Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-07-10
@-.a-!-E153-.- '.-DBs-.@I@E'fUl
PRETTY
TIME 3, Mar,
O. DAY C. Francis

Copyright, 1902, by the

ners. O.. and would like to meet an old
friend. he will be cordially greeted in
the red parlor If the conjecture as to
identity be incorrect, please send reply
by bearer, as the writer declines 20
meet stranger"
Thalia Lambert, with thrill half of
fear, half of daring, thrust coin into
the uniformed messengers hand and,
bidding him make haste, slipped be-
hind palm.
Its almost like answering per-
sonal.' she said, half laughing. What
If II should not be he? But it must be.
| know that after he married Helen
they moved to Denver After she
broke off our correspondence | heard
they had gone to Helena. Thank good
ness, II it isn't Chester Ballard. he
can't find out who | ann
Her knees shook under her as tall,
well formed man Of middle age entered
the room and looked around inquiring-
ly. Then she came from behind the
| palm. and these two, who had been
, plightcd lovers twenty years before,
met once more face to face.
Thalia never was able to recall just
what was said by either at first. The
unexpectedness of the meeting made
both perfunctory. Then Thalia ro-
| laxed.
81 was determined If It were you that
! you should not 90 out Of town until we
| had talked over old times. How Is
| Helen? Did you bring her with your
IL am here alone on business" he
said. with n grave dignity which seem
! ed to reprove her nippant manner. Il
| shall be here ten days only at the fur
| thest. My mission ls to handle the In.
| terests of n mining syndicate. and then
| return to Helena But tell me all
about yourself Are you still Thalla
| Lambert. freeT
Thalia was smarting a little. Here
| was the old. masterful manner of the
one man In the world Of whom she had
] ever been afraid Gle gave coquet-
| tish shrug.
II am mono other than Thalia Lam
bert and woman is always free until
| she puts her neck into the marriage
| yoke"
! He smiled.
That evening they dlned together
| The constraint of their first meeting
| had worn off. though the Judge had
| been told by mutual friend that Tha-
| La was engaged to Stewart Curtiss,
and Curtiss himself. lunching with
| Thalla, had told her that her old friend
was now wealthy and influential
lawyer, likely to be nominated for the
senate.
The orchestra played Loves Young
| Dream" as they dallied with their cof-
| fee after dinner. Judge Ballard smiled
| across the table at his compa MON.
''Do you remember all the foolish 1T
| tie things we used to do In the old
academy days-the notes we used to
write IN classT
"Of course do But do you remem-
ber the time we got caught? | wrote
you note-'what time Is itf Do you
love mer-and you wrote on the mar
gin: Half past 10. or course do And
| Professor Foster got hold OF II and
wrote on the bottom, "A pretty time Of
day. and sent It to me-"
"Well. the old man was right. Wasn't
| Il nice timer
"Oh, yes" vaguely--"that Is, nice for
| the first time"
"Irave there been other times, Tha'
Hap
"Why notT de6antly.
surely; many other times - times
and half times and times between
| times That's n womans record"
The music throbbed in Tbalia's veins.
| Her throat swcled, but she met his
gaze steadily.
After that they were moro or less
| formal.
The last night OF Judge Billiards. Wis
II came, and It was 10 o'clock when he
rang the bell OF Thalia's fiat Curtlss
In the net OF departing almost ran into
him. Thala stood near her desk. pale
and agitatcd.
"I'm sorry Mr.. Curtiss went on my
account" said the judge. ITS not
worth while to spoil your evening by
| my brief lcavctaking."
Tnalla recovered herself with difficult
| ty, and her breath was still irregular.
| He took both OF her hands In his mas
tcrful way and fixed on her the dark,
| powerful look that had always com.
| PEELED both men aud women At the
magnetic clasp n strange calm fell upon
| Thalia. She knew that she would ruth
| or tell this man the truth aud walk
| alone the rest OF her days than 90 part
| from him with n hnlf lie, acted II not
| uttered. She met his searching look
squarely
| "Mr Curtlss has not gone on your nc.
| count" she said. "IIe went on mine"
Judge Ballard regarded her grnNely,
| II seemed 10 her almost stcrnly.
Let Il be only lovers quarrel. Tha-
| Iia. Llfe II too short TO waste In trlvl-
Sr;itics."
at IN not n lovers quarrel" she said
| hotIy. ct Is final"
Don't say that, Thnlla. Very few
things arc final in this world"
The warming solcmOlty OF his tone
carried chill. Insenglbly aho leaned
| toward him nv IF for protection.
"But It is final" she whispered. II
have sent him nway. and no will not
| dare 20 come back"
Judge Billiards. tall. dlgnlficd figure
seemed 10 grow rigid.
"And why have you sent your prom
Used husband awnyT he asked as n
| cross examining witness.
| "My promised husbandw gaspcd Tim
lia. "Why. I've Just refused him"
"My darling Ny darling"
lie snntchcd her in strong arms ana
showcrcd on face aud halr fcrvcnt and
specifically inludicIal kisses not pro
vided for In the statutes Of Black
stone. Thnlia, hot drowned In this
| lawlcsa onslaught, Gsuliy managed TO
| partially free bcrac.i and TO pant indig-
| nautly "iiow dare you
lie only said. II couldn't help IT," like
| any schooihoy. but hc looked totally IN
| rcpcntant aud rcmaincd In dangerous
| proximity.
| Thnlia. her checks burning and her
heart thumpIuN EatrCd "ipu hnvc no
right to say that! ogtapuid have re.
mcmbctcd your vir.
| "My wife! Tlala. 10y wife las been
| dead Tor five years
| ITo caught her away yus form aud
| supported her tru1riy
"YOu inquired about Ter Ia sucl n
| way that for the momeni merely said
| that I wns nlouc. Intending 10 tell you
| about It Inter. Wen I nsi,rd YOU II
| you were free you gnYc ule uu et1siyc
| nnswcr. so when wa toll pu th" Mt
| crnoen or the anme dHy that you were
| cnrnecd 10 Stewart Cur,'ss ! thought