? What fun!"
"It will be-for Fuzzy and the der.
wishes. But you might have the de
cency to say you are sorry, Nell.
mayn't come back, you know"
$50 that is why you told me?" she
asked. Don't You think it is rather
crude, Captain Ravolock?" But SHE
was not looking at him, being en-,
gagged in tracing fancy patterns on tn,
grass. Not that it would have mat
tered; for he, on his part, was also re
gardiny the epoint of the sunshade with
apparent interest.
ooh, I dare say that writing cha,
-ua,,1l houa lnna l,