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

INC polHB OF ar
gent fire; all along the western SIX,
the cycr9reens tossed to and fro
against an orange background, and
the air was full of the faint, sweet
perfume OF dead leaves. And Clara,
Nesting close to her fathers side. re
membcred the days of her childhood
when she went nutting on Barracl
Mountain amid just such sweet scents
as this.
at is cold" assented Clara, he,
blue eyes inteItly fixed on the evening
star.
The deacon was grim and hard.
featured, with nose that reminded
one of Cape Cod on the map, and u
complexion like badly-tanned piece
of leather.
Clara was plump and pretty. with
skin like rose-leaf, long -lashed eyes,
and dimple which no one had ever
been able exactly to locate.
Clara might grow old one of these
days, but she never woph grow into
the pattern of the deacon's old age.
'hey!' y said the deacon. "What' 4
that air \ your lap, Clara? A band
box? I didn't buy nothin' that
would likely be packed in bandbox. y
"No, l know you didn't" said Clara,
a blue CLEAN OF mischief coming int,
her eyes. "It's bonnet for mother
There's the surprise party, you know
at the parsonage tonight, and I'm
gong TO Trim up something decent
for her to wear.
GA bonnet" The deacon ierked
the reins in n way that had nearly
collided Old Dick with the churchyarl
wall. "Ain't your mother got bon.
net? 1t does seem, Clara, as if money
burned hole in you young folkses
pocket"
Ihe soft pink on Clara's cheek had
changed into deep rose by this time.
"Got bonnet? OF course she's
got bonnet" retorted she. "The
same she's had for five years, until
I'm sick of the brown satin bows and
the black poppies on it. Mothers n
real pretty old lady, father, or she
would be, if you'd give her chance. 4"
'And who's to pay for all this
fnery?' demanded the deacon, after
an Ominous silence.
ut isn't tinery, father, its only bare
decency. And I'm going to pay for
it, SAID Clara.
"Humph?" grunted the deacon.
81 IN glad you feel so rich. | don't,
Getup, Dick, or I'll let y. IL know I'm
here, ye lazy, idle creetur'." g"
1.-The bonnet was only fifty cents
real good straw" pleaded Clara.
And the ribbon was a quarter, and
I'm going to trim it myself with some
purple asters off my last springs hat
| couldn't let mother go to the sur
prise parry with that horrid old brown
thing r'
"Humph !"again uttered the deacon,
who had by this time urged Dick into
spasmodic canter. 81 don't myself
see no occasion for goih' gallivantin
around to surprise parties-the hull
kit an Doodle of us, / mean OF
course folks expect to see me there,
bein's I'M deacon"
And everything else will be there"
'N'SA tti NIhIuy anu L uOu
mean mother shall stay at home. She
gets so few chances to see ANYTHING or
anybody There! you tipped over
the vinegar Jug, father, with Dick can
tering in that absurd fashion. knew
something would happen!o
"Whoa, Dick-whoar % bawled the
old man. ether amt nothin' broke
luckily. / didn't realize we was poin'
so fast, an the roads is froze pretty
stiff. You see, I'd calkilated to carry
a nice bag o. dried apples for my
SHIRE, an if your mother goes"
Clara shrugged her shoulders.
81 dare say we can find something
or mother to carry" said she, "even
if it's no more than one of her deli
cious pumpkin pies or loaf of gin
rrhread. | shall take ten-dollar
old piece. Ny salary was paid last
eek, and shall never forget bow