The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-14

uieSAnE taDle. Inc letters between |
them flew faster and faster. And
finally there was brought her one even
ing by her father note saying simply:
viii you marry me? I fear that your
parents will, object Can you not, dear
est manage to come here, say to visit
some one? And We Will be married, So
cratly mere. Come, como, dearie. come
Forever John.
Aud later that night the girl thought
OF everything, thought of what such
step might mean. of the anger of her |
parents. that they might disown her, |
that she did not really know him and |
that he might not be suited to her. l|ut |
above all these thoughts there rose |
another. Her love for him. his love |
for her. And that thought trumphed. |
She would go. She would not promise, |
but she would go, would talk to him, |
would sec. and then, perhaps
Favored In everything as she had |
been all her life by her parents, Mar
garct's ruse to get away from home !
FOR a few days was easily accomplished. |
She intended visiting an old schoolmate.
one Of the seminary girls. the one who
had Introduced her to the young man in
Jackson az the academy dance And
at the end of three days she was ready
to start on the morrow
She understood herself we'll. Never
had she known any one who in the
smallest degree had entered her heart
At school she had studied long and
| late. and gone home finally with a
| card Of honor. The life of the country
| town was calling to the girl. Her
| naturally sensitive temperament Chafed
within the narOwness of her life. Such
! an adventure as she had now started
in unon was but natural to her.
! She did not inform John Thompson
| OF the date Of her arrival. So. when
the train at last whirled into the sta
| tion at Jackson she saw no familiar
| face. Her checks were aglow as she
stepped from the platform of the coach
10 the ground. Soon she would see
him. and then Was her dream TO
prove but Il dream or was she TO find
in him that which her heart most
| lopged for?
She took a carriage and told the
driver the address to which she wished
to be taken-his address. 1t was not a
long ride At every bump of the vehi-
Gle the girls heart bumped. Those few
minutes of the drive were minutes Of
anxiety, almost of torment to her So
wrought up had she become in her
mind by the thought that perhaps he
did not really mean he wished her to
come. he really did not mean that he
loved her.
At last the carriage stopped, the
door was opened The girl aliGhted.
The vehicle had drawn up before a
great stone and brick house in what
appeared to be a fashionable part of
town compared to the districts which
a.. hal Tho
station.
| she told the driver to wait for her,
and she ran lightly up the walk to the
porch. Just az she pushed the button
of the bell she noticed "A woman dart
away from one of the front windows.
IN another instant the door was
opened, and by woman.
Mr. John Thompson lives here, does
he not?" inquired Margaret with
tremor in her voice.
The woman looked at her queerly,
fixedly for an instant, then replied:
Eyes; won't you come in?"
From the hall the girl was ushcred
into a parlor on the left. The woman
followed her. About her mouth there
played a little smile of curiosity and
intcrest and her eyes were quizzically
studying the girl
lis Mr. Thompson busy?" asked
Margaret
NO" was the wonan's reply, what
would you like of him?'
The girl looked up startled. why
: why" she stammered. its a little
} matter Of purely personal business
And then she exclaimed suddenly,
Maybe YOU are his sister, are you?"
+ Again the queer look in the woman's
= eyes. again that little curious smile,
p Then she said firmly, mo, | am not
his sister. ] am John Thompson, the
, John Thompson whom you wish to
= see"
, Margaret Adams did not utter a
l sound.
The brightness died out of her eyes
= Her lips parted slightly and showed
] her teeth between them. Slowly her
p fingers loosencd their grip on the
1 | handkerchief that she held in her lap
= Then she cried. as though pulling her
/ self together for an effort OF strength
/ and Suu-you are the one who wrote
+ the letters to me. | am Margaret
Adams
2 Yes" replied the woman. stu
a smiling. Il did it for my own amuse-
e ment, and tC teach some foolish girl
y | a ieSSOll. am sorry Ine Slll HbIpe1s
q to be such a pretty one as YOU are
;, As for the picture. that is of an actor
!, now engaged in New York. man wht
!, mas been married for years. and whose
n wife,
e She did not finish the sentence. Mar
70 garpt's head fell 10 one side on hcl
e shoulder. Her lips opened further, an,
= there was fleck of white in each cor.
b nor of her mouth Her hands had re-
luNCd.
y she sat iuptionless in the chair for :
I few seconds, tho woman kneeing be-
3 side her chafng her hands
- The girl shuddered twice ana hcl
+ head turned slowly. Her eyes looked
s into those of The woman gazing up a
her. She raised her hand and place.
a it ON the head at her side. \ it'll,
d faint, vaSue smile. the shadow of {
e smile, seemed irving TO break iron
n aer lips. Then she laughed once.
a metallic, Stesly sort of laugh, with n,
j. lnenim"nt in 1t. Her hand lying oI
II the head of the woman, bowed To th'
e lrn! Of the chair, uuivered 2 little an(
?. the fingers stroked slightly the hair.
IT Tie girl shuddered again am
70 sire ightened up. The woman raiset
e her head. Margaret fumhIed With III
Il button of her glove and made to rise
y The woman clutChed her elbow.
Il You mustn't 60" she said. "AnD
1, forgive me l never thought, 7 neye
t, thought .~--'
# The girl bad risen,
4.