Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-09-06

No, he didn't" cried the Widow
Temple, hotly He didn't mean any
harm If he'd a been let alone, he
wouldn't "a done any either"
81 hadn't understood, Mrs. Temple"
began Sheriff Blatchford, blandly, that
anybody touched him at Barry's"
Maybe they didn't touch him, but
they hurt his feelin's an sometimes
that is worse than bein' hit some
where.
Yes interpolated a pink-faced,
daxen-haired girl, who sat close beside
the Widow Temple, as though to give
her both moral and physical support,
those Barry children have just made
faces at Lonnie, and hooted at him,
and called him Fool Lonnie' for year
or two now, every time he went by
there-and he spleens against it-and
so would you, Mr. Blatchford-or any
body else" The girl was evidently
strongly wrought up. Her sweet lips
trembled like the wild columbine, the
color of which they bore, and the
blush on her rounded cheeks came and
went as she talked.
But he doesn't control himself when
he gets angry, Miss Idalia-that's the
trouble He broke up that wheelbar
row like kindling wood There's no
knowing what damage he might have
done if Mr.. Barry hadn't happened to
come around. They think Lonnie'd
oughter be shut up at the expense of the
town-if you don't feel able to bear it
yourself - but they don't think he
oughter be going round free So"
We'll, he had, Mr.. Blatchford," re
turned Widow Temple, with spirit.
He's jest as harmless, when he's used
right, as you or be. l don't pretend
he's as smart as other folks-I know he
an't-but there amt peaceabler boy
in town-an' Idalye II tell you so, too
than he is when he amt put upon-an'
he don't always pay back then-not by
any means"
But anybody would get angry with
those Barry children, Mr., Blatchford .
put in the girl eagerly. They're just
as spoiled as they can be. I've had
them in school when l taught on Tea
street-and | had more trouble with
them than l did with all the rest put
together. If anybodys shut up, it had
better be those little scamps. Every
body in the .neighborhood is down on
them. And Lonnie has almost asmuch
sense as the rest of us, Mr.. Blatchford.
He takes up the paper and reads it off aj
sensibly as do, sometimes And he is
as strong rs horse, and works a
steady as any man in town, if he's only
| - /,
farm work-and he carries me to school
every morning when I'm teaching-or
comes after me Friday night if I'm
where can't come home every day
and if you should take him off and shut
him up-why, what would ever become
of mother and me?' The girl buried
her face in her hands and burst into a
food of tears Her mother, too, began
to sob, and wiped her eyes on her
apron.
The sheriff looked around uncomfort-
ably. He wished that this job had
fallen to some one else.
"Ahem' he began. "Yes-I know
Lonnie isn't-well-he isn't what you
might call a fool, Mrs. Temple-"
No, l amt broke in Lonnie him
self. He had been sitting in sullen 81
lence during the whole conversation on
the other side of the room, witt
his dull eyes fastened on the floor.
NV he was looking up and
the color was mounting to his
face. II wish you'd stop making
my mother feel bad,-and making
Idalye cry, Don't cry, Idalye There!
pulling a chair up beside the two
women, and confusedly trying to stop
them Il wish you'd go away, Mr..
Blatchford You make them feel bad. "
He was tall and powerful young
man of, perhaps, twenty-five or three,
with a shock of sandy hair and
whiskers which almost concealed his
sunburned, but well-featured face. His
large, pale-blue eyes, usually almost
expressionless, flashed now as he re-
"arded the sheriff. His mother, under
standing the need of keeping him es-
pee all ,amer at his time, ceased
wee. lag aid began to pacify him.
There, there, Lonnie, no, we won't t
cry any more Go an set down where
YOU was before. Mr.. Blatchford amt
to blame, Lonnie. Mr.. Barry made
him come because you broke that wheel
barrow an talked 50 cross to his chill
dren."
Lonnie obediently resumed his former
seat, and the frown on his face light
ened.
Il guess that Barry boy won't make
up any more faces at me for one while!'
he chuckled. II broke up his little
wheelbarrow so you couldn't tell what
it was made for in the first place"
That's what's the matter, Lonnie, -
don't you understands" said the sheriff,
severely. III have to take you up
and punish you, if you do such things.
Those Barry children oughter be
whipped" continued Lonnie, sulkily
"They plague me. They plague me
every time go by there"
They will stop if you don't hurt
them"
Il don't hurt them. never did any
thing to them until they called me bad
I