The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-09-12

for your absurd tyrnnnlcnl objection"
II have already told you my rcn-
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 10 believe
that you nre foolish enough 10 make
all this fuss because | shall have to
wear short dress. Why, my part re-
qulres Il. Fancy II peasant In u
trainv
This wns said with n scornful little
laugh that was meant to- aud dld.
sting Frank Clements Into answer
Ing hastily
"You know perfectly well whn, my
chief reason IL. | am disappointed In
you. Joan; thought that You were
truthful and open"
Truthful aud 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 ns she ought 10
have been; but this knowledge only
made her the more angry with her
self and him. "lr you think me other
wise"
GLOW con | help II. You prom
lscd-"
~ made no promise"
"Not In words, perhaps, but under
stood"
Really, cannot be held account
able for all that you understand, or
fancy you understand"
~ understood" he repeated firmly,
that you would give In TO my wishes
In this matter"
Joan Dudley and Frank Clements
were aillnnced lovers, and were In
reality sincerely attached to one an
other; but Joan was young and wilful,
sbollt child, nattercd and in
dulgcd, and so accustomed to
have her own way that she could not
brook the slightest opposition 10 her
wishes, and considered that, If Frank
really loved her rs 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
fitting. especially In regard to women,
and had openly expressed the wish
that Joan should take no part In some
private thcatrlcals that were being
"got up" by the Palmers, neighhors 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, II
Joan acted, play the part of her
lover.
"Sangstcr Is n cad" Frank had
said, in his most decided tones; "not
Mt all the sort of person that l should
like to see you on friendly terms
with"
but I need not be friendly with
him, Frank"
"It IL impossible to help 1t, In n
thing of this sort. Believe me, dar-
ling, that | have good reason for my
dislike to your Joining them"
Every well; perhaps, II you are very
good and nice, | won't"
At this sweet concession, which he
looked upon as good rs Il promise,
Frank was dellghtcd; and when, n
day or two later, he went up 20 town
on business that could not be post
poned, he was under the happy delu-
sion that this wilful little lady-lovc
had given up her own wishes in def
erence to his; for, spite Of her wilful-
ness, the girl had true and loving
heart and 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
could not take the part assigned to
her, and had hoped to find them
alone; but on entering the drawing
room found quite large party as
sembled, all Of whom were buslly and
eagerly discussing the characters and
dresses Of the forthcoming play.
The excitement and interest OF the
preparations that were going on so
buslly helped the girl to put aside the
kinder and better feelings that would
intrude themselves, spite Of the fiat
teries and praises that We're so
lavishly bestowed upon her locks
and her actlng-pralses that were
very pleasant to the spoiled girl. who
liked to think herself the centre Of
attraction, and to be told that without
her the play would be failure.
In her letters to Frank, Joan had
said that Laura wouldn't hear of her
giving up the part of Amaryllis, but
she added nothing further upon the
subject, so that 1t had been surprise
as well as n disappointment to him
to find, on his return to Rosemount.
that Joan was-although she knew of
his coming-spending the day at the
Palmers'.
"Joan would not have gone today.
but, unfortunately, 1t was their first
dress rehearsal" Mrs. Dudley told
him.
"And she couldn't resist going to
see It," he answered. trying to hide
his disappointment and annoyance.