Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-09


| liscontented that l skeercely know
lim. He hain't seemed to take any in
crest III his work lately, and now talk
ng about goin' to sea, or listing in the
rmy.
81 don't know what we'd do without
Danl, added the mother, with tears
n her eyes, "and Teddy wanting to
stay year longer at the 'Cademy
school"
"lf Dan wants to go, mother" said
Maria, bright-looklng girl of twenty
why, let him go. He's got no cause
TO he discontented, and | believe he
lon't know himself what he wants
Let him go, and my word for it, in SIX
months he'll be glad to get back and
nave fatted turkey killed for him,
ince We don't raise calves"
And Maria laughed, as she went to
,all Dan to breakfast.
Dan, meantime, was leaning over the
front gate, gazing absently down the
'oad toward the village.
He looked listless and moody, and
yet he was young man in the prime
)f health, with II comfortable home and
Kind relations He did not know why
ne should feel so restless and dissatis-
led, and rs he stood there, chewing a
straw, he turned round, facing the
louse, and, with his hands in his
pockets, looked moodily about him.
There stood the cosy, little brown
lousc, with its deep vine shaded porch :;
here was the well of delicious cool
water, under the big elm tree, and the
'ow of bee-hives by the garden fence,
and the little orchard in the rear.
A pleasant picture it made to the eve
)i the passersby, and it had always
seemed pleasant to Dan until this I'M
accountable mood of discomfort had
come over him, and made him restless
md unhappy.
He tried topersuade himself that his
present life was not the right kind for
aim, and that he could do better out
Il the world.
If it wasn't for his mother being on
oosed to it, he said to himself, and
Teddy away at school, he would have
gone long ago.
And Just here it was that Maria
alsei the window and called:
"Dan, breakfast ready !"
Her light, careless tone irritated
nim. She knew that he was not in
good Spirits and yet never seemed to
laye any sympathy with MIN.
80 he took no notice of the sum.
mons, and presently she called again :
Dan, are You coming, or must
mother and keep the breakfast warm
md wait for you?" "
"Bother!' y he mutterel, in renlv
Yet he walked slowly to the bEnso
and when his mother had said oroco
.ook his place at the foot of the littl,,
able.
you don't seem to relish YOU
breakfast, Dan," Mrs. Dawson said
81 thought you'd like the fresh egg
and new potatoes, and the cakes your
50 fond Of. "
Its good breakfast, mother, bu
lEaynu.t got much of an appetite.
"Areut you we'll, DAM" she in
QNfr0b unXlously.
p, Npl particularly, mother, | think
inhfa queer, all-gonish sort of feel
ing, KIND of emptiness and faintness
and-i can't exactly describe it, but j
seems to take away my strength ant
appetite. I've been thinking tho.
maybe ia better try some sort Of ,
tonic medicine.
Martha laughed heartlessly.
CHATS all your imagination, Dan
You know you never had days sick
ucss in your life, and you look stou
and strong enough to knock down al
OK. 1 guess It's only that you're il
love with somebody-Matilda Price
maybe, or Sophy Howells. Which
it, Damp"
Dan received this suggestion wit
supreme contempt. He made boas
of having never been in love, an,
though the girls mentioned by his sis
ter were the bellies of the neighbor
hood, and had each tried the power o
h"r charms upon him, he had RENAME,
Dbiulately indifferent toward them.