Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-06

M.kV y hcpU ulo
II @a as he fidgeted with
u E his paper and
Y Eg stirred his hot
ii -&g2dA coffee. Just as his
y-~,r,--zlr-"-cssssys patience was at an
-..----s5sSssst1ov -..----s5sSss end the door opened
.----s%-I1 and admitted tall,
~ u handsome girl, with
bright blue eyes and a determined
mouth. She held big bunch of Gle
mats in her hands.
''Where have you been, Mona?" in
quired her father.
"Down at the river; I found the
stone wall near the boathouse ablaze
with these blossoms. 1 am sorry to
be late, dear"
''The Southern mail is in," OBJ
served the General, nodding toward
small pile of letters at her plate.
She flushed slightly as she laid the
clematis on the sideboard, and took her
5eat at the table. A conscious smile
crossed her fathers face as she broke
the seal of the first letter. He turned
to the paper in his hands, and his eyes
caught this heading; ga Romance in
Real Life" He glanced at the ar
ticle casually, and then the smile died
away; his hands tightened on the
paper and his face grew hard and
stern while he read the following
paragraph:
"With the invalided officers return
ing this week is young Colonel Law
renee, who was severely hurt in the
charge at San Juan. Among the
nurses who went to look after the sick
was handsome young woman whom
the Colonel formerly admired. Fam
lily misfortunes had forced her to
adopt nursing as profession. Their
friendship was renewed, and when
the Colonel came home he was en-
gagged to his old love. Colonel Law
renee is to be married very shortly
Report says that he had entangled
himself with another lady, who will
now find that she must look else
where for consolation.
As he laid down the paper the Gen
eral glanced at his daughter. She
was sitting with dazed expression
on her face, gazing at letter she held.
Father, what does this mean?" she
exclaimed, holding out the letter. He
took it from her, and this Is what he
read:
"24 West Fifty street,
, NEW YORK, September 12, 1898.
Dear Mona-You may have seen in the
, papers an account of my being wounded
made light of it in my last letter, fearing
to alarm you, but the truth is 1 am a wreck
the nlnars hnya nrat n, etn taJ
invalided and crippled, and If it had not
! peen Tor devoted nursing / should not be
, here to-day. Under the circumstances
do not feel justified in holding you to your
engagement; notwithstanding the pain il
causes me to do this l want to release yor
entirely and leave you free to marry some
one who is not so shattered as myself; bu
believe me, dearest, that whatever nv fu
ture life, you will always be shrined deeI
In my heart OF hearts. Your faithful friend
, "HENRY LAWRENCE"
'What does it mean?" almost shout
ed the old General. eft means tha
your lover is a scoundrel, Mona; reat
, this" and he thrust into her hand
, the newspaper containing the "Ro
nance in Real Life"
''Be brave, child; be brave" sait
her father, as he watched her anx
iously.
, After moments silence, the cir
turned pale face toward her father
81 will be brave, but leave me to my
self for while, and crushing the let
ter in her hand, she hastily left tn,
/ room.
1t was terrible blow to the Gen
eral; he had always liked Colonel Law
and l..
ment just before the young man wa,
l ordered to Cuba. Pacing the rooms
wrathfully, he gave vent to his feel
ings. ''The scoundrell should lik,
to horsewhip him myself for whell
OF cur if he were not wounded. Wha
are his hurts to the stab he has given
Mona-ah! when Gilbert hears this
and then the General remembered tina
his son was coming home that week
1t was satisfaction to have MAJ
around to whom lie could give vent tt
his outraged feelings.
As though in answer to his thoughts
the butler at that moment brought il
telegram. eyes, Gilbert was com
ing, and, fortunately, day earlier
than expected, bringing friend Will
him for the ball. Just as well to dis
tract her attention, thought her father
as Mona joined him with her hat oil
and letter in her hand.
81 have written a few lines to sa,
that his views upon the subject of oul
engagement entirely coincide witt
mine"
MY brave girl"
"Don't say word more, now, father
I can't bear it,"
Colbert is coming tomorrow at
with an old college friend, wbe, i
seems, has just turned up il New
York"
81 am glad" said Mona, quietly
and then calling to her dogs, sh,
walked quickly away.
| Gilbert Higgerson was good-heart.