Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-06-09
things when you eat these prunes.

things when you eat these prunes.
| haven't seen Brown myself"
Mrs. Wilberton's indignation was
| of the silent sort for the rest of the
meal.
| Mrs. Wilberton was one of a party
| of matrons who were enjoying them
| selves at cards. All the men who
were not playing court to Helen
| Alvyne Brown were in the hands of
their wives. And there was nothing
| left for Wilberton but to stroll away
with his cigar to the salt cedars.
There he could hear the golden voice
and not hear the chatter. He stretch
| ed himself comfortably over two
chairs and smoked, and looked out
over the bay, and listened. Another
cigar was glowing a shCrt distance
away, and he had an idea that Brown
was responsible for it; but Brown
probably wanted to be alone, and Will
berton certainly did So he smoked
in solitude; and when mis- cigar was
finished he continued to sit in soli-
tude; and even when the voice of gold
ceased--
Wilberton awoke with start. There
was the rustic of woman's garments
and woman, alone dropped with
sigh into a seat a few feet away. The
shadows were dark under the salt
cedars; neither the glare of the elec-
tric lights from the hotel nor the glow
of the moonlight filtered through the
thick foliage. But out on the rip
pling bay a silvery path of light was
laid, and the woman was clearly sill
houtted against this. There
couldn't be any doubt of it-she was
Alvyne Brown; and Wilberton stared
wonderingly ant went to making wild
guesses as to why she had stolen
away, and how she had managed to
escape from her worshipful retinue.
And while he was wondering and max
ing guesses the dark head dropped
and there was an outburst of woman's
passionate, miserable.
And instantly there came the crash
of an overturned seat, and the man
who had been behind the other cigar
came looming through the shadows.
He stopped before the sobbing wo-
man.
"Helen!" he cried. His voice was
tender and low.
"Oh, why don't you leave me
alone." cried the woman. Her head
was raised and her attitude was re-
sentful-perhaps defiant. You know
/ don't want that l want to be left
alone"
HAS anyone wounded you. Helen?"
There was a queer, hard note in his
voice.
Not is not your affair."" she an
swered
! Whatever concerns you must al.
ways be my affair."" he said,
"Why do you pursue me?" she de.
manded. "Why did you come here?"
Il didn't know you were here" he
answered; and then, with trace of
bitterness: Il believed the mistaken
paragraph which said you had gone to
Palm Beach. ! thought the length of
the Gulf of Mexico was distance
enough between us to please even
you"
You had no right to think what
would please me-"
not be withdrawn or surrendered" he
| answered sadly. And | have not mo-
Tested you"
you have! You have driven me to
pretend that l was enjoying myself.
when | wanted to rest-rest! For /
am SO tired"
The last word was cry; and throw
ing her arms against the back of the
seat she leaned her head upon them
and wept Historically.
The man stood statutelike for
moment; then with a yearning cry he
took a step forward, bent over, and
caught the weeping woman in his
arms.
Good Lord!" cried Wilberton voice
lessly. The mental exclamation was
not of surprise at the mans action
but for the sudden realization that he
was an eavesdropper. He got care
fully to his feet and stole away with
out disturbing a pebble. And he did
not look back!
wake up, my dear" cried Wilber.
ton at seven o'clock the next morning
as he burst into his wife's bedroom
"I've been to wedding" he cried,
and began to Lum the Mendelssohn
march very much out of tune.
Mrs. Wilberton assumed a sitting
posture and cried, Jeremiah" with
the same single and eye-defying mo-
ton.
"Tum-tum-tee tum, tum tum
tum," hummed Wilberton. "You bet!
Best man-gave bride away
! "Who?" screamed Mrs. Wilberton
"And why didn't you take me?"
Guess both answers" said Wilber-
! ton "Tum-tee tum-tum, tee tu-u-m,
( tu-Woman. unhand mel" For Mrs.