Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-25

I'm not ready to crow yet-not till
after dinner Cold Easter, Mr.. Morgie.
Do you think this snap has killed the
fruit"
Florence had just completed the
preparations for her banquet and was
proudly surveying results when there
came great stamping and laughing
in the hall. The boys-and the
preacher! She peeped and retreated, a
demure, maidenly figure with dancing
eyes.
Tom stared. "Where's Rene?' he
demanded. mot gone. has she? Well!
What have you for dinner, Babe"
Somewhat disconnected, he led his
guests into the parlor. Ben stood
where he had paused. He was looking
at the table, invitingly draped in snowy
white, graced by his mothers pretty,
old-fashioned china and silver. Some
thing unsteadied the hand he extended.
Ibid you fix it for me, Babe" he
asked, and Florence nodded confused
ly, hanging her head.
81 did the best l could" she faltered.
II didn't think about company, but
just of you"
"Thank you, Babe. Let's think Of
do my part by you and father; I'll
stand by you. Come, give me kiss
for my birthdayw
The new cook looked up into her
brothers face. She saw there some
| thing which made her shiver raptur-
ously. Ben was pleased with her; BeH
was happy! With a glad little gurgls
she went to his embrace, pressing rosy
lips to his.
/ zone for mother" she whispered.
"Oh, how proud she'd be if she could
see you, really, truly man, old enough
to vote!
Bens birthday dinner was great
success. Young people are merry over
little things, and after her first con-
fusion Florence entered into the hilar-
ity of the occasion, not, however, for
getting her dignity as mistress of the
board. There were toasts proposed
and answered, jests and friendly re-
partee.
In the midst of it all the door opened
suddenly, and Rene stood upon the
threshold.
Enjoyment sparklcd in Toms eyes.
80 Renen he called. "Come in, Rene!
Better late than never! You asked
us-or some of us-to Ben's birthday
dinner, you know, and here We are!
So glad you've come! VIII you have
bone-there isn't anything else left?"
The girl made a gesture Of dissent,
turning away her crimsoned face.
With an unintelligible murmur Of
greeting and apology she withdrew.
carrying with her a confused impress
sion of happy young faces on each Of
which was a look which made her
tingle sensitively.
She had n bad half-hour alone with
herself, the sounds Of mirth coming up
from below. Every sound was a stab.
making her vince and writhe. For she
was not, as she declared herself to be,
a monument of selflshness. She was
but a thoughtless, pleasure-loving girl
who had not yet arrived at her moth
ers moral stature.
The promise OF the day before, which
had been given so lightly, had been
brushed aside for task more pleasure
bic. Now it came to her that q prom
Use, though made in Jest, is sacred.
Ben had trusted her, acted upon her
word. She did not know how results
had been accomplished, how he had
been spared from humiliation, but she
had failed him.
Then she thought of his quiet, un-
youthful ways, and her heart burned.
What n good brother he was, toiling
manfully at his fathers side, year in,
year out, to provide home comforts!
She put her face down on her arms
and wept little, then turned to a bet.
ter penitence. the sorrow for wrong
which expresses itself in deeds.
1t required some moral courage to so
down to her brothers guests, and by
her cheerful, girlish presence brighten
their social hour; but this she did, and
Ben was forgiving, Tom, for once,
magnanimous. Nothing was done to
remind her she had failed in the home
the place where failures are hardest
to bear.
And be It said from that day, al
though Florence's initiation was sue
cessful, she was not forced to accept
life's lessons all at once, but took re-
naming degrees at her leisure. For
with Rene as the home angel, the old
life of love and comfort was re-estab-
lished.-Youths Companion.