Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-25

6eINe luS uSuIe Vi MI. bIOLulGy bIo"h
wandering round his garden on GER
tain mild April morning would have
imagined him to be suffering from an
acute sense of regret for his wasted
opportunities.
From the top of his bald head to the
toes of his shiny boots he might have
stood for a model of middle class pros
perity. His gray suit, if it accentuated
the round proportions of his figure,
was of fashionable cut, and he held
panama hat of finest straw in the
square hand on which diamond gilt
tered in the spring sunshine. Behind
the terrace, over which figures of i'm
possible animals in stone kept watch
at each corner, stood his new and elab-
orately furnished bungalow, aggressive
and much decorated. Mr.. Bromley
Browns room in the tower overlooked
stretch of pine woods-a small
lake, which shone with steely bright
ness under a fringe of larches, and a
far-away range of rising ground. He
did not often glance at the view, but
1t pleased him to know that it was un-
deniably finer than even that COM
manded from the windows of his neigh
Dor, General Compton, whose family
had owned acres of surrounding heath
er and frs for generations past.
Mr.. Brown took one last stroll on
the lawn, and as he slowly ascended
the steps of the terrace, the parlor
maid laid the newspapers on table
outside a bow window. A girls figure
leaned out, and young voice called
to him:
"Why do you look so solemn, papa,
dear? What perfect day it is! Warm
and sunny enough for June!"
The lines on Mr.. Bromley Browns
face relaxed.
81 was thinking" he said, impress
lively "of how very little material COM
fort signifies, and how few of us are
satisfied"
81 don't in the least agree with you
there, dear" said Valentine, who was
eminently practical.
81 have built this bungalow" con-
tined Mr.. Bromley Brown, "as a place
to rest in after life spent in the
Gullest Of all ccupations-moneym max
ing. But l am aware that thousands
of men would both have enjoyed the
occupation and welcomed the peace of
this beautiful spot l do neither,
was destined by nature for something
widely different"
you say that because you have done
nothing lately but read those foolish
novels. here she pointed a small,
scornful finger at book lying open on
the tabe-"slnce you had influenza,
papa, dear"
81 beg your pardon, Valentine-I
know l may not look it, but since my
earliest days, as have often told you,
have had a curious, wild craving for
adventure, for some excitement outside
the deadly routine of a business life.
1t is hard" and Mr.. Bromley Brown
raised his voice in querulous expostu
lation, that here l am, a man who has
made considerable fortune in spe
cial cough lozenge, but who, all
through his boyhood, has vainly wished
to be a pirate, and who now"-he
l"ofSu iAio lAhlIh III biAC uiiSStioAi VI
the bungalow, then toward the smooth
shaven lawn, would most gladly give
all lDis luxury to be a successful de-
tective."
Valentine laughed, and leaned still
further out of the window. She, for
her part, was absolutely satisfied with
the fair face worn by the world around
her. She watched fat blackbird as
he shuifled along by the golden border
of daffodils-she rejoiced to know that
the air was musical with the voices of
larks, to see that the sun glittered on
the pool below General Compton's
house and turned its easements into
twinlding diamonds. A man went
slowly down the green drive by the
pool. his arm swaying to and fro as
he sowed grass seeds. The earth
seemed to sing a song of renewal and
hope. Of love and sunshine. How good
1t wasS only TO breathe and to live!
Other people might have thought that
life would be none the less pleasant
to Valentine because her eyes were
large and gray, and her cheeks rosy
like the bloom on the boughs of a
cherry tree. But she did not take
much account of these advantages, nor
of the fact that she was the only child
of the prosperous house of Bromley
Brown.
Her father took off his goldrimmed
glasses-and laid down his newspaper
Hal this is most curious!" said he
"What splendid chance If one could
only light upon him-the plausible
scoundrel! The shrewd young viii
lain!"
Valentine turned her gray eyes on
his shining crimson face
Listen to me-Val," he cried, you
Temember the general told US last