Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-02-12

wonder If Clara didn't leave the taller
candle burnin' in her room, an the
ca knocked it over? And there was
thai hundred dollars. Doctor Petit
bone paid me for hay, in the house. I
swan to gracious I'll put it in the bank
afore I'm a Gay older. I dunno how
come to be so careless. Polly, look
here" to his wife ''do you see that
blaze? My eyes amt as good as they
was. Is it snywheres out our way?"
LA, no, deaconv' said his wife:
Its only little Peter Pettibone's boz;
fire. The doctor said he could hev
one tonight of those dead trees an
brush on Catamount Pond. Our
house is clear west O. that"
'T'm glad on IT," said the deacon.
''Polly, what did you do with that
hundred dollars give you to keep for
me till | got chance to bank it?"
Mrs. Cummings looked puzzled.
III put it in my little reticule-the
one Clara gave me" said She in the
burean drawer. It's safe locked up
/ looked arter it the last thing before
left the house. Where you goin,
deacon?"
The deacon turned as many colors
rs dying dolphin.
81 jest remembered that | didn't
fodder the COWS afore | started" said
he. AZ guess I'd better Jest step home
an look arter 'em. Gimme the key OF
the bureau drawer, Polly"
On the outer doorstep he paused,
however. There was little buzz and
hum of gossip in the air.
''Mrs. Potter has been cryin' ever
SINCE" said the Widow Purkiss
Tears o real, ginooine Joy, you know.
She somehow can't get over it, A
hundred dollars l don't s'pose she's
} seen SO much money all together at
one time since she was married. And
, from little Clara Cummings that
? teaches school over to Green's Mills.
3 Folded away in a leather bag with steel
= trimmins'"
8 For second or SO the deacon stood
Il motionless rs the Sphinx. Then he
turned and went back into the house.
n 'I guess, )" muttered he, "ther' amt
8 no Use in my goin' home to git them
cattle foddered. 1 may as we'll stay
an eat my supper. It's like to cost
| me enough"
} Clara's face was radiant when she
: come to break fast the next morning,
| and yet it was little overclouded
7 like the sun behind a golden Novem.
: ber mist.
"Fsther,.' said she, "two such
8 strange things have happened Aleck
. Harrison has asked me to be his
wife"
Mrs. Cummings leaned over and
, kissed her daughter.
'tAnd," added Clara, tour two
, leather reticules somehow got mixed
, up last night, an instead of the ten.
dollar gold piece l had intended,
gave Mrs Potter mothers bag with a
, hundred dollars in bills in it. OF
course you intended it for a surprise,
for the gold piece was gone out of the
other bag. Father, dear, it was a
noble act, and shall explain it all to
Mrs. Potter"
''No, don't do that" precipitately
: uttered the deacon. "Jest let things
be as they are. It'd ruther not hey
{ no more said about it!"
/, And he could not repress sepul
0 chral groan.
81 always knew father had gener.
2 GUS heart" said Mrs. Cummings.
"And the Potters deserve it, if any.
body does. And now, Clara dear, we
4? must talk over your wedding things
f From that day on, the deacon kept
: his own counsel, but he always had a
0 lurking suspicion that Clara had
0 fathomed his policy.
t 1.-The least said, the soonest mended, u
v said Deacon Cummings. Zone thing s
( plum sartin, though. You won't
1 never catch me at no more surprise
| parties l''-Saturdey Night.