Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-21
HER TREACHEROUs FRIEND.

| L.
HER TREACHEROUS FRIEND.
The parties to that tripartite inter-
view were very differently affected by
! its immediate results.
To the adjutant il was both a hui
| initiating surprise and a wounding
puzzle Despite the assurance of Mrs.
| Zenith he felt that the objections to
the engagement were due at least in
some measure to distrust of himself.
After serious thought he determined to
wed at once lest the family influence
should overweight the present wish of
Miss Stella. He had no doubt that
she would now consent to elope.
Miss stella was quite satisfied that
the scene had occurred. 1t dispelled
any little doubt she might Heretofore
have entertained as to the firmness of
her hold upon the adjutant or her
ability to control him. 1t was, too, a
very substantial victory for her in the
family warfare so strongly waged
against her. Better than all else, she
saw that the result would be her
speedy marriage.
Mrs. Zenith was greatly unsettled by
1t and entirely dissatisfied with its re-
suits. To her it was evident that she
had utterly failed to separate the two.
In fact it was clear that she had
only made matters worse. She
did not doubt that Miss Stella would
elope rather than submit to coercion,
and the bare idea Of such possibility
distressed and Mortified her. That
was precisely what some of the Gossips
and Chiefs of the Scandal Bureau had
nj mr. "
and devoutly hoped for. Such catas-
trophe would be insupportable. The
more she thought about it the more
sincerely she repented her precipitan-
cy. How to prevent the elopement
that she felt was impending was the
disturbing question upon which she
now called Miss Zenith to consult.
The consultation resulted in nothing
satisfactory until 1t was interrupted
by the entrance of Miss Letson, a
friend residing at Barton. To her they
confided their dilemma, desiring her
advice. She suggested that time was
important; that if Miss Stella could be
prevented from meeting or communi-
eating with the adjutant for a day or
two, satisfactory means might be de-
vtsed for effecting their object.
agreed that Miss Stella should be in
duced to accompany Miss Letson to
Barton with the understanding that
she should return by the noon train
the following day, her return at that
time to be by some means frustrated
by Miss Letson, so that the appointed
meeting fixed for the afternoon must
fail
Miss Stella came in and when Miss
Letson proposed the visit Miss Zenith
that she might not be suspected of
collusion, opposed the suggestion and
urged her mother not to approve it.
and in three hours from the time she
saw her lover walk down to her faith
er's gate Miss Stella was in Barton,
twenty miles from him.
The visit was a pleasant one, and
Miss Stella thought 1t a fortunate cir
cumstance, as it would obviate any
trouble she might otherwise have en-
countered in keeping her appointment
to meet the adjutant at the Morton's,
since she could go thither directly
from the train on her arrival at Mi
nersvale.
In the morning when Miss Stella
awoke Miss Letson was up and reading.
She looked at her watch and found
that it was stopped. She was much
surprised being unable to account for
its failure as she knew it to be in good
order and she never forgot to wind
II. She glanced at the clock on the
mantel and regulating her watch by
that, started it The watch had been
stopped by Miss Letson, who had also
turned the clock back.
The Letson residence was but a
block from the station and it was easy
to reach the train if one started as the
train pulled in.
The morning was pleasant and the
young ladies spent the greater part of
1t in the yard. Looking at her watch
Miss Stella climbed out of a hammock
in which she was lazily swinging and
said:
1T is nearly time for the train. I
must get ready to 60"
Stella, do wait till tomorrow"
mot for the world, this time"
You are too bad; you don't care a
bit for me; it's SO pokey here alone.
Do stop?"
Il think a great deal of you, dear,
but | would not stay till tomorrow for
all of Barton"
But why not? It's Just a nasty lit
tie notion of yours; you are always
SO headstrong when you set out to do
anything. Please stop over?"
II would stay if l might; but it is
impossible; it is not a whim; l would
not miss that train for all of the great
fortunes of all the millionaires of the
world, past and present"
Before she reached the door the train
appeared at the station and she real
lied that her watch was inaccurate.
She did not hesitate, but started to-
ward the station, saying to Miss Let
son:
"Oh, dear! I must not miss that
train! l will send for my wraps again.
You can say goodbye to your folks for
me. Come along, hurry"
She hurried along at such rapid gait
th It Miss Letson could not keep up
with her. Reaching the ticket window
she called for a ticket to Minersvale
and thrust her hand into her pocket.
Her purse was missing! The engine
bell rang; the engine gave two short,
shrill shrieks and the conductor cried:
"All aboard"
The agent looked out through his
little square window, held up the bit
If blue and white pasteboard and said:
Eighty cents, please? You'd better
hurry Miss, the train is moving; it is
.wenty minutes late"
"Oh, dear! l have left my purse al
Mr.. Lessons! Let me have the ticket
and as soon as / get home l will tele-
graph to them to let you have the
price of it? am Stella Zenith of Mi
aersvale; my father is Captain Evan
Zenith"
Gainst the rules Very sorry to
deny you so small favor; but l can't
oblige you. Mother train tomorrow,
you know"
But l have an engagement at home
that | must keep this evening"
Don't see how you can, Miss; trains
gonei"
She was defeated. Not outgeneral-
ed, but betrayed. She was beaten
only by treachery and theft.