Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-09

EYsITTy/I/IT\NSS%So an undue amount
UV WV w y of credit for amia-
bility and sweetness of disposition, 1
may as we'll state at once that I have a
brother.
Being possessed also of fair amount
of brains, was never for moment
deceived as to the nature of the affec-
tion lavished upon me by most of my
female friends. But when my dearest
chum, the girl I really thought loved
me for my myself alone, told me she
was engaged to be married to my
brother, Fred, my grief and anger
knew no bounds.
I had gone over to stay all night with
Maud, and had laid awake till 3 a. m.
exchanging condolences, and all the
time the sneak never said word about
Fred. AT last I dropped off to sleep
and was just in the midst of a glorious
dream, in which I was leading the
cotillon with a magnificent man with
soulful eyes and a bank account in
seven figures, when Maud suddenly
threw her arms about my neck, entire
ly shutting off my wind and soaring
me almost into nervous prostration,
and with burst of tears confessed
that she had been keeping secret
from me for two whole days, and that
we were to be really, truly sisters, not
just sisters in affection, as heretofore,
etc.
I managed to wriggle out from un-
der Maud's arm, and then sat up in
bed and said things. I don't remem-
Der exactly what they were, but they
must have been pretty bad, for Fred
didn't speak to me for week (of course
Maud had to tell him), and Maud her.
self went around looking like suffer-
ing martyr whenever we CHANGED to be
under the same roof.
was convinced that 1 was the most
miserable girl in the world after that,
and the worst of it was that every
body, including Maud herself, thought
that was only mad because she was
engaged first, an imputation which 1
need not say was entirely unjust.
I'm sure could not see what Maud
had done that was so wonderful any
way. Fred is anything but brilliant,
and L never considered him even
good-looking, while as long as mamma
lives he hasn't penny to his name
except his salary, which is by no
means princely.
But Maud! You'd have thought
she'd landed Vanderbilt or a poet
laureate the way she acted.
L pretended not to notice her airs
and nursed my grief in proud silence,
but 1 had no doubt that I was the
most wronged and unhappy creature
that ever lived, until subsequent
events taught me that our affairs are
arranged by an all-wise Providence in
whom we may safely trust, no matter
how dark our way may seem at the
time. shall never doubt the wis
dom of Providence again.
To begin with, I found I was likely
to get lot of amusement out of this
engagement. Fred was madly jealous
of Maud all the time, though anyone
could see with half an eye that she
was simply mad about him and in
deadly fear of losing him herself.
He would come home at least three
times week, pale, haggard and wild
eyed, man bereft of hope. The
rest of the time he was madly joyful
and talked about Maud as if she was
several degrees higher than the
seraphim. 1t was enough to make a
st. Bernard dog laugh just to see
him.
1 also found further consolation in
the fact that his state of mind inter
fered seriously with Fred's appetite,
that L got all the extra pudding and
things that had always fallen to his
share (Fred was always a greedy
thing), and then Perecval Jones came
from abroad.
Perceval was a millionaire's son,
with face too beautiful for words
and taste for Ibsen.
Of course all this made him desira-
BILE beyond most other men, but
must say the way the girls of Archer
vile made different kinds of fools OF
themselves about him was enough to
disgust even a woman's rights advo.
cate with her sex.
need hardly say that was smart
enough to treat Mr.. Jones with
marked GOODNESS. The first time ]
met him my behavior seemed to puz
zle the parnpered youth. The second
time he appeared distinctly grateful
On the third he asked permission tc
call, and I went home at peace with
all the world, even Fred
For five consecutive afternoons
after that L sat by the tea table in the
back drawing room. attired in my
best gown, expecting Perceval-ir
vain.
On the sixth he came.
"What delightful surprise, IT sale
gushingly. was trife nervou:
from waiting so long.
"Ah, thanks" he remarked, look
ing disappointed.
And then mamma came in, and il
spite of my previous warnings fin
ished things by Creating Mr.. Jones al
If he were Albert Edward or Marl
Hanna or at least a royal duke
-