Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-02


spring Sunday when Chauncey had
fingered at his mothers side.
Its ever so long since I've had n
chance to run in," Anne began, with
friendly apology. ''But I've been 50
busy, teaching right along. 1t was
fortunate for us that the Bentons
wanted their children to, make up
all they lost when they had
whooping cough last spring. II
it wasn't for that and for two OF
Margaret's music scholars, who have
kept right on, | hardly know what we
should have done?"
1t was not like Anne to speak so
freely of their affairs; but Mrs. Bas.
sett showed no signs ofunbending yet.
"You know how it is" Anne con.
tinued, with heightened color. 'Ps
tries to do all he can; but he's always
so-unfortunate."
'Then that last lecture tour wasn't
a success?" said Mrs. Bassett, falling
into Anne's skilfully opened net.
Everyone thought he must "a been
maxim money, the way Helen came
out this spring"
"And didn't she look sweet?" cried
Anne. ''But people shouldn't Judge
by appearances I'm going to tell
you, Mrs. Bassett tho | should hate to
have it get around. A cousin OF
mothers in the city sent us IA bun
die of old clothes. And Helen is Just
the most ingenious, most economical
girl you ever saw Those things
weren't suitable for us at all, and ]
thought they'd be of no use whatever
| but Helen turned them and dyed them,
and made the old worn out party silks
into the prettiest petticoats you ever
saw-and one for each of us Then
the poor child needed a new dress,
badly; she hadn't thing fl to wear
to church, and we couldn't afford to
buy anything; SO she went to work
and somehow made that pretty gray
and olive gown out of just
nothin9l And her bonnet, too-you
ought to have seen it when it came |!
And" hysterically, "all that never
cost us single penny"
"You don't mean to say" ejacu.
lated Mrs. Bassett, in amazement.
"But-tha pink silk parasol?" she
! tlucIltu' Ahhhiiy w ulo pIlCtu one
in the city, an they asked-sixteen
| dollars!"
"She made that, tool" cried Anne
"Oh, you don't half know how clever
| Helen is You won't let this go any
t further, though?" she added, anxious
g ly Il wouldn't like every one tc
, know, because-well, because it was
: the first time any one had ever sent
old things to us-and poor little
: Mother-eried.
\ 81 won't tell a livin' soul but Chan,
Mrs. Bassett said, earnestly. "But |
must tell him. He'll be home to-
night, you know, over Sunday. An
an I'm comm round to see your
ma, right soon.
Anne went her way with lighter
heart and she had not far before
Chauncey Bassett himself came into
view To her surprise he stopped.
"It's ever so long since I've seen
you, he began awkwardly.
"Why haven't you been around 2"
she asked in her pleasant way, noting
curiously his wane and troubled face.
"I'll tell you why" he said, sud-
denly. "It's because | can't think OF
any one or anything but-Helen! And
| never realized until-until one Sun
day morning in the spring" (Anne
sighed) chow far above the farmer s
son--the poor book-keepel was.
Then | saw that the best | could ever
hope to give her would not be worthy
of her-not even as much as she is
having now Anne smiled; Fand
knew that it would be better for mt
toto forget heretofore she evel
dreamed l had begun to care.
thought l could turn my thoughts
, away but I can't; and though it il
madness to think she could ever car,
for NE, vet | must see her and tel
her; and, unless you tell me not to,
am coming this very night.
& Come" said Anne, with reassur
ing smile.
+ Supper was over and the girls wer
| putting the things away. As Margare
; disappeared in the china closet with
: pile of plates, Anne said cheerily
"Oh, l met Chauncey Bassett as 1 wa
coming home, and, do you know, h
; said he was coming around tonight.
], Came you-you didn't say-any
) thing?"
- "You dear little goose Not
=, word that the town crier couldn't pro
claim with propriety. But | though
n he was looking thin and worried, poo
fellow. There, I'll wipe the teacups
70 for you had better go light the lam
in the parlor, and put on your prett
i gray gown, directly"
"If he had waited until he had see
% his mother, I'd have hated him "A
! most" thought Anne. an hour later
i when, above the murmur of voices i
nc nc the little parlor she heard Helen
\. laugh ring gayly, as of old.
And the next day, being Sunday
" the village gossips had something me-
- to talk of; for Mrs. Bassett actual
n waited and kissed Helen on the churc
n porch. And Chauncey walked hon
al with her again, as he used to do; bu
y though his face was radiant, no OF
noul1 not ricrbt of h OF, on, i1ae n p6 hin h