Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-30

scapea red glow ofsunset yet fingered
while the black pines and ccdars
quivered in the wind.
81 wish" added Jessie, "that I
had asked that man below which was
the right turning to take. But | was
afraid of him; he looked so cross"
She was tall, slim slip of thing.
with blue, wistful eyes, hair of the
real Scotch gold, and red lips, that
trembled partly with cold, partly with
certain vague terror at the position
in which she found herself.
In her hand she carried n beayv
bag, for Jessie had no money TO pay
omnibus hire, or to engage a sleigh at
the railway station.
Suppose, she said to herself.
''this lonely road should lead no,
where, except into the woods? Sup
pose it should conduct me straight
INTO a gypsy camp? For it seems
more and more desolate the farther /
go. Suppose l should be frozen to
death, all alone here, with no helping
hand to save me?"
Take care, child" cried n loud,
clear voice. ''Do you want to be run
over?"
1t was no gypsy, nor yet black
brown tramp, simply n plump, COM
Portable woman, driving herself in n
trim little red cutter She eyed Jes-
sic curiously through her spectacles.
Jessie returned the gaze with interest.
please, madam" said Jessie, "can
You tell me if am near Bucknor Hall ?"
'Bless me, said the woman, "don't
you know? Bucknor Hall was burned
down last night, and the old lady was
sutfocated in the smoke. Friends OF
yours?"
Jessie put her bag down in the
snowy road; she trembled violently.
"No-not exactly friends, " she said.
"But | was engaged to go there as
companion and reader, and-and-
Oh, what shall do now?"
The old lady looked meditativcly at
the lash Of her whip.
Come from New York;" said she,
after pause.
"Yes-from the Wilberforce Protec-
tive Agency. And | spent all my money
tor tue ticket here.
"One or two bright round tears de
tached themselves from the long ashes
and rolled slowly down her cheeks.
Mrs Parkhurst, who prided herself
on her knowledge Of physiognomy,
made up her mind on the spot
cone thing is very certain - said
she. 'Mrs. Bucknor will never re-
quire companion and reader now
And if you're puzzled what to do next
you had better jump in and go with
me.
"Where?' said Jessie.
''Home, said Mrs. Parkkrrst.
Now, Jessie Morton herself was not
a bad judge of the human face divine,
and iii the indescribable solitude of
this moment, she caught at the well
come idea of shelter and company.
She got into the red cutter, drew the
bulfalorohc around her shiverine form,
and nestled close to Mrs. Parkhurst,
before she ventured to ask, timidly:
''Where is-home?"
Mrs. Parkhurst shook the reins. The
pony darted merrily over the smooth
road into the purpling dusk.
ut S the Bassett Military Institute, !"
said she, with very visible pride.
"Tm housekeeper there"
"What !"
"Oh take care - scolded Mrs. Park
hurst. "You should hold on tight
when we turn those sharp curves. You
had very nearly fallen out. Yes, the
Bassett Institute And fine place it
is | was thinklng-if your references
turn out what they should be-we
might make room for you there, We
need smart young woman in the linen
room. l suppose you can do something
else besides companioning and reading
--eh?"
"Oh. yes!"