Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-10

| Iulll-SOdheu SdTuel. bdu IOr IDe
roses, and no one likely to call"
But here a ring resounded through
the little house, and q moment later
the door opened to admit an exceeding
ly pretty girl, whose appearance made
the elder lady sit up in amaZement
and exclaim:
Gracious, child! what brings you
here such day."
You may well wonder, aunt; but
after what has happened 1 could not
stay in town, and mother thought you
would have me for a few weeks. My
trunks are coming later. I have been
compelled to break off my engagement
to Terry, and have written this morn
ing to tell him we must never meet
again.
This speech uttered with feverish
| spirit, as Doris Drummond dragged off
her gloves and threw them on the ta-
! bic in n ball, was as bombshell in
the quiet room.
''Broken your engagement ejaculat-
ed Miss Hudson, dropping her knitting.
Nonsense! There must be some mis-
take"
The girl shook her head as she paced
the room impatientiy.
II had better tell you all about 1t,
and then the subject can drop" she
cried. "Terry has been very busy
lately; every one seems ill, at least he
says so. Well, dear, yesterday, as
mother and l We're coming out of Cen
tral Park we saw him just by the en-.
trance with Helen Legarde, that horrid
girl with whose brother he went to
school, you know. They were quite
absorbed, and never saw us, yet in
the evening l had a note TO say that
he was too busy to come up. Still, l
tried not to mind"
"Qufe right"
"But this morning saw them again.
They were talking most earnestly; ne
was bending down to her, and I'm
sure she was crying. This kind OF thing
cannot go on. have lost all confidence
in him. l cannot believe in him
again"-this with great emphasis. and
then she added with whitening scorn,
"Busy, indeed"
"Humphi"
"What do you mean by humph' in
that tone, aunt, dear?" asked Doris,
doubtfully. Surely you agree with
me?"
my love, there are two sides to
everything. l should like to hear Ter
rvs side"
'Why, he has not got one"-very
blankly. II saw myself"
Miss Hudson picked up her knitting.
She had always been plain and angu-
lar. No romance had ever touched her
life save through her sisters only
child-sweet, spoiled Doris. Then she
had thought so much of DR.. Oliver, too.
He was considerably older than her
niece. They had seemed exactly suited
to each other and no dissension had
ruffled their harmony hitherto. 1t ap-
peared ineXplicable, until she recalled
how foolish her poor dear sister Lizzie
was; how likely TO fan her daughters
resentment into a fame, in sheer
thoughtlessDess.
1.-THE least said the soonest mended."
she wisely reflected, stroking her dar-
ling's sunny little head. "There is the
other side; that l maintain"
Perhaps Doris dimiy reaIized this
for ere they retired to rest she re-
marked that, with all his faults, Terry
was good to every one.
DOUBTLESS; no one is altogether
BAD Miss Houston replied in a tone
of disparagement, making wry face
to conceal smile. But as you have
lost all confidence in him, there is no
more to be said"
NO, not word' responded her
niece, with unnecessary felvor.
When Miss Hudson looked out of her
window the following morning it was
fair and sunny and Doris was fitting
about among the roses in the garden
below. Then, as she stood absently
watching her, the gate clicked, and
Terence divers tall form came down
the pathway. The window was wide
open. and they We're SO near that she
could not help hearing. He spoke first.
You wrote this?" holding out a note.
Yes. l simply related the truth
You cannot explain"
"EXplain l shall not try-yet. Will
you take back every word in this
note?'
Now She will fire up; now there will
be scene" murmured the wicked
old eavesdropper, eXcitedly. How
pretty the poor pet looks! yet somehow
l would trust him. Heigh-ho! what It
is to be young"
Could she believe her ears? So far
from the expected torrent of words.
Doris had only turned to the rose
bushes, as if she could not pear Terry's
straightforward eyes, and muttered.
half audibly:
'But-Terry; 1 could not. ana
Helen"