Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-09-20
THE LAST WORD.


an angry flush upon her pretty face.
Surely you must have some reason
for your absurd, tyrannical objection" !"
Il have already told you my rea-
son. he answered shortly, and in the
effort to keep his temper under con-
troll his voice sounded hard and cold.
You cannot expect me to believe
that you are foolish enough to make
all this fuss because l shall have to
wear Il short dress. Why, my part re-
qures it. Fancy peasant in u
train"
This was said with a scornful little
laugh that was meant to. and did,
sting Frank Clements into answer
ing hastily
You know perfectly well what my
chief reason is. l am disappointed in
you, Joan; l thought that You We're
truthful and open"
Truthful and open"' broke in Joan.
Though her tone was indignant, even
defiant, the girl knew in her heart
that she had not been as candid with
him upon this matter as she ought to
have been; but this knowledge only
made her the more angry with her
self and him. eff you think me other
wise"
"How con l help it. You prom
ised-'
Il made no promise
Not in words, perhaps but I under
stood"
Really, l cannot be held account
able for all that you understand. or
fancy you understand
IL understood" he repeated firmly,
"that you would give in to my wishes
in this natter
Joan Dudley and Frank Clements
We're affianced lovers. and We're in
reality sincerely attached to one an
other; but Joan was young and wilful.
spoilt child, fattered and in
dulged, and so accustomed to
have her own way that she could not
brook the slightest opposition to her
wishes. and considered that. if Frank
really loved her as much as he pro-
fessed to do, he would give in to her
every whim. But Frank Clements was
man who held strong and decided
opinions upon what was right and
and had openly expressed the wish
that Joan should take no part in some
private theatricals that We're being
''got up" by the Palmers. neighbors of
the Dudleys, and had given his rea-
sons to Joan. the principal one of
which was that he had Il particular
dislike to the man who was to take
the principal character, and would. if
Joan acted, play the part of her
lover.
''Sangster is cad Frank had
said. in his most decided tones; mot
at all the sort of person that should
like to see you on friendly terms
with"
But l need not be friendly with
him, Frank"
1T is impossible to help it, in n
thing of this sort Believe me, dar-
ling. that / have good reason for my
dislike to your joining them"
VERY well; perhaps. if you are very
good and nice. | won't"
At this sweet concession. which he
looked upon as good rs a promise,
Frank was delighted: and when. a
day or two later he went up to town
on business that could not be post
poned. he was under the happy delu-
sion that this wilful little lady-love
had given up her own wishes in def
erence to his; for. spite of her wilful-
ness. the girl had Il true and loving
heart and Il sweet nature. that all the
spelling and indulgence had not de-
stroyed.
The day following her lovers de-
parture. Joan drove over to call upon
the Palmers. to tell them that she
could not take the part assigned to
her. and had hoped to find them
alone: but on entering the drawing
room found quite a large party as
sembled. all of whom We're busily and
eagerly discussing the characters and
dresses of the forthcoming play.
The excitement and interest of the
preparations that We're going ON 50
busily helped the girl to put aside the
kinder and better feelings that would
intrude themselves. spite of the Hat
teries and praises that We're SO
lavlshly bestowed upon her looks
and her acting praises that We're
very pleasant 10 the spoiled girl who
liked TO think herself the centre of
attraction. and To he told that without
her the play would be failure.
In her letters tn Frank, Joan had
sald that Laura wouldn't hear of her
giving NJ the part of Amaryllis, but
she added nothing further upon the
subject So that Il had been surprise
as well as "A disappointment Ia him
To lind. on his return Ia lioscmount
that Joan was although She knew of
his coming spending the day at the
ralmers'.
".Ioan would not have gone today,
but. unfortunately, II was their first
dress rehearsal" Mrs. Dudley told
him.
And she eouldn't resist going to
utaaNNas..I tttll -.