Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-07
BY EMr1A A. OPPER.

toliStlohSs anu lpoN, WAN
helpless tears dropping.
| Her recent purchase was still in her
| hands.
Il have brought a little present for
| your birthday, Uncle Dodson," she
said, chokingly, and she laid it on his
| knees.
1t was not until rather late hour
| that afternoon that Annie found cour-
| age to visit Mr., Dodson's room again.
She had careful. avoided Mr.. Ho-
bart.
Hobart. 1t was certainly the ugli-
| est name she had ever heard.
She had taken lunch in her room,
and she had not been out of it since.
AT O'Clock messengerb had
brought n very small parcel ad-
dressed to herself in Hobart's we'll
known writing, which, when she had
opened it eagerly, had found to con-
tain Il little band of gold, set with a
glittering stone.
| 1t is a most unnatural proceeding
for Il young lady to burst into tears
at the first sight of her engagement
ring; but that is what Annie did
For the pretty, shining thing seemed
only the symbol of her trouble and
perpleXity.
She knew perfectly that her right
course was to put the ring on the
proper finger, go boldly to NJ. Dod-
son and explain its position there.
| She did, indeed, get as far as put
ting it on, and gazing ut it fondly and
admiringly, and tearfully, from every
conceivable point of view; but there
her courage failed her.
Dear old Uncle Dodson. how could
| she dash his well-meaning hopes to
the ground with cruel word or two?
| He was so far from strong, besides.
Sudden disappointments always did
him harm.
She dried her eyes, as these de-
| spairing thoughts came over her, and
started for Nh Dodson's room.
Mr.. Dodson sat facing the window,
as usual. His head was thrown back
and his eyes were closed.
Annie drew a sigh of relief; he was
asleep.
Dudley Hobart was sitting in back
| corner of the room, with a news
| paper in his hand, and his feet dis
posed comfortably, if not gracefully,
on a second chair. He rose hastily as
Annie entered.
HE is asleep" he remarked, after
timid pause.
Il had observed it." said Annie,
shortly, not deigning to look at the
| speaker.
The young man looked confused. He
laid down his newspaper, and passed
his hand over his closely y-cropped
head in IA troubled way, and finally
offered her chair.
There seemed to be nothing else to
do, and Annie sat down stifily.
Mr. Hobart tool; the other chair
if Annie had glanced at him, she
might have seen that a pleading look
filed his boyish face; but she looked
coldly over his head at the wallpaper.
There was silence for several mo-
ments.
Then the young man, with a nervous
clutch of his chair-hack, and with a
visible effort, began desperately:
He said he had told you this-his
plan"
Annie was cruelty unresponsive.
May | INQUIRE what you think of
| it," said Mr.. Hobart, with face
grown pale with agonized embarrass-
| mcnt.
Annie rose sharply.
words would not express what l
| think of it, she said, flashing an in
| dignant glance toward the young man.
1T can't possibly be-
The occupant OF the armchair moved
rcstlessly: he was waking up.
Annie lowered her voice as she weat
on, severely:
81 am already engaged. /"
She paused in bewilderment. The
| face of her listener had been suddenly
transformed with unmistakable rel'e"
and joy. He seized her hands warm
! ly
Engaged? Well, if we aren't in the
same boat! So am r.
Annie's severity vanished. Her cold
gaze gave way to quick smile of
sympathy.
Are YOU, Mr.. Hohart?" she cried.
I'm so glad"'
Don't call me Mr.. Hobart, said tho
"Gung man, impetuously. Call me
Dad. Everybody calls me Dud.'
Annie laughed; and they sat down
again, in Il friendly way.
L have only been engaged since this
mnning," said Annie, confidentiall"
'&"eF Il" Just sent the ring around
liCs the incest fellow in the wosrl.
ou'n think so when you see him.
They had lowered their voices care
fully, further than that Mr.. Dodson's
lItsonce was ignored.
The ring l gave Genevieve was
something like it Dud continued,
brisllly. "Pretty name-Genevieve-
isn't if ~