Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-09-06
think there was something up when

twenty, and l shan't be till March,
you know. But l haven't told
Phil about Lonnie, and his folks don't
seem to know anything about him. It's
only twenty miles over there, yon
know,-and 1 thought they would find
out somehow, but they havent,-and,
oh, | hate to tell him.
"'Tain't anybody's fault began
Mrs. Temple, defensively, after long
pause.
Il know that" rejoined Idalia,
wearily, "and Lonnied be so handsome
and nice, if he only hadn't met with
that awful accident. As it is, he's the
kindest, gentlest boy I ever saw
amt he mother ?-and just as innocent
and good as if he was church member.
I'm sorry he's been bothering the
Doanes He's been there twice since
you told him not to. l guess l shall
have to talk to him myself. Just to
think, he never can go to any of our
plcnics and parties, and how good he
has always been about it 1t just
about breaks my heart. But of course
nobody'd ever wants to go with an
idiot"
''Idalyer' cried her mother, tremu-
lously Don't call him that ~
We'll, its what everybody does call
him, moth er, and, of course, it's what
no is. We might as well face it. That's
what I'll have to tell Phil Oh, l hope
I'll live as long as he does, so as to
make home for him."
The girl shuddered.
"Oh, mother, l hope so !" she cried,
sharply, ''And don't on any account
let him think I'm engaged. He would
be sure to let it out It's funny how
he has got a fancy into his head that
cared for Lem Harris. l never did, -
not red cent But | am sorry that
people are getting to be afraid of Lon
ME. That's the chief thing which wor-
ries the Doanes You don't think he'll
hurt us, Mrs. Doane said to me,-and
| said, Mercy, no! He wouldn't hurt
a fly And then she went on about
how terrible he had looked down there
at the Barrys'. OF course he did. I'm
not so very sorry, for my part"
We'll, you oughter be-" reproved
Mrs Temple earnestly. Don't you lei
Lonnie hear you talk that way, Idalye.
It's been the worst thing for all of us
that ever happened. I'd have done
anything to prevent it,-even if those
| children did deserve to be scared"
"Oh,yes of course apologized ldalia
soberly. II know all that. But he
won't do anything more"
I'm not so sure of that" returned
Mrs. Temple, with an anxious look on
her face. He don't act real natura
to me nowadays He's restless, an
he never used to be,-an' he seems to be
| thinkin' an mutterin' to him self more n
| ever heard him before. He acts to
me as if he was tryin' to puzzle some
thin out"
AT this moment they heard Lonnie' :
footsteps. He was bringing in the
milk, They co uld not talk any more
that night.
The next day was Sunday, and, as is
so often the case after a period of un-
common GOODNESS in the summer, lot
wave had settled over the country. The
Widow Temple and her children usually
attended church with unvarying regu-
larity, and to-day was their pastor :
first Sunday after his return from his
summers vacation; but the heat was
so intense, and they all felt so depressed
after the occurrences of the week, that
they decided to stay quietly at home.
They had just finished their late
breakfast, when carriage stopped
suddenly at a fork of the road a few
rods below the Temples, and a young
man alighted from it. Some one in the
carriage said, "Good-by, Lem. Be here
about half-past five this evening, and
I'll carry you back" The young mail
walked rapidly past the farm house, and
on in the direction of the Doanes' He
was jauntily smoking cigar, and lifted
his hat gayly to Mrs. temple and Idalia
as he went by. He was slim and good
looking.
Il wonder where Lem Harris is
going" remarked Lonnie, with dull
suspicion.
why, he's going to see Mary Doane,
of course, returned Idalia. HE goes
up there every Sunday, now that he has
gone to the Mills to work. You don't
generally see him because he goes by
| pho oJHel IOdu lie nau n CnauCe 10
ride to-day, l suppose, so he came this
way"
Don't you know" supplemented
Mrs. Temple, little impatiently, q
told you he was keepin' company with
Mary Doane, an they're goin' to be
married, come fall?
IL don't believe it," he said stub
bornly. I think he oughter marry
ldalye. He used to keep company with
her. She'll feel bad if he don't"
"Oh, you goose! You haven't the
least idea what you're talking aboutP'
laughed ldalia good-naturedly. "I'm
delighted to have him marry Mary
Doane."
He glanced at her suspiciously, and
evidently doubted her sincerity, but he
said nothing further, His face was
flushed and his eyes looked wandering
and excited.
Poor boy!' sighed his mother, ten
derby. You are the dearest and best
how in l,n, 4 "a