Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-22

and unpleasantresses of one'> friends
Alright, and Mrs. Weston sighed as she
resigned herself to the ordeal. The
tabbies looked daggers and battering-
rams as they saw her lift her eye
brows in Hartleigh's direction and that
gentleman promptly resume the seat
Stanton had just vacated at a slightly
more imperative signal from Mrs.
Stanton.
MY beloved Christian friend" said
Mrs. Weston, gravely. There is one
thing due Mrs. Hartleigh, under all
circumstances, and that is an apology"
because I-?"
Exactly. 1t was a breach of honor,
however innocent, and it is incumbent
upon you, as AN officer and gentle
man. to admit your indiscretion, or
error, and make the amende honor
able generally"
Hartleigh drew long breath, and
moved uneasily in his chair.
We'll it will be dashed unpleasant"
he said hesitatingly. But if you thiak
there is no other way-and it is the
proper thing"
"Assuredly, the proper thing" said
his mentor sternly. you hat no
right to tumble around the private
desk of anybody, and if you found
something you did not want to md,
that was retribution. And the penalty
thereof is sack-cloth and ashes"
But if she is permitting some black
guard to write things"
you do not know what she is per-
mitting, or anything about it," said
Mrs. Weston.
But l tell you l saw"
Three words. Eactly. And there
by hangs a history which you have
filed in with the aid of vivid mag
ination-and doubtless some personal
experience" (Hartleigh again moved
uneasily in his chair-"and it has
never entered your head that there
may be some things in the heavens
above and the earth beneath, Of which
you are not altogether cognizant. In
any case, two wrongs do not make one
right. l had that in my eopybook at
school. You must apologize"
The next evening the bistre shadows
that had begun to deepen around Mrs.
Hartleigh's soft gray eyes, were gone,
and the Helene guests congratulated
her on the deliverance from the dull
headache that had clung to her SO
long. After dinner, Hartleigh drew
Mrs. Weston aside for a moment.
He told her how Mrs. Hartleigh had
insisted upon his reading the whole
letter, which was the unwise effusion
of an unwise man who had loved her
long before she met Hartleigh, and had
written her a stormy reproach for not
even requiting his long devotion with
a sign of friendly interest in his well
fare.
Hartleigh was immensely relieved
and a good deal ashamed of himself,
and after he had explained fully, out
of the gladness of his heart, and di-
lated upon the blessings that Heaven
had bestowed upon him, and of which
he was most unworthy, and bored poor
Mrs. Weston almost to extinction, he
took himself off to hang over the back
of his wifes chair for the greater part
of the evening.
sode of the Hartleigh's, Mrs. Hart
leigh's demeanor toward Mrs. Weston
was tinged with a chill reserve. Which
Mrs. Weston received with the calm
philosophy of one who knows her
kind.
Blessed is the peace-maker," she
quoted to herself, with her shrewd lit
tie smile. And l could have made
all sorts of trouble. had l wished. Dear,
dear"
And she smiled on Mr.. Stanton
sweetly and plaintively asked him the
secret of his perennial youth, while
Mrs. Stanton glared at her icily, and
presented her with large and heavily
bead-armored shoulder for the balance
Of the evening.