The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-06-11

for-nothIng my pongee 81 nanuKer-
chief, that you have stolen. right out
of my bag! Well, 1 neyer!" e,:s 4
She shook Phebek k,vehenently.1
Phoebe began to cry ins mingled ter
ror and resentment, andAiustRthen up
drove the farm wagon alta gallop.
"Hello, mother |" said Ezra Pilking-
tons cheerful voice. '1'mi afraid I've
kept you waiting bit, butithei linch-
pin came out of the wheel andSI had
to stop at Tony DeephilPs togget it
fixed. Now. then!"
He drove the stout pony closeEo the
raised platform which extendedfaway
from the station.
Mrs. Pilkington, pushed Ph@belinto
the back seat and followed her'with
Lightning haste.
"Not that way !" She cried, grasping
OF the reins, as Ezra'would have head
ed for the highroad. 'Drivesstraight
to Squire Pulteney's. This gals a
thief I'm going to have her arrested
before she is day older -
"Eh!" said Ezra, staring from his
mother to Phoebe, and then back
again.
"She's stole my spotted pougee
handkerchief-my handkerchief that
I bought at bargain on Grand street
this very morning!' shrieked MRS.
Pilkington.
sIts-it's my handkerchief, falt-
cred poor Phoebe, feeling as IT she
were in a terrible nightmare from
which there was no awakening.
ga likely story!' clamored the en-
ragged housewife. 'I've always heard
of the wiles and tricks of these city
minxes, but l never realized it until
now. Drive on, Ezra-drive quick
She shall be lodged in the county jail
this very night" ts /
"Are you surayou amt mistaken
mother ?" said kind Ezra, compassion
ating the look of pallid misery in the.
young girls face. &
Mistaken, indeed /" shifted the lold
lady. ''Drive on, sayl Don't lose
any more time, or Squire Pulteney
will have gone home for the night. F"
She herself took possession OF the
reins and she spoke and chirrnped to
the horses.
"But, mother" pleaded Ezra.
Even as he spoke, however, poor
Phoebe, driven wild by vague terror
and an instructive desire to escape,
had flung herself from the wagon to-
the ground.
"Stop-for heavens sake, mother,
stop" shouted Ezra. 'Don't you see
that her dress is caught in the wheels?"
The little horse stopped. He al
ways stopped, on general principles,
whenever suitable opportunity pre-
sented itself, and the very slightest
"Whoa I" would invariably bring him
to q dead stsndstill.
Ezra sprang from the wagon to dis
entangle the helpless figure in the
dust, and Mrs. Pilkington scrambled
after with vague idea that Phoebe
might yet get up and try to run away.
As she jumped down her satchel fell
prone into the road, and bursting
open the overstrained latch, disgorged
its contents on the dewy grass OF the
roadside, first and foremost among
which was-a spotted ppngee hand
kerchief.
''Good Land o'Moses!" piously in
teriected Mrs. Pilkington, ''if there
amt the drafted old pongee handker-
chief, arter all"
And she stared helplessly, first at
its prim and undisturbed folds, and
then at Phmbe's handkerchief-exactly
the same in color, pattern and fabric.
"She amt thief, arter all T. said
Mrs. Pilkington, her whole nature
OVERLOADED by the rising tide of re-
morse. "Poor child and I'm afeard
she's hurt tryin' to run away from
nothing at all"
PhHbe's ankle was slightly sprained,
that was all, and by this time she was
able to smile and answer kindly Mrs.
Pilkington's numerous questions and
condolences.
''Can I ride home? Oh, of course |
can 1" said she, in reply to Ezra's in
terrogations. my ankle is only the
least bit lame"
Old Father Pilkington was anxious
" looking out for them, when, con-
q sderably later than he had expected,
or wagon drove up and Mrs. Pilking-
lont made haste to explain everything
end i'm.
ansnd amt it queer" said she,
,p acme and Phoebe should both hev
more. pongee hankerchiefs just alike
to ac- q street? If ever there was
ext 80 b they bel Half q yard
! after adj China goods, with hem
Sioksi /" said old Mr.. Pi]k-