Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-01
ESe)S -SGY
9 THE FALL OF"g
j MINERVA. !
S>Ox BY A. Constance Smedey xOsoi
TGs~s~ -.va0s2S
BY A. Constance SmedIey.

| Tue DluS, penSlVe Interest III every line
of her arrested pose.
The man stood few steps off, with
a look on his face akin to that on the
face of nurse who waits for more
than usually spoiled child.
"Do you know I'm beginning to think
aging your
An involuntary dimple flashed and
disappeared in Miss Dennison's care
| fully averted face. Her betrothed,
| however, saw only a still distracted
back.
| Suppose were to take you at your
word and leave you to walk home
alone"
you are quite unmanly enough TO
do sol"
"Unmanlyw
as it manly to wait round after me,
at my heels, like little dog?"
"What, in Heavens name do you
want Of me? If rebel you have hys-
| terics and call me brutew
'Vivyellar read Miss Dennison
aloud. what ridiculous waists girls
have on fashion plates! Have you
| noticed?"
The man suppressed an exclamation.
But that's rather sweet blouse
she's wearing. l wonder If / could re-
member it. I must make mental
| notes."
Miss Denniscon rested her elbows on
the railing and buried her chin in her
| muff, refectively.
"If you think you are going to make
me miss that train by dawdlng in this
insensate fashion, you are mistaken" :"
"Sweet sleeve" murmured Miss Den
nison. 81 like the cuff so!'
II shall simply leave you here. you
| know"
"But 1 can't see how it's put on. Oh
it's cut all in one with the sleeve!" said
Miss Dennison, with sudden burst
of illumination. mo. must learn
| thatw
Miss Dennison redoubled the flxity
of her gaze.
81 know perfectly well you hear
everything I'm saying. Are you COM
ing or aren't you?'
Il believe it's arranged with a gus
set" announced Miss Dennison.
The man opened his mouth, then sud
denly turned on his heel and swung
down the road. He had cut the Cor
dian knot. Miss Dennison must make
her deliberate way home alone. He
had gone back to the station and his
city-bound train.
Miss Dennison found herself left
staring at the boarding in an attitude
of mind that can only be described as
one of stunned amazement. Then the
dimples reappeared, and Miss Denni-
son smiled into her muff with an air
of happy power.
"The further he goes, the further
he'll have to come back, so won't look
around" said the astute and expert
enced Miss Dennison; land the slower
he is coming back, the surer he'll be
of missing his train. If he thinks he's
! going to catch it tonight, when l want
him to stay here he is very much mis-
taken, the ridiculous old thing!'
Miss Dennison began to reperuse the
boarding; it sheltered her pleasantly
from the wind.
"a hundred pounds reward"
An assuming little notice caught her
eyes. "vivyella" as a subject is cap
able Of exhaustion. Miss Dennison wei
| coined a change in literature with alac-
Gritty. 'A--. q, Z, .,... TX (. <. Z.
AS she read Miss Dennison's face
portrayed a curious panorama of eX-
preston; her cheeks paled gradually.
| The little notice bore a crown, and was
couched in terse and simple language;
it was an earnest invitation to a one
eyed gentleman to return to his sor-
rowing friends and guardians at the
! convict prison across the marshes. 1t
concluded with thoughtful warning
to lonely and unprotected travellers as
to the gentleman's unprepossessing ap-
pearance and playful disposition.
Miss Dennison reread the bill with
interest no longer histrionic. The sea-
mist was rising on the marshes. The
autumn dusk was closing in. The
charms of meditation in the lonely land
scape seemed suddenly to have lost
their SAVIOUR. Miss Dennison looked
up and down the road; her despised
betrothed had vanished into the mist
The lights of the station glimmered
vaguely far ON the horizon. On the
other side three miles OF deserted roat
lay between her and her hotel. In the
direction of the station lay nearer safe
ty-but humiliation; for well did Mis-!
Dennison know that her strength lay
in her invulnerability. Let her once
lay down her sceptre and her reign O.
, tyranny was over for ever. For 81!
months she had enjoyed despotism
was she now to eat humble-pie and or.
out for protection? With Napoleoni
resolution Miss Dennison turned in tn
} direction of the hotel.
She took five steps; then, far ava.
! on the distant marshland, she saw
! moving shadow. For the first momen
5 she assured herself it was but a fan
tasy of her imagination. Then tn
shadow came nearer and resolved II