Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-09


an that's why l want the rug, cause
It's so bright an cheerful, an he hain't
seen nothln' very cheerful all these
years, but-but must have the teeth.
had the money for them, too, but
they'll only send him to Cincinnati,
where he went up from. so I'll have
to send the money for the rest of the
way. l must have the teeth" wiring
ing her hands unconsciously while the
sunllen lips quivered and the tears
trickled down the yellow cheeks. Il
must have the teeth-an'-an' l don't
know what to do.
"They sent him up for fifty years.
It's long time for KILN man that
egged him on to doin' it, an he was
young an hot headed then. We'd
only been married four year, an we
was JUS gettln' u nice little start, but"
with dry sob, II know it seems silly
to you fer an old woman to care how
she looks, but it's for him; it's to please
him"
The man walked quickly to the WIN
dow
A woman true for thirty years, A
woman who would not lie! A woman
whose love had grown with suffering!
a woman with clear brown eyes like
He bowed his head In his hand mo-
ment, and when he raised it the light
of JOY that shone through the mist was
like the sun behind an April cloud.
1--WE can't take back the rug" he said,
"but here" quickly writing on his card,
''is the address of my dentist. Go to
him. He will make your teeth and l
will stand good for them. Now prom
ise me that you will go today"
mo, no." she said, breaking into
tears. 81 amt nothin' to you an
can't let you do that. God bless you.
l alnt never taken nothin' yet but
what l earned. | wouldn't feel honest
In doin' this, for l wuzn't tryin' to get
help, only to have the rug taken back"
You must" he said firmly. You
can pay me back; you can pay 1t lit
tie at time. Will you be generous
and do this to please me?" And he
looked into her face with winning
smile.
God Is good" she answered broken
ly, the weary old face lighting with
great joy. 81 know you mean what
you say, an I'll pay you every cent
JUS as soon as / can. You don't know
what this means to me-" breaking into
helpless sobs, ''for-for 1 want to look
as good as can for John"
That evening girl with clear brown
eyes sat with hands folded listlessly in
her lap, her lips in wistful curve Sud
denly she started, flush came to her
cheeks, n warm light to her eyes. With
cry of Joy she sprang to her feet and
held out her hands to him. With no
words he caught her to him and kissed
her with passion of love; then, put
ting his hand under her chin, he held
her face so he could look into her eyes
and said slowly:
"If / was sent to prison for thirty
years, would you love me, be true to
me and kiss me after those thirty
years with the same gladness you do
now?"
81 don't KNOW" she answered hesi-
tatingly.
You don't know?"
mo. How could I? l love you so
much think l could love you always.
But how can l tell? Oh" her face
flushing scarlet what am l saying?
l am telling you | love you, and-you
have never yet said you loved me. And
you cannot or you wouldn't have left
me for month with no word, even to
tell me why"
you know 1 love you, though" he
said-"love you so much l was afraid
of It, And l am happier to hear you
say that you can't tell whether you
would be true to me or not than for an
assurance to come tripping off your
tongue. 1t wasn't you, darling, but
your sex, that has almost robbed me
of my happiness. But one little old
woman has redeemed all your sex for
you and brought me to you again. For
Gods sake, never lie to me, Cleta.'
She looked at him with tender wom-
anly pity.
Poor boy" she said softly. "You
have seen the one side so long you for
get how many sides there are to an oc-
tagon. Because from millions of wom-
en- few hundred come to you with
lies Oh their lips must you condemn
all womankind? No, no, my dear; you
must not condemn women, for every
noble man is mostly what his mother
has made him. While women have
their weaknesses, they are
'"The light of mans life" he cried.