Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-12-31
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the same fer their pertatos as we did
IN they didn't have no bigger crop,
l know. M they amt sold their
hawgs yet. 1t beat me where they git
their money ter pay fer things!"
"She's got a pai- O. gloves ter
match. too"
'Lan' sakes! Just s if that pair O.
gray ones she got n the spring wasn't
good enough 1t beats me. Well,
there's one thing mighty sure! They
needn't any of 'em think she's go'n ter
look better in all her fnery than you'll
look n thet peacock blue o your n |"
"'T's s old s the hills" said the
girl. Her lips quivered, and there was
an undertone of tears in her voice.
Her mother looked at her in mute SYM
pathy.
"Maria Quackenbush amt got no
such figger s your'n," she said, after
a little, taking stock of the girls good
points; "nor no such hair, n she
don't know how ter do It up like you
do. I don't suppose he'll take no.
tion to her"
"Who will?" There was conscious
look on the girls face.
| "Dick Underwood.
"Who's a-car'n' whether he does r
not?" exclaimed Mandy, with an
exaggerated affectation of scorn and in
difference that but poorly concealed
the deep hurt her mothers words had
given. "He's welcome to, # he wants
tol Nobody IL hender i'm, guess.
"Hev you got them chlck'ns fed?"
eyes" She shook the last grains
of wheat from her apron. Her face
was flushed, and tears were very close
to her eyes now.
AS she turned toward the house,
there was clatter of unevenly gallop-
ing horses on the winter ground, and
up to the gate dashed Maria Quacken-
bush and Dick Underwood, laughing
noisily, and with a great deal of color
in their faces, as if they had been rid
ing recklessly.
"Whoa!" cried Maria. with spirit.
"Whoa, tell you! Hello, Mandy
How do you do, Mis- Bentley Guess
my hair s down my back, amt it?
Ny I must be a sight But when you
git this horse warmed up, you can't go
slow on him |"
won't you git down n come in9"
asked Mrs Bentley, with cold and un-
mistakable disapproval. "How do you
do, Mr.. Underwood? My! how you
have changed! 'Mandyl"
Mandy came to the gate, blushing
and looking rather shy and awkward.
The young man jumped off his horse
and shook hands with her through the
gate.
"I've only changed in looks" he
said, with shining eyes. "No, we
can't come in tonight. We promised
Mrs. Quackenbush we'd be back early
to supper"
''We're go'n' ter hev some music n
sing m, said Maria loftily. T've got
a new org'n fer Chris mas, Mandy"
"Yes, heard, said Mandy, family.
SCOT twentv-four stops n two knee
swells-a loud n n soft. IT'S got a
high back, n places fer lamps m
vases. Can't you come over ternight?"
"No, guess not" said the girl.
The color had left her face, and she
was looking pale.
"No," said Mrs Bently, with hard
look in her eyes, "she'll hev ter do all
the work ternight. I'm a-go'n ter
town"
"Why, maw!" exclaimed Mandy,
in amazement. "'R' you, honest?
What you go'n' fur?"
'1'm a-go'n' ter git some things fer
dinner termorrow. I'm all out"
She began drumming with her coarse
red fingers on the gate. There was q
look of sudden resolution-almost
stubbornness-on her face and cold
glitter, like steel, in her eyes-e especi-
ally when she looked at Maria.
81 wish you c'u'd come" said that
young LADY, airily, to Mandy, flick
ing her horses ears with her whip (;
'1've got lots ter tell you"-simper-
ing" n just piles ter show you.
I've got new dress that'll make your
mouth water!"
"Hunh" |" shifted Mrs. Bentley, toss
ing her head contemptuously
"'Ts brown n gold camel's hair
offul fne-'n' it cost dollar n "a
quarter yard.
"Hez you paw sold his hawgs yet?"
asked Mrs. Bentley, with sudden and
startling significance. But evidently
nothing could shake Maria's self-sat-
isfaction to-day. She returned with
placidity Mrs. Bentley's intense gaze.
81 do know" she replied lightly.
"N' I've got pair O. gloves ter
match, Mandy. Guess you better
come, after all. Well, We'll hev ter
be go'n', Mr.. Underwood"-she gave
him a decidedly and boldly coquettish
glance, whereat poor Mandy turned
paler and Mrs. Bentley's face assumed
a fairly purplish tinge-" r we'll be
late. Good-bye! Hope you'll hev a
good time ter-morrow.
| "Good night, said the young man,
with lingering look through the gate
at the pale, pretty face and wide, hurt
eyes. 81 wish you very happy
Christmas"
"Good-night," said Mandy, with a