Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-28
JACKS COAT.
BY LAURA J. RITTENHoUsE.

NASei, hC odlup Adll TtUuhluSly.
Il am the only one who has been
courageous enough to tell you so; or,
perhaps it would please you better to
say am the only one selfish enough
to deprive you of such pleasure. But
III warrant many lady has been
forced to tell you polite lie rather
than make herself disagreeable by
telling the TRUTH" she said good ma
turedly.
so you do not tell untruths for
the sake of being pleasant, it seems"
Mr. Halliday said, interrogatively, q
tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
Not when a principle is involved.
| claim that the use of tobacco in any
form is unwholesome, unclean, selfish
and extravagant, SO of course l can
not sanction smoking, even though the
cigars may be of the finest"
"Oh, | see you are one of the ad-
vanced thinkers, or reform women,
who are slashing right and left at the
small vices of the sterner SEX You
wish men to be little less than angels,
lacking physical force and manly in
dependence" he replied hotly.
Il belong to the class who believe
men should be as free from vices as
women, good, pure and true; of the
finest physical development, and brave
enough to resist temptation, no matter
in what guise it may come" she said
quietly.
A rather heated argument followed,
in which Mr.. Halliday felt himself de-
cidedly worsted. To cover his defeat
he gladly accepted Jacks invitation
to call on his "best girl"
That tilt of words was by no means
the last, nor was it the last in which
Mr.. Halliday left the battlefield inglo-
riously. 1t must be confessed his self
appreciation was often hurt. and that
in thinking over their discussions af-
terward Howard frequently assured
himself that he barely escaped dis
liking his friends sister, That wo-
men should hold opinions at all
seemed unwomanly to him; and to be
defeated by one was almost unpardon-
able.
Yet, aside from this unpleasant
feature, little Doris seemed one of the
most unselfish and lovable girls he
had ever met. He felt sure his stately
mother would approve of her, and the
thought sent a queer little spasm of
pleasure through his hitherto invul-
nerable heart. 1t was just like her to
sacrifice her best dress to give Jack
an outing. He hadn't much faith in
the result, though, and he laughed to
himself as he though of stylish Jack
in badly fitting. badly made coat.
His first impulse was to tell Jack in
time to prevent the worse than USE
less sacrifice; but that would be be-
traying a secret not intended for his
ears, so he could only be silent and
await developments.
For the next three or four days Do
ris was scarcely visible, except at meal
time. Jack stormed because she did
not give more time to their guest. 1t
was "just like girls vanity" he said,
"to care more for stitching away on
an old machine, making finery, than
to care for the comfort and happiness
Of two forlorn men," And Howard,
watching the sensitive face flushing
under the unjust accusations thought
her the sweetes! and loveliest of wo-
men.
At last, one afternoon, as Jack and
Howard were lounging on the porch,
Doris came tripping demurely up the
street, carrying a neat package. Her
eyes shone with light that fairly daz-
Zled Mr.. Halliday, and in a moment
he comprehended her plan. He arose
as she came up, and offered her chair,
but she shook her head playfully, and
passed on into the sitting room. Pres
emily she called Jack.
He got up lazily and went in. How
ard longed to follow, but dared not
He expected every moment to hear
Jacks voice in angry derision. In
stead that young man soon appeared
with beaming face his fine figure
adorned with a well fitted and beauti-
fully made coat.
Il tell you, Howard, there's nothing
like having the right kind of women
folks. Mine have trigged me out in
these handsome new duds, and I'm
happier than the winning captain of
football team. | can go home now
with you. | only refused before be-
cause | hadn't anything fit to wear
in your warm climate and | was too
poor to buy anything. Uncle Walter
only allows me income enough to bare
ly squeeze through college, and Doris
teaching scarcely furnishes mother and
herself with the necessities"
wi
like a hypocrite, cudgelled his brain
for something to say.
Doris and mother are wonderful
women, anyhow. Doris has knack
of making the commonest things look
dainty and artistic. and mother-why
mother can easily evolve something
out of nothing. I'm sure now they
must have pinched themselves awful
ly to buy these nice things, unless
Doris has sold one of her pretty water
colors, as she does sometimes. 1t