Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-06-15
Not A Disagreement.
By Martha Morris.

suggested remedies were of no avail
Nothing could possibly erase the ugly
scar from Violet's cheek, and finally
1t was declared that she must foregc
the ball, great though the pain OF
50 doing would be.
/ "You can write Dudley little note
my dear" said her mother, when she
and Violet were alone; "that will be
polite and polite. You must not let
him think you rude, and you know
you promised him the waltzes. Poor
child! I'm SO sorry!"
The respective vehicles accordingly
arrived, and as Veronica kissed her
cousin good night she had never looked
more radIantly lovely. Gems Of won.
derful brilliancy glittered In her hair,
| on her neck and arms. Her dress
was Of some rich, soft, clinging ma
terial and she carried herself like d
! queen as she swept out of the room
where her cousin lay upon the bed be-
moaning the irony Of fate.
Allured by the appealing eyes and
ceaxing words of his fair partner,
| Dudley Maitland became the victim
| of the moment, and 1t was not long
ere he was escorting her away from
the throng Of merry dancers into COM
| parative solitude.
"This Is quite like old times" veron-
lea said as they entered the cool con-
servatory and sat down.
"Not quite" returned Maitland,
somewhat absently. Indeed, times
have changed considerably since we
last met"
This was a discordant note. and
Veronica did not feel quite at her ease.
"Im so glad you came tonight, Dud-
ley" she said, as though involutarily
breathing her thoughts alond.
Maitland raised his eyebrows slight
ly, but she failed to notice that dam
ger signal.
"Why?" he asked, somewhat
brusquely.
How strangely you speak, she re-
turned, nervously, "but do you really
care 10 know?'
Veronica toyed with the petals Of n
rosebud and her eyes We're cast upon
the ground.
Because I have wanted to see you
to speak to you, to tell you how bit.
terly sorry l am for my cruel words!
1 think 1 must have been madw she
said softly. 81 came back to the draw
ingroom." she went on in the same
tone, while her eyes remained still
downcast. "but you had gone, and
have never known a happy moment
sincew
Now, had Veronica's conscience per-
mitted her to look into the eyes of
the man at her side, with those Won
derful liquid orbs of hers, it is pos
sible that the fascination of her gaze
might have blinded him to the false
ring OF her words, but, as 1t was, he
felt neither pleasure nor flattered.
Il am sorry if you have been un.
happy" he returned, lightly, "but in
these rapid times it does not do to
grieve over the dark and empty past"
mot dark, nor empty" she said,
with mock tenderness and well affect
ed concern; "but tell me. Dudley, have
you forgotten all the past"
"All? he repeated, suavely, 81 sup
pose you mean the days when the
smiles We're for others and the frowns
| for me. Bah What mad-headed
fool must have been! But you taught
me q lesson, Veronica, and it was well
laid to heart"
"Do not speak of it,. she exclaimed
brokenly; 81 have told you. Can
you still be so unforglving?"
"There is nothing to forgive" he re.
piled; "you certainly seemed to pre-.
fer any society to mine in the old
days Of which you speak, and ]
could never bear you malice ON that
score"
"But, Dudley" she said, so softly
that her words were scarcely percept
ible. Il have suffered so, truly, have
seen the error of my ways the magni
tude of my terrible cruelty to you
Come, say you forgive me, and let us
be. friends again"
'No," he returned firmly, even fierce
ly, "that can never be, Veronica. Yor
must not forget that even the mos
beautiful and accomplished woman
has no right to play with mans
heart as IL it were n worthless toy
to be taken up or cast down at pleas
ure. And may 1 ask you to excuse
me nowp I have an important en-
gagement to attend to- Allow me,
and pale and trembling in every limb
Veronica once more entered the ball
room.
Violet had watched the several We
hicles drive away with eager and tear
full eyes. How she longed to be among
the merry throng! Finally she re
solved to drown her heartache in th,
pages Of q novel.
But she could not fix her mind, try
as she would; SO toward midnight sh,
again took up her. stand by the win
dow and looked out into the dark an(
| ctarIocc niUht Presently sha t,,rn oil