Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-29

one of the delicate blue butterflies how
ering faithfully around the fading
meadowsweet. Her blue frock, blue
eyes and futtering blue sunshade made
a pleasant touch of color.
The man gazed at her with passion
ate eyes. He had watched this frail,
fairy-like creature grow up at his side;
they had been close friends since child.
hood, and to-day especially the old
recollections crowded to his mind
IF you would wait for me-" he whis.
pered, Il might make money in time.
l would work very hard and with you
at my side"
She clasped her small white hands
pleadingly; the blue veins showed
through them with painful distinct
ness.
Don't, Dick, dear Dick, ever think
of it again! l am so fond of life. l
must live"
You speak as if l had suggested
killing you," he said in an injured
tone.
mo, no. But you must understand.
1 am so horribly delicate, it would
be madness for poor man to marry
me. | always have to winter in the
South of France. l need luXuries; they
are fatal necessity to my existence.
You want quite different wife"
mo, l don't!'
"Some one strong and capable"
81 want you"
His voice shook; his brow clouded
suddenly with the dark shadow of
despair.
"Oh, Dick" she murmured, "have 1
hurt you so deeply?"
He answered almost roughly. and
though he looked at her, he could not
see her face for the mist before his
eyes.
you misled me, Lily" he said; "un-
consciously, no doubt, yet at times it
seemed you would not let me escape.
When l tried to go you asked me to
remain you did not weigh the conse-
quences. l was toy in your hands.
If you had realized what you were do
ing, you might have spared me-"
They had crossed the field and
reached little iron gate into Lilian's
garden. He opened it for her, stepping
back to let her pass.
Wont you come in?"
The words rose naturally to her lips.
giving color to his complaint-"You
asked me to remain"
mo" he replied sharply. 81 am 60
ing. Good-by."
You have no right to be angry; it
isn't as if l did not care"
But you care so little"
His face had lost every vestige of
color; he trembled as he spoke.
~ have always loved you," she de-
clared; "but marriage is impossible.
You think me heartless, mercenary,
because l cannot face life of poverty.
Men are very selfish; they expect so
much of women"
He took her hand silently, held 1t
moment with eyes fixed on the ground
and then went back across the hay
slowly, under the glare of the hot mid
summer sun.
,.,*
A year had drifted away, and again
1t was midsummer.
''In the country" thought Lillian,
"the hay is down"
She was enjoying the manifold de-
lights of London season as the fiancee
of man whom her parents explained
would make Il most desirable hus-
band"
Lillian will have everything she
wants. they told their friends. "She
can now look forward to a life OF
perfect ease and personal indulgence
We always dreaded her marrying a
poor man"
Il must see Dick once more before
my wedding" she told herself. Dear
old Dick"
She thought the matter out and her
desire for sight of his face overcame
her better judgment. Strange she
should wish to stir to life those slum-
bering memories. But somehow the
scent of last years hay still fingered;
the midsummer sun glistened tempt
ingly upon the dainty curtains of her
boudoir.
AS If brain wave sped through the
mir, at that same hour Dick, knowing
she belonged to another, paced his
small room in Pimlico, and thought of
her. Lilian's photograph stood on his
writing table, sad little face with
large eyes crowned by a halo of fair
fluffy hair.
Il must see her again." he said, "just
once before she is married"
He glanced at the clock. Perhaps he
might find her in the park, catch a
glimpse of her as she passed in her car
riage. He hated the fashionable world
with it's lavish display of wealth and
grandeur; but for a. sight Of Lillian he
mounted humble omnibus and trav.
eled on it to Hyde Park Corner.