Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-07

| SAt oi soui uoluS hluu dCtlOuS Wu0u
you were in the humor of 1t. You can
do them, and you shall In this instance.
You are cross this morning-you know
you are! Hush! no excuse; you are
selfish and irritable and overbearing.
Ii | were your mother, and you a lit
tie boy, l should certainly put you in
a corner until you promised to be
good"
Mr.. Deane smiled, although he was
getting angry. Olive went on with the
utmost composure
But as it is, l shall only keep you
here prisoner until you have behaved,
and given me your word not to annoy
my aunt again for rent until she is able
to pay you. Then, and not until then,
Will you receive your money. Do you
promise? Yes or no?"
| Il certainly shall agree to no such
terms" said Mr.. Deane, tartly.
Very well, sir; l can wait"
Miss Mellen deposited the key in the
pocket of her gray dress and sat down
to her copying. Had she been a man,
Mr.. Deane would probably have
knocked her down. as 1t was, she wore
an invisible armor of power in the very
fact that she was a fragile, slight
woman, and she knew it.
Miss Olive" he said, sternly. "let
us terminate this mummery. Unlock
that door!"
Mr. Deane, will not!"
| i Shall shout and alarm the neigh
borhood then, or call a policeman"
Very well, Mr.. Deane; do SO, if you
please"
She dipped her pen in the ink and
began on fresh page Matthew sat
down, puzzled and discounted. and
watched the long-lashed eyes and
family tinged cheek of his keeper. She
was very pretty-what a pity she vas
so obstinate!
Miss Olive!"
"Sir?"
"The clock has just struck 12."
81 heard it."
Il should like to go out and get some
lunch"
Il am sorry that that luxury is out
of your power
But I'm confounded hungry"
Are you?"
And I'm not going to stand this
sort of thing any longer"
"No?"
How provokingly nonchalant she
was. Mr.. Deane eyed the pocket of the
gray dress greedily, and walked up
and down the room pettishly.
Il have an appointment at II
Indeed! What pity you will be un-
able to keep it,"
He took another turn across the
room. Olive looked up with a smile.
We'll, are you ready to promise?"
Hang it, yes What else can l
do?"
you promise?"
Il do, because can't help myself"
Olive drew the key from her pocket
with softened eyes.
You have made me very happy, Mr.
Deane. | dare say you think me un-
Womanly and unfeminine, but indeed
you do not know to what extremities
we are driven by poverty. Good-morn-
| ing, SIR"
Mr.. Deane sailed forth with Curl
GUS complication of thoughts and emo
tions struggling through his brain, in
which gray dresses, long-lashed blue
eyes and scarlet ribbons played
prominent part.
Did you get the money, sir?" asked
! the clerk, when he walked into the Of
| flee.
Mind your business, sir" was the
tart response.
Il pity her husband" thought Mr..
| Dp1nn ha tnpnaI hn
on his desk. How she will henpeck
him! By the way, l wonder who her
husband will be?"
The next day he called at the Widow
Clarkson's to assure Miss Mellen that
he had nos idea of breaking his prom
ise, and the next but one after that he
came to tell the young lady she need
entertain no doubt of his integrity.
And the next week he dropped in on
them with no particular errand to
serve as an excuse!
When shall we be married, Olive?
Next month, dearest? Do not let us
put it off later"
Il have no wishes but yours, Mat
thew"
Really, Miss Olive Mellen, to hear
that meek tone one would suppose you
had never locked me up here and tyr
annized over me as jailer."
Olive burst into merry laugh.
you dear old Matthew; I give you
warning beforehand that mean to
have my own way in everything. Do
you wish to recede from your bargain?
1t is not too late yet"
No, Matthew Deane didn't; he had
a vague idea that it would be very
pleasant to be henpecked by Olive!