Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-12-05
An Awkward Blu17der.

BY SOPHIE SWETT.

| She displayed the card with childish
simplicity. Il think some one must
have told her that l love music" she
added, with a doubtful, questioning
| glance at her visitors face.
For a shadow had fallen upon the
honest-eyed face, as Frances under
stood, in fash, that it would be diff
| cult to explain the mistake.
Difficult. 1t was impossible, she
said to herself. as she caught a quiver
| of the chin that was cleft at its peaked
tip by II childish dimple. There was
suspicion of mistiness about the corn
flower-blue eyes. She did not suspect
the blunder. How should she?
Il want to ask you about your dis
engaged time" faltered Frances. IL
have been trying to bring my mother
here for a long time
Betty became businesslille at once
and brought her mother, who, on con
sulting thick kengagement-b book, found
that she should have a few days to
| spare in the course of the month.
"Of course, L might have given the
message about the pink waist" re-
tlected Frances, as she flecked fly off
her fat pony's back, but | was afraid
she would suspect how things were.
She was so pleased! To keep her from
| knowing that it was mistake seemed
the one important thing.
The pony was forced to go Mt pace
which shook his fat sides and caused
70 f1tp
proachful eye upon his young MISTRESS
whose views of life generally conceded
very satisfactorily with his own.
Out on Paradice road just where the
air begins to be sweet with the locust
trees, Frances met Mildred setting out
with her brother Stanley and his
friend, Lester Wyman. Mildred sent
the young men on ahead, in obedience
to an imperative private gesture from
Frances, and then heard the story
of the dreadful blundar.
at was stupid of me-" said Mildred,
with pucler of her serene brow.
But l don't see how she could have
thought | meant to invite her! HoV
awkward for you to have to eXplail!"
awkward! | simply didn't explain.
She was so pleased about the invita-
toni She thought you must have
heard how fond she was OF music.
And l don't think that good times
have ever come much in her way. L
didn't say n word about your pink
chiffon. | thought you would rather
leave it to Providence .han to run the
risk of hurting her.
why of course, anything would be
better than to hurt her" said Mildred,
slowly. 80 far as the pink waist
goes, | could write to her about it now.
She is perfectly prcsentable, but | wish
it could have happened some other time,
if l had got to make such blunder.
l did want Lester Wyman, who is a
diplomats son and accustomed to the
incest PEOPLE everywhere, to meet the
very cream of Old Harbor society,""
"She's the very creamlest thing in
the town, so far as looks 90, and he
need never know that dressmaking
sign hangs out over her door! Give
the girl good time, and don't take
it so hard" said Frances, sagely, as
she touchedthe fat pony with the whip.
"'Hey, Betty Martin, tiptoe fine1"
The little hard worked mother gave her
girl a playful push toward the long
mirror, and the mirror reflected the
prettiest gown that its experience had
known. 1t was of pale blue silk mus
lin over pale blue silk, and to its girl
;-J, Ia,
able quality known as "style." The
slip of girl, her blue eyes wide with
1lalf-incredulous delight, looked like
a princess-or rather as princess,
ought to look and is no more likely to-
look than any one else.
But rs Betty turned away from the
mirror-away, also from her mothers.
eycs-the delight faded suddenly, as Il
candle is blown out by the wind, and
the sensitive little peaked chin quiv-
cred with haunting Recollection of
the expression on Frances Pcnhallow's
face and the forced tone ofhercougrat-
ulations. There Rad been mistake
made, somehow. 1t was not likely
that Miss Brewster had meant to in
yte her
She said that to herself at one mo-
ment, and tried to think the next that
she had grown morbid and fanciful
by much brooding over Frances PEN
hallow's look of surprise-a look Of
surprise, that was all. She had not
known of the invitation. Betty had
not breathed a hint of her suspicion
to her mother. whose delight had been
even greater than her own.
Il would so, for her sake, over red
hot plow-shares"' Betty said to her
self, giving little kick to her beauti-
full, shimmering, light blue train.
That train was gracefully carried
on the night of the musicale, and so
was the small. ash-colored head-only
a triGe too high. And "a red and
restless spark burned on Betty's
check But when she found among