Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-04
FOR ELIAS SAKE.
BY II. MACKENZIE.
What have you got to say to me?"

iIlOusoillJ yC9Itlhtty NllCh L h4SIS, eiAus
| had something to say, but now"
you have changed your mind, Miss
Austin? That is q woman's privilege
and you have used it ruthlessly."
Yes, l know. Forgive me. l
meant to do my best"
He frowned and his expression was
not good to see.
Her best" And this is what she
had done
Last spring he had thought himself
one Of the happiest men alive, engaged
to be married to this girl, Eva Aus
tin; he loved her passionately and be-
lieved her to be the ideal type Of
womanhood, high principled, truthful,
gentle-in fact, almost faultless.
One day, a few months ago, she
had written to break off her engage
ment, a short letter which was a mas
terpiecc Of polite reserve and femi-
nine cruelty. She regretted if she
had caused him any pain-Oh, yes, re-
grets cost nothing-she was conscious
of the honor that ne had paid her
she wished to remain his friend
she returned his ring.
Captain Humphrey Travelled many
miles to demand an explanation of his
affianced wife. He was refused admit
tance, his letters were returned IN
opened by her sister-Eva was i'll and
could not write. The truth stared him
in the face; in plain English he had
been hopelessly gifted. Then he vowed
TO forget Eva Austin's existence and
congratulated himself upon his free
dom from domestic ties.
Today, as he stood in the parlor OF
the hotel to which she had summoned
him, he had so far overlooked his
determination to forget her existence
that his anger was waxing fierce
against her. Why had she brought
him here? To be made a fool of
second time? No, and thousand
times no.
"If you did your best, Miss Austin,
may I ask what your worst would
hay been?"
She moved quickly, almost rs il he
had struck her.
Il cannot explain. If you knew how
it all happened you would perhaps
helieve-you might perhaps think a lit
tie better of me-"
He stood bolt upright, speechless.
He was struggling with his pride; in
his heart of hearts he was longing to
take her in his arms, to tell her that
for him she was the only woman in
tbn world with q II hnr falI1tc
Her faults. They were unpardona-
BILE.
81 should be glad to think well of
any lady" he said at last, lightly,
| more especially of lady who once
honored me with her friendship"
YES" she said gently, "it was be
cause of that friendship that l wrote.
had a favor to ask you. Now-it is
not necessary. l am sorry"
There was a brief silence, then she
said:
There are changes in our family.
Ella is going to be married; the en-
gagement is very sudden, it was only
settled this morning"
ella was the younger sister of
whom he had so often been jealous
in those forgotten days.)
"Allow me to congratulate"
He bowed and turned TO go; the in
terview was a farce.
At the door she stopped him. "Do
you start-tomorrow?"
YES"
"Goodby. We, that is Ella and /.
wish you o happy return"
Considering their former intimacy,
| this was barely the farewell that good
manners demanded nothing more.
His hand was on the lock. Some
thing else she said, her voice was al
most inaudible, 81 will pray for you"
He shut the door quietly, there
should be no melodramatic display Of
temper on his part. Arrived at the
bottom of the stairs, he missed his
hat. Had he left his purse or his
watch in that room, no power on earth
would have sent him back-but his
hat.
He ran back hastily and knocked.
There was no answer. So much the
better He entered the room and
seized his property. Turning to go,
he heard the rustic of draperies. She
was there, standing on the spot where
he had left her, with her hands
clasped to her face.
Under the cold star lit sky he had
lain for hours. The fight was over
In the distance he could discern the
figlires of the wounded and tho dead