The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-11
"ALAS! HOW EASILY
THINGS Go WRONG"
BY MABEL II. ROBINS.

that-that bOunder, Osbert BOwdenP
Neil Chester's eyes flashed danger
ously, and there was an authorize
tive tone in his voice.
Alyne Fortescue raised her head
with a naughty gesture.
III am going out riding alone with
Mr.. Bowden," she cried, willfully,
"and will you please remember, be-
fore you call him names, that you
are speaking of friend of mine!"
Friend or not" angrily, II will not
allow such a thing. / forbid you to
60"
Alyne's eyes blazed.
You seem to be anticipating mat
ters," she said. "Iou and l are not
married-yet. I have not promised to
obey you-yet.'
AT least" his tone softening, "an
engaged girl should respect the wishes
of her fiance."
Not when they are unreasonable"
Unreasonable? hotly. "Do you
think it unreasonable because I re-
fuse to allow you to go out with a
man with such reputation as he
has?"
ALLOW, Allow" she cried, pet
tishly. II will not listen to such a
word from you!"
A flash of anger again crossed his
face.
Then you persist In going on this
excursion, contrary to my wishes?'
Most certainly do"
"Then," passionately, "you may
choose between us. 1 will not marry
a girl who has anything to do with a
scoundrel like Osbert Bowden. I'm
less you promise to give up this ride,
! shall break off the engagement"
She looked at him little fearfully
for n moment, and then she threw
her head back and laughed. OF course,
he did not mean it-he would never
carry out his threat. And it was a
great mistake giving In to a man be-
fore marriage. What would he be
like after?
THAT is a matter" she said, proud
ly, ''in which you can do as you like.
certainly mean to ride this after
noon with Mr.. BowGcn."
Neil's face grew very pale.
think Of what you are doing" he
said, warningly. II am not boy to
be tossed aside nike woman's play.
thing. II you send me away NOW
shall not come back"
Alyne shrugged her shoulders.
"You can do exactly ss you please" /"
she answered, defiantly.
She was the darling Of her fathers
heart. An her life long she had been
spoiled and allowed to have her own
way. She never imagined for q mo-
ment that Neil would not give in at
once.
He looked at her with stern, angry
eyes.
"Then you persist in going out with
Osbert Bowden?" he said.
II have told You SO many times,"
GROSSLY. -Of course, I am going. I
promised Mr.. Bowden, and I am not
one TO break my promise. l only
wish had never told you"
"Then," slowly, "there is nothing to
do but TO say good-by." and he took
up his cap and strobe toward the door.
"You mean to say that our engage
ment has come to an end?" she said.
II mean to say that our engagement
hAc rorns IN m opd
This Is what you have been work.
ing for" she cried, passionately
"You never loved me, and you catch
At the smallest excuse to break it of
You want to marry Amy Tildsn,
suppose; she has more money than l.
Oh" recklessly, ut is just as we'll
just as well. 1t is better to find out
our mistake beforehand"
"Just as WE'LL" he said, In a white
rage. Tor you could not have loved
me much to 60 out riding alone with
another man-and such Q man! Good.
by"
And he turned the handle of the
door and went out, and, ~ II in a
uEcAIu, Suc HsPcucu 70 HIS I3tTCdtIS
footsteps until she could hear them
no longer.
And then, with . sudden impulse
she sprang up to call him back. But
alas. 1t was too late. She only caught
glimp. of his tall, straight figure
as It disappeared down the drive
Should she run after him? Should
she stay him? For . moment i,
seemed a. If she would so, and the1
pride ross up to deter her.
Nevertheless she concluded thai
she would not go out riding vdtl
Osbert Bowden.
She wrote a little note and seBt 4
round, and then she wondered wha'
she should do. There seemed nothing
in the world to do. She wished Mel
would come back.
But the day dragged on, and . weel
dragged On, and stih he did not esane
a terrible fear began 30 spring UP I,
Alyne's heaVt. And then she met n,
friend With whom Neil had been stay
ing the ~ NV months.
She w. 80 proud To ask hin sta
NeA-<he vvu)d not CHOW tAs Vss1s
| IN k~ow th>x hod nxaprAJSh "A n