THE SCRANTON TRIBUNJFRIDAY, MAY 6, 189&.
B'
i
IJ
The Curate of Poltons.
GV ANTHONY HOPE.
I must confess at once that nt first,
at least. I very much admired the cur
ate. I urn not referring to my admira
tion of Ills fine fleure six feet high
and straight as an arrow nor of his
handsome, open, Ingenuous counte
nance, or his candid blue eye, or his
thick rurly hair. No; what won my
heart from an early period of my visit
to my cousins, the Poltons, of Polton
Park, was the fervent, undisguised, un
ashamed, confident and altogether matter-of-course
manner In which he made
love to Miss Beatrice Quecnborough,
.only daughter and heiress of the
wealthy shipowner, Sir Wagstaff
Queenborough, Part; nnd Kleanor, his
wife. It was purely the manner of the
curate's advances that took my fancy;
In the mere fact of them there was
nothing remarkable. For all the men
In the house (and a good many outside)
made covert, stealthv and Indirect
steps In the samo direction; for Tilx
(as her friends called her) was, If not
wise, at least pretty and witty, dis
playing to the material eye a charming
flgure.nnd to the mental a delicate hear
heartlossness- both attributes which
challenge a self-respecting man's best
efforts. Cut then came the fatal obsta
cle. From heiress In reason a gentleman
need neither shrink nor let himself be
driven; but when It comes to some
thing like twenty thousand a year
the reported amount of Trlx's dot ho
distrusts his own motives almost as
much as the lady's iclatlves distrust
them for him. We all felt this Stan
ton, Itlppleby and I; and, although I
will not swear that we spoke no tender
words and gave no meaning glances,
yet we reduced such concessions to nat
ural weakness to a minimum, not only
when Lady Queenborough was by, but
nt all times. To say truth, we had no
desire to see our scalps nfllxcd to Mls
Trlx's pretty belt, nor to have our
hearts broken (like that of the' young
man In the poem) before she went to
Homburg In the autumn.
With the curate It was otherwise. Ho
Jack Ives, by the way, was his name
appeared to rush, notf mly upon his
fate, but in the face of all possibility
nnd of Lady Queenborough. My cousin
nnd hostess, Dora Polton, was very
much distressed about him. She said
that he was such a nice young fellow,
and that It was a great pity to see him
preparing buch unhappiness for him
self. Nay. I happen to know that she
spoke very seriously to Trlx, pointed
out the wickedness of trifling with him,
wheieupon Tilx. who maintained a
bowing acquaintance with her con
fidence, nvolded him for a whole after
noon and endangered all Algy Stan
ton's prudent resolutions by taking him
out In the Canadian canoe. This dem
onstration in no way perturbed the cur
ote. He observed that, as there was
nothing better to do, we might as well
play billiards, and proceeded to defeat
me in three games of a hundred up (no,
it Is quite immatciial whether we
plaed for anything or not), ufter which
he told Dora that the lcar was taking
the evening service It hapened to be
the day when there was one at the
palish church a piece oftnforniatIon
only relevant In so far as It suggested
that Mr. Ives could accept an invita
tion to dinner If one weie proffered him.
Doia, very weakly, rose to the bait;
Jack Ives airily temarklug that there
was no use In ceremony among friends,
seized the place net to Trlx at dinner
(her mother was just opposite) and
walked on the teir.ice after dinner with
her in the moonlight. When the ladles
letlred he came into the Mnoking room,
drank a whisky and soda, said that
Miss Queenborough was leally a very
charming companion, and apologized
for lealng us early on the ground that
his scimon was still unwilttcn. My
good cousin, the 'Squlie, suggested
lather giimly that a dKoouisc on the
vanity of human wishes might be ap
propriate. "I shall pieach." said Mr. Tves,
thoughtfully, "on the opportunities of
wealth."
This resolution 1 cairled out on tho
next day but one, that being a Sunday.
I had the pkasuie of sitting next to
Miss Trlx, and I watched her with
sonw Interest ns Mr. Ives developed his
theme. I will not try to reproduce tho
sermon, which would have seemed by
no means a bad one, had any of our
party been able to Ignore the pprsonul
application which wo read into it; for
Its main burden was no other than this
that wealth should be ued by those
who weie fortunate enough to possess
It (hero Trlx looked down and tldgeted
with her praver-book) as a mans of
promoting gi eater union between
themselves and the less richly-endowed,
and not as,, alas, had tco often
been thp case as though 't were a new
bariler s,ct up between them and their
fellow-cxeatures (Heie Miss Trlx
blushed sllghtl, and had recourse to
her Emelllng-bottle). "You," said the
curate, waxing rhetorical ns he ad
dressed an Imoglnary, but bloated, cap
italist, "have no more light to your
money than I have. It Is entrusted to
you to bo shared with me." .t thli
point I heard Lady Queenhoiough sniff,
and Algy Stanton snigger. I stole a
glance at Tilx and detected a slight
waver In the admirable linos of her
mouth.
"A very good sermon, didn't you
think?" I said to her as we walked
home.
"Oh, very," she replied demurely.
"Ah, If we followed all we heard In
church," I blghed.
Miss Tilx walked In sllenc" for a
few yards. By dint of never becoming
anything else, we had become eiy
good friends; and presently she re
marked, quite confidentially:
"He's very silly, Isn't he?"
"Then you ought to snub him," said
I severely.
"So I do sometimes. He's rather
amusing, though."
"Of course, If you're prepared to
make tho sacrifice Involved--"
"Oh, what nonsense!"
"Then you've no buMness to amuse
yourself with him."
"Dear, dear! how moral you are!"
said Trlx.
The next development In the situa
tion was this: My cousin Dora receiv
ed a letter from the Marquis of New
haven, with whom she was acquainted,
praying her to allow him to run down
to Poltons for a few days, he remind
ed hsr that she had once given him a
general Invitation; If It would not be
Inconvenient and so forth. The mean
ing of this communication did nut, of
course, escape my cousin, who had wit
nested the writer's attention to Trlx
In the preceding season, nor did It ep
tape the rest of us (who had talked
over the sad attentions at the club)
when she told us about It, and 'an
nounced that Lord Nwhnven would
arrive lu the middle of the next day,
Tilx affected dense unconsciousness;
hfr mother allowed herself a myster
ious smile which, however, speedily
vunlshert when the curate (ho was tak
ing lunch with us) observed In a cheer
ful tone:
"Newhavenl oh, I remember the
chap at the House plowed twice In
Smalls stumpy fellow, Isn't ho? Not a
bad chap, though, you know, barring
his looks. I'm glad he's coming."
"Vou won't bo soon, young man,"
Lady Queenborough's angry eye seem
ed to say.
"I remember him," pursued Jack,
"awfully smitten with a tobacconist's
daughter In the Coin oh, It's all right,
Lady Queenborough she wouldn't look
at him,"
This quasl-apology was called forth
by the fact of Lady Queensborough
pushing back her chair and mnklng for
the door. It did not at all appease her
to hear tho scorn of tho tobaccon
ist's daughter. She glared sternly at
Jack and disappeared. He turned to
Trlx and reminded her without dlfu
dencc nnd coram populo, ns his habit
was, that she had promised him a stroll
In the west wood.
What happened on that stroll I do
not know; but meeting Mls3 Trlx on
the stairs later In tho afternoon, I
ventured to remark:
"I hope you broke It to hlin gently,
Miss Queenborough?"
"I don't know what you mean, re
plied Trlx, haughtily.
"You weie out nearly two hours,"
said I.
"Were we?" asked Trlx with a start.
Good gracious! Where was momma,
Mr. Wayne?"
"On tho lawn watch In hand."
Miss Tilx went slowly up stairs, and
there Is not the least doubt that some
thing serious passed between her and
her mother, for both of them were In
the most atrocious of humors that
evening; fortunately, the curate was
not there. He had a Bible class.
The next day Lord Ncwhaven ar
rived. I found him on tho lawn when
I strolled up, after a spell of letter
writing, about 4 o'clock. Lawn ten
nis was the order of the day and wo
were all In flannels.
"Oh, here's Mark," cried Dora, see
ing me. "Now Mark, iou and Mr.
Ives had better play against Trlx and
Lord New haven. That'll make a very
good set."
"No, no, Mrs Polton," said Jack Ives.
"They wouldn't have a chance. Look
here, I'll play with Miss Queenborough
against Lord Newhaven and Wynne."
Newhaven w hose appearance, by
the way, though hardly distinguished,
was not quite so ornamental as the
curate had led us to expect looked
slightly displeased, but Jack gave hlni
no time for remonstiance. Ho whisked
Trlx off and began to serve all In a
moment. 1 had a vision of Lady Queen
hoiough appioachlng from the house
with face aghast They went on; and,
owing entirely to New haven's absuid
chivalry In .sending nil the balls to
Jack Ies instead of following the well
known maxim to "pound away at the
lady," they beat us. Jack wiped his
brow, walked up to the tea table with
TiIn, and remarked in exultant tones:
'Wo make a peifect couple, Miss
Queenborough, we ought never to be
separated."
Dora did not ask the cuiate to din
ner that night, but he diopped In about
P o'clock to ask her opinion as to the
hymns on Sundav , and lindlng Trlx
and Newhaven In tho small drawing
room, he sat down and talked to them
This was too much for Trlx; she had
tie.itud him very kindly and had al
lowed him to araiifo her: but It was
Impossible to put up with presumption
of that kind Difficult ns It was to
discourage Mr. Ives, she did It, and
he went away with a disconsolate, piu
zled expression. At the last moment,
however, Trlx so far jelented as to ex
press a hope that he was coining to
tennis tomorrow, at which he biight
ened up a little. I do not wish to be
unchai liable least of all to a charm
ing young lady but my opinion Is
that Miss Trlx did not wish to set the
curato entltely adilft. I think, how
ever, that Lady Queenborough must
have spoken again, for when Jack did
come to tennis, Trlx treated him with
most fieezlng civility and hardly-dls-gulsed
dldaln, and devoted heiself to
Lord Newhaven with as much assiduity
as her mother could wish. We men,
over our pipes, expiessed the opinion
that Jack Ives' little hour of sun
shine was passed, and that nothing
was left to us but to look on at the
prohpeious, uneventful couise of Lord
New haven's wooing. Tilx had had her
fun (so Agly bluntly phrased It) and
would now settle down to business.
"I believe, though," he added, "that
Bhe likes the curate a bit, you know."
During the whole of the next day
Wednesday Jack Ives kept away; he
had, apparently, accepted the Inevit
able and was healing his wounded
heait b sti kt attention to his paro
chial dutp.- Newhaven lemarked on
his absem e with an air of tellef, and
Miss Trlx treated it as a matter of no
Importance; Lady Queenborough was
nil smiles, and Dora Polton restricted
herself by exclaiming as I sat by her
at tea, In a low tone and apropos of
nothing In paiticular: "Oh, well
poor Mr. Ives!"
Hut on Thursday there occurred an
event, the significance of which passed
at the moment unpercelved, but which
had, In fact, most Important results.
This was no other than the arrival of
little Mis. Went wot tli, an Intimate
friend of Dora's Mis Wentworth
had been left a widow early In life;
the possessed a comfortable compe
tence; she was not handsome, but she
was iacloub, amusing, and, above
till, sympathetic. She sympathized at
once with Lady Queenborough In her
maternal anxieties, with Trlx on her
chaimlng romauce, with Newhaven on
his sweet devotedness, with tho rest
of us In our obvious desolation and,
after a confidential chat with Dora,
she sympathized most strongly with
poor Mr. Ives on hl unfortunate at
tachment. Nothing would satisfy her,
to Dora told me, except tho oppor
tunity of plying Mr. Ives with her
soothing balm, and Dora was about
to dt down and write hlni a note,
when ho strolled in through the drawing-room
window, and announced that
his cook's mother was 111, nnd that
he would be very much obliged If
Mrs. Polton would give him some din
ner that evening. Trlx and Newhaven
happened to enter by tho door at the
some moment, and Jack darted up to
them, and shook hands with the great
est effusion. Ho had evidently burled
all unklndness and with It, wo hoped,
his mistaken folly. However that
might be, ho made no effort to en
gross Trlx, but took his seat most
docilely by his hostess and she, of
course, Introduced him to Mrs. Went
worth. Ills behavior was, In fact, so
exemplary that even Lady Queenbor
ough relaxed her severity and conde
scended to cross-examine him on tho
morals nnd manners of tho old women
of tho parish. "Oh tho vicars look
after them," said Jack and he turned
to Mrs. Wentworth again.
There can be no doubt that Mrs.
Wentworth had n remarkable power of
sympathy. I took her In to dinner,
and sho was deep In the subject of my
"noblo nnd inspiring nrt" before the
soup was off the tnble. Indeed, I'm
suro that my fife's ambitions would
havo been an open book to her by the
time that the joint arrived had not
Jack Ives, who was sitting on tho
lady's other side, cut Into tho conver
sation Just as Mrs. Wentworth was
comparing my early struggles with
those of Mr. Carlyle. After this In
tervention of Jack's I had not a chance.
I ate my dinner without tho sauce of
sympathy, substituting for It a cer
tain amusement which I derived from
studying the face of Miss Trlx Queen
borough, who was placed on the other
side of tho table. And if Trlx did look
now and again at Mrs. Wentworth and
Jack Ives, I ennnot say that her con
duct was unnatural. To tell tho truth,
Jack was so obviously delighted with
his now friend that It was quite pleas
antand, ns I, say, under the circum
stances, rather amusing to watch
them. Wo felt that tho squire was
Justified In having n hit at Jack when
Jack said, In the smoking-room, that
he found himself lather at a loss for
a subject for his next sermon.
"What do you say," suggested my
cousin, puffing at his pipe, "to taking
constancy as your next text?"
Jack considered tho Idea for a mo
ment, but then shook his head.
"No. I think," ho said, reflectively,
"that I shall preach on the Doner of
sympathy."
That sermon afforded mo I must con
fess It, nt tho risk of seeming frivolous
very great entertainment. Again I
Pecurcd a place by Miss Trlx on her
left, Ncwhaven being on her right, and
her face was worth study when Jack
Ives gave us a most eloquent descrip
tion of the wonderful gift In question.
It was, ho said, the essence and the
crown of true womanliness, and It
showed Itself well, to put It quite
plainly, it showed Itself, according to
Jack Ives, In exactly that sort of man
ner and bearing which so honorably
and gracefully distinguished Mrs.
Wentworth. The lady was not, of
course, named, but she was clearly In
dicated. "Your gift, your precious
gift," ciled the curate, apostrophizing
tho Impersonation of sympathy, "Is
given to you. not for your proflt.but for
mine. It Is youis, but It Is a trust to
be used for me. It Is yours. In fact,
to be shared with me." At this climax,
which must have struck upon her ear
with a certain familiarity, Miss Trl
Queenborough, notwithstanding the
place and occasion, tosbed her pretty
head and whispered to me, "What hor
rid stuff!"
In the ensuing week Jack Ives was
our constant companion; the continued
Illness of his seivant's mother left hlin
stranded, and Dora's kind heart at once
offered him the hospitality of her roof.
For my part I was glad, for tho little
drama which now began was not with
out Its Interest It was a pleasant
change to see Jack genially polite to
Trlx Queenborough, but quite Indlffei
ent to her piesence or absence, and
content to allow her to take Newhaven
for her paitner at tennis as often ns
she pleased He himself was often an
absentee fioni our games. Mib, Went
worth did not play, and Jack would sit
under the trees with her, ior take lmr
out in the canoe. What Trlx thought
I did not know, but It Is a fact that she
tieated poor Newhaven like din be
neath her feet, uud that Ladv Queen-
borough's face began to lo-e its tian
slently pleasant expiesslon. I had a
vague Idea that a letrlbutlon was woik
Ing Itself out, and disposed mv&elf to
see tho piocess with all the complacency
Induced by the spectacle of otheis ie
celvlng punishment for their sins.
A little scene which occuned after
lunch one day was significant. I was
sitting on the terrace, teady booted and
breeched, waiting for my horse to be
brought lound. Tilx came out and sat
down by me.
"Wheie's Newhaven"'" I asked.
"Oh, I don't always want Loid New
haven," she exclaimed, petulantly; "I
sent him off for a walk I'm going out
In the Canadian canoe with Mr. Ives."
"Oh, you aie, ate ou?" said I, hinll
lug. As I spoke Jack Ives ran up to us.
"I say, Miss Queenborough," he ciled,
"I've Just got onr message saying
you'd let me take you on the lake."
"Is It a great boie?" asked Trlx, with
a glance a glance that meant mis
chief. "I should like It awfully, of course,"
said Jack; "but the fact Is I've piom
Ised to take Mis Wentworth before I
got your message, you know."
Trlx drew heiself up.
"Of course. If Mis Wentworth "
she began.
"I'm eiy souy," said Jack.
Then Miss Queenboiough, forgetting
as I hope or choosing to disregard
my presence, leaned forwaid and asked
In her most coaxing tones:
"Don't you ever forget a ptomlse,
Mr. Ives?"
Jack looked at her. I suppose her
dainty prettlness struck him afresh,
for he wavered anil hesitated,
'She's gone upslalib," puisued the
tempter, "and we shall be safe away
befoio bhe conies down again."
Jack shuffled with one foot on the
gravel.
"I tell you what," ho said, "111 ask
her If she minds me taking you for a
little while before I "
I believe he really thought that ho
had hit upon a compromise ratisfac
tory to all parties. If so, ho was speed
ily undeceived. Trlx Hushed red and
answered, angrily:
"Pray don't trouble. I don't want to
go."
"Pel haps afterwards you might,"
suggested the curate, but now rather
timidly.
"I'm going out with Lord Newhav
en," said she. And she added in an
access of uncontrollable annoyance,
"Go, please go. I I don't want you."
Jack sheered off, with a look of puz
zled shamefacedness. Ho disappeared
Into the house. Nothing ptisred be.
tween Miss Trlx nnd myself A mo
ment later Newhaven came out.
"Why, Miss Queenborough," said
he, In apparent uurprlse, "Ives Is going
with Mrs. Wentworth In the canoe!"
In an Instant I saw what she had
done. In rash presumption sho had
told Newhaven that she was going with
the curate nnd now the curate had
refused to take her and Ives had mot
him In search of Mis. Wentworth.
What could she do' Well, bhe rose
or fell to tho occasion, lu the coldest
of voices, sho sild.
"I thought you'd gone for your
walk."
"I was just Btartlng," ho answered,
apologetically, "when I met Ives. Hut,
ns you weten't going with him " Ho
paused, an Inquiring look In his eyea.
He waa evidently asking himself why
Bhe had not gono with the curate.
"I'd rather bo left alone, If you don't
mind," she said. And then, flushing
red again, she added' "1 changed my
mind nnd refused to go- with Mr. Ios.
So he went off to sot Mrs. Wentworth
Instead."
1 started. Ncwhaven looked nt her
for an Instant, and then turned on his
heel. Sho turned to me, quick as light
ning, and with her face nit aflame,
' If you tell I'll never speak to you
again," sho whispered.
After thlg there was silence for some
minutes.
"Well?" she said, without looking at
me.
"I have no remark to offer, Miss
Quei-nborougli," I returned.
"I suppose that was a lie, wasn't M"
sho asked, defiantly.
"It's not my business to say what It
was," was my discreet answer.
"1 know what jou'io thinking,"
"t wus thinking " said 1, "which 1
would rather bo-tho man you will murry
or the man you would liko "
"How daro you? It's not true. Oh,
Mr. Wynne, indeed Ifs not true."
Whether it wero ttuo or not I did not
know. Hut If. It had been Miss 1'rlx
Queenborough might huvo been uxpected
to act very much In the way In which
sho procecdod to act, that Is to say, to
bo extravagantly nttcrtllvo to Lord Now-
hucn when Jack Ives was present, and
markedly ncckctful of hlin In tho cur
ato'a absence. It also titled lu very well
with tho theory which I had ventured to
hint that her bearing towaida Mrs. Wont
wurth whs distinguished by a statcl)
civility, and her remarks ubout that lady
bj a superfluity of laudation; for It these
bo not two distinguishing murks of ilv.
airy lu tho well, bred, I must go buck to
my favorito books and learn irom them
moro folly. And If Trlx'B manners wcio
nil that they should be, praise no less
high must bo accorded to Mrs. Went
worth, sho attained an ultltudo of ad
mlrablo unconsciousness, and conducted
her flirtation (tho poverty of lauguago
lorco mo to tho word, but It Is ovor nip.
pant) with the curate lu a staid, quusl
matcrnul wav. Sho called him u delight
ful lio, and bald that sho was Intensely
Interested In all his alms und hopes.
"What does sho want'" 1 usked Dora,
despairingly. "She enn t want to marry
him." 1 was rofcirlng to Trlx Queenboi
ough, not to Mrs. Wentworth.
"(iood gracious, no!' answered Don,
Irritably. "It's simple Jealousy, hliu
won't let tho poor boy alono 'till no's In
luc with her again. It s a horrible
shame'"
"Oh, well, he has great rccuperatlvo
power," said 1.
"She'd better he careful, though. Its
ery dangerous game. How do you sup
pose Lord Ncwhaven likes It?"
Accident gao mo that ery day a. hint
how lltllo Lord Newhaven liked It, und a
glimpso of tho rMt Miss Trlx was run
ning, loitering tho library suddenly, I
heard Now ha en's olce raised ubovo his
ordinal y tones.
"1 won t stand 11," he was declaring.
"I nccr know how she'll treat mo from
one minute to tho next."
My entrance, of course, stopped the
comeisatlon eiv abruptly. Nowhinen
had tame to u stand in tho middlo of
tho loom, und Lady Queenborough sat
on the sofa, withdrawing myself us lap
Idly us possible, 1 argued the probability
of a seveio lcctuio for Miss Trlx, ending
lnacomm.indto tiy hei noble suitor's pa
tience no longer. 1 hope all this happcmi,
for 1, not seeing why Mrs. Wentwoith
should monopolize the grace of sympa
thy, took the liberty of extending mine
to Newhaven. Ho was ceilatulv In love
with Tilx, not with her money, and the
tu'dtment he underwent must hae been
us trying to his feelings as It was Bull
ing to Ids pride
.My sympathy wus not picmatmo, for
Miss Tilx's fascinations which were in
dubitably great, began to havo their rf.
led. Tile seme about the canoe was re
enacted, but with a diffeient dcnoucnio it
This timo tho ptomlsy was forgotten, und
tlio widow forsaken. Then Mis. Went
woith put on her urmor We had, in
fact, readied this ery nbsuid situation,
that tlic'-u two ladles wero contending
lor tho lavors ot or tho domination over,
such mi nb'-ciiic, poverty -stiickeii, hope
lessly Ineligible pet son as the em ale of
Poltons undoubtedly was. The position
scmed to me then, and still seems, ti In
Uiiuto some ictnarkable qualities In that
young man.
At lust Newhaven mado a move. At
breakfast on Wednesday morning he an
nounced that, reluctant as ho should be
to leave Poltons Park, ho was duo at his
mint's placo. in Kent, on Satuiday even
ing, uud must, theiefore, make his ur
lungements to leuvo by noon on that day.
uiio slBiiilicanee was apparent. Had he
come, down to breakfast with "Now or
Never!" stamped in ileiy letters ucro'-s
his blow, It would have been more ob
tiuslve, indeed, but not a whit plainer.
We all looked down at our plate", ex
cept Jack Ives. He flung ono glance (I
saw It out of the corner of my left eye)
ut Newhaven, another at Tri; then ho
lemurked kindly:
"We shall bo uncommonly souy to
lose you, Newhaven."
Uveitis began to 'happen now, and I
will tell them as well as 1 um able, sup
plementing my own knowledge by whit
1 learned afterwards fiom Doia she hav
ing learned It from the actois lu tho
scene. In suite of the solemn warning
conveyed In New havens Intimation,
Trlx, gieiilly dating, went olf imme
diately after lunch for wlial she descilbed
us "a long iambic" with .Mi. Ives. Thero
Was, indeed, the excuse or an old wo
man at the end of the i amble, and Trlx
piovlded Jack with a small basket of
comloits lor the useful old body; but the
nimble wus, we felt, tho thing, and I
was much annoyed ut not being able to
accompany tho wulkeis in tho cloak of
darkness. Indeed, It wus half-past 10
beforo Trlx, ulone, walked up the drive.
Newhaven, a solitary tlguio, paced up
nnd down the, terrace fronting the drive.
Tilx. came on, her head thrown back and
a steady 3tnilo on her lips. Sho saw New
haven; he stood looking at her foi u mo
ment with what she u,ftei wards described
as an indescribable smile on his face,
but not, us Dora understood from her,
by any means a pleasant one. Yet, if
not pleasant, there Is not tho least doubt
In tho world that It was highly signifi
cant, for she cried out nervously
"Why aie you looking ui mo like that-
What's the matter?"
Ncwhaven, still b.iyln.j nothing, tinned
his back on her and made us If he would
walk Into thd house and leave, her thero,
ignoicd. discarded, dcr.e with. She, real
izing the crisis which had come, forget
ting everything except tho imminent dan
ger of losing him onco tor all, without
time fur long explanation or any rouni
about seductions, ran foiward, laying
her hind In his arm and blurting out-
"Hut I've refused hlin."
1 do not know what Newhaven thinks
now. but I sometimes doubt whether ho
would not huvo been wiser to shuKe off
tho detaining hand and pursue his lonely
way, llrst Into tho house, and ultimately
to his aunt's. Hut (to bay nothing ot the
twenty thousand u year, which, after all,
and be you as romantlo as you may
pleaso to be, Is not a thing to bo sneezed
lit) Trlx's face, Its mingled eagerness and
shame. Its flushed checks and ehtnglug
eyes, tho piquancy of Its unwonted hu
mility, overcamo him. He stopped dead.
"I I was obliged to give him an an
opportunity," said Miss Trlx, having tho
grace to stumble a httlo In her speech.
"And and It's ull your fault."
The war was thus, by happy audacity,
curried Into New haven's own quarters.
"My fault?" ho exclaimed. "My fault
that you walk all day with that curate!"
Then Miss Trlx and let no Irrelevant
considerations mar the appreciation of
lino acting dropped her eyes and mur
mured softly:
"I I was so terribly afraid of seeming
to expect you."
Wherewith sho (and not he) ran away,
lightly, up tho stairs, turning just one
glancu dounwaids us she reached tho
lundlng. Newhaven was looking up from
JONAS LONG'S SONS.
JONAS LONG'S SONS.
JONAS LONG'S SONS.
Wc Carry in Our Furniture Department a Complete Line of the
Delaware Porch Chairs the Best Made.
We've a Story of Economy to Tell.
CTX
L AT 10
X aMlock V
SALE
Are the talk of both valleys. Wyoming and Lackawanna
counties meet upon this great weekly occasion and discuss
merchandise possibilities, same as Brokers on "Change."
We let our prices do most of the talking, satisfied that this
is the surest way to win your patronage, and the confidence
you have in our goods wins unlimited advertising for us.
It's seldom you find such worthy, dependable goods at
such little prices. It's a condition for frugal minds to con
sider. We ask you to be prompt if you want the choicest
pickings, for lapid selling is the rule at these Great Money
Saving Sales.
Dress Goods.
Over 2,ooo yards of assorted Dress
Goods in a large variety of weaves.
We cannot enumerate the various styles
and colorings. Amongst the many
others may be found cashmere, drap de
ete, storm serges, cheviots, fine checks,
plaids, etc., etc. The values range from
29c to 39c. On Friday, from 10 Az-r
a. m., we will sell at, per yard.. "
Ladies' Wrappers.
An elegant Percale Wrapper,
Mother Hubbard yoke, lined, good
white cotton to waist, full AQsv
skirt. Special irVC
Children's Dresses.
Children's lawn percale and ging
ham dresses, trimmed Hamburg and
ruffles; full size, to fit one to a Qp
six years ""
Children's Reefers.
7 Children's Reefers in all the new
popular shades. Handsomely trimmed
and finished. Sizes 6 to 12 years. They
are regularly sold at $2.50 i Cq
to 4.00. Fi iday 's price 1 J x
Basement Things.
10-quait Agate Preserving e
Kettles, sells, at 49c. To go at ''
10-quait Agate Dish Pans, Crr
sells at 39c. To go at AJs
6-quait Covered Cooking Cr
Kettles, sells at 49c. To go at
2 and 3-quart Tea and OC-r
Coffee Pots, sells at 39c. For &"
10-quart Water Pails, sells 'J c,
at 49c. To go at
4 and 6-quart Agate Pudding
Pans, worth 29c, 35c, 44c. To cr
Children's Hats.
Children's trimmed Leghorns,
trimmed with beautiful wreaths of
flowers, white, pink, blue and red,
chiffon sea mull, forget-me-nots, lilies
of the valley and daisies. These are
fully trimmed and a big bar- AQsj
gain; fully worth 98c ""
Ladies' Sailors.
Ladies' rough and ready Sailors
satin braid, with blue and black band
of ribbon, worth 50c. hor hn- iQr
day only OV
Good Groceries Friday.
Salmon, 3 cans for
Rolled Oats, 3 pkgs for
Cream Biscuit, 5 pkgs for ffm
Full Cream Cheese, 2 lb. for.. .
Shepps' Cocoanut, lb Zj
Sardines, imported, 3 cans for.. bmJ
Prepared Buckwheat, 3 pkgs..
Fine Ribbons.
Checks and Plaid Ribbons, 4
inches wide.
No. 60 and 80.
black
A
Also plain Taffettas,
All colors and Q,
Wash Goods.
We place on sale Friday only 75
pieces i2c and 15c qualities fine
printed Batistes and Muslinets. These
are the IDEAL fabrics for shirt, waists
and summer dresses, and come in a
llllc vuuciy ui awiijca aim Ll-r vfi
Friday only 2 J
a
figures
goat
brass
Friday
Fine Pictures.
Picture 9x12 white frame and
49C- 34c
cot ners, worth
Bed Ticking.
600 yards good quality Striped Bed
Ticking, worth 10c yd every- A3r d
where. Here on Friday only 4 s
Crash Toweling.
1,800 yds heavy quality, red bor
dered Brown Crash Towel
ing, worth 50c. All you Jr rf
want Friday at 4 ya
Jonas Lonjr's Sons
a
hcluw with an "enchanted ' smile tho
word Is Tilx's own, I should probably
havo used a different one.
Was then the curate of Poltons uttcily
defeated brought to his knees, only to
bo spurned? It seemed so, and ho catno
down to dinner that night with a sub
dued and melancholy expicsslun. Trlx,
on tho other hand, u billllant and
talkative to tho last decree, and the iruy
cty spread from her all around tho table,
leaving untouched only tho rejected
lover and Mrs. Wentworth, lor tho Inst
named lady, true to her distinguishing
quallt), had begun to talk to poor Jack
Ives in low, soothing tones.
Afur dinner Trlx was not visible; but
tho door of tho little boudoir beyond stood
half open, and very soon Kewhav"n
edged his way through. Almafet at the
F.uno moment Jack Ives and Mrs, Went
worth passed out of tho window and bo
Kan to walk up and down the gravel. No
body but myself appeared to notice those
rcmarkablo occurrences, hut I watched
them with keen Interest. Half an hour
passed and then thero smoto on my
watchful car, tho sound or a low laugh
from the boudoir It vas followed al
most immediately by a i Hanger bound
from the gravel walk Thin, nil lu u
moment, two things happened Tho bou
don dooi opened, nnd Tilx, followed by
Ncwhaven, ctime In smiling, from .the
window enteitd Jink Ivis and Mr.
Wentwoith. My eyes were on tho curate,
lie gave ono bilddeii, comprehending
glanco towards the other couplo, th'ii
he took the widow's hand, led her up to
Dorn, and said, lu low jet penctiatlng
tones:
"Will jou wish us Joy, Mrs. Polton?"
The Squire, Itlppiebj, and Algy Stan
ton weio 'round them In nil Instant. I
kept my placo watching now the faco of
Trlx Queenborough. Sho turned Hist red,
then very pale. I saw her turn to New
haven and speak one or two Imperatlvo
words to him. Then, drawing herself up
to her full height elm rossed tho room
to -vhero tho group wero assembled
'round Mrs. Wentworfth nnd Jack Ives,
"What's tho matter? Whut aro oa
saying?" sho naked,
Mrs, Wcntworth'H oyes were modestly
cast down, but a BmUoUc4 'ipwvi.iitc
mouth No 0110 spoko for u moment.
Then Jack Ives tald.
"Mrs. Wentworth has promised to be
my wife, Miss Queenliorough.
Tor a moment, hardly peiceptlble, Trlx
hesitated, then, with tho most whining,
touching, sweetest unties lu tho world,
Eho said:
"So jou tcok my mlvlcp, nnd our after
noon walk was not wasted ufter all?"
Mis. Polton Is not used to theso fins
flights of dlplumac) ; she had hiard be
foio dinner something of what had ac
tually haprened lu thn afternoon; an I
tho simple woman positively Jumped.
Jack Ives met Trlx's scorniul eyes full
and suunre.
"Not nt all wasted" said ho with ft
smile. "Not only has It shown mo where
my trim happiness lies, but It has nUo
given mo n Juster Idea of tho value and
hlncerlty of our rcgaid for me, Miss
Queenborough,"
"It Is as real, Mr. Ives, as It Is sin
cere," said she.
"It Is like yourself, Miss Queenbor
, LConUmied oa Pago W.J