Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-08

sic and she was interested in him, but
then | ought to have been satisfied, for
didn't l advise Jessie to set her cap
| for him?
L looked up at Clarence when he re-
proved me. He was so earnest that
l felt like withdrawing from the mis-
chief mt once. But didn't withdraw.
l went straight on, dragging the 9th.
ers after me. l felt dreadful with
| those black eyes upon me. Why
persisted in the mischief cannot tell.
| except it was as brother Tom said,
out of q spirit of downright pure cnss-
| edness.
One day, about week after. we
three-Clarence, Jessie and I-were
standing on the porch. Jessie stood
between Clarence and me. Somehow
Jessie always came between Clarence
and me. Now, l only just mentioned
that, but | hope no one will think
l was jealous of Jessie. Why should
1 be. Didn't l recommend Clarence
to Jessie?
To be sure l did, but somehow
very often forgot that of late.
Charlie Morse came strolling up the
path. My heart jumped with delight
Strange, what delight | took lately in
Charlie Morse's coming. Clarence
went down to meet him, leaving Jes-
sic and me on the porch.
Good gracious" ! thought to my.
self. my delight vanishing instantly.
Charlie Morse might just as we'll
have stayed at home if it is Clarence
that is going down to him.
Isn't Clarence handsome?" said
Jessie, speaking more to herself than
to me, while the pink in her cheeks
grew pinller.
"Oh! l think he's awfully brown"
said l. OF course | had to say some
thing.
But that is from exposure" said
Jessie, smiling zone of these days,
Maud, his face will be as delicate in
tint as your own"
"Maybe it will; but 1 don't know
anything about it." | said.
Maud and Jessie's bushes grew
deeper, and her eyes wandered to
where Clarence and Charlie were
standing, "ne asked me to marry him.
l wanted to tell you first. you know"
If thunderbolt had descended on
my head 1 could not have been more
surprised. a cold tremor ran over
me. Jessie must have noticed how
strangely L behaved. l tried to COM
pose myself by thinking Indignantly
90 10, Il,
Think of it. he was only two weeks
in our house when he proposed to Jes-
sic.
Well l said as soon as l could get
my breath, "he ought to have sent you
his photograph and a proposal before
he arrived himself, he was in such
hurry"
Whom are you talking about,
Maud?"
Clarence Arnold. of course"
so? but Clarence Arnold doesn't
happen to be the one that proposed
to me. 1t was Charlie Morse, and /
accepted him, Maud, for | knew you
always liked Charlie" and Jessie
laughed outright.
another great bounce. Yes, it was
true what Jessie said. l always liked
Charlie, and | was so glad she accept
ed the dear fellow.
A year has passed away since then.
Charlie and Jessie were married long
since, and they are on n visit to our
house now. I sit in the window watch
ing them out upon the lawn, just as l
sat and watched them year ago.
Only that time my watchful eyes We're
accompanied by thoughts of an old
maid.
Well. you know mother said l was
cut out for an old maid. but 1 never
think of that now. Strange l never
bother my head about the old-maid
business any more, and guess why l
don't? Oh! but it's conundrum.
You'd never guess it if l didn't tell
you.
Because l am Clarence Arnold'J
wife"