The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-07-06


Nrs. Tooker. but she took the second pieee
whs, Mary pressed her unflinchingly.
Whas would Adam says
Adam Tooker's day had not been full Of
unailoyed pleasure. He had had so long
to think on the drive to town, and per-
versely, persstently the disjointed frag
msnts of Marys last night talk with her
mother had rung in his ears. lie bad
heard them as he came In from milking
He bad heard them all night lie was
hearing them today between the booms Of
cannon and the sharp, intermittent pops
of the boys flrecrackers. They ran on In
his mind with troublesome reiteration,
always In Mary's shrill. indignant voice.
with It's wistful undertones
Confound It We're they going to spoil
his whole dayp Couldn't man take bit
of pleasuring without being pestered to
death?
The day wore on slowly to Adam Took
er however fast and joyous To the happy
faced families around him taking their
holiday together.
Boom Booml Was it that, or was it
the jolt and stir OF hurrying feet and the
CHATTER OF high. excited voices that Jared
from its sheath of selflshness the core OF
human tenderness entombed in Adam
lockers soul? Or was II the echo of
Mary voice crying out bravely to himp
Never mind what-never mind when or
how. 1t stirred and awoke. The little
groups holidaying on every side of him
appeared in new light In his eyes.
Yonder rough bearded father was
teaching his middle aged daughter to set
of firecracker, laughing hilariously at
her fright An old mother a little way
l. Il a Ix.l<.
the bands merry tune. The baby's moth
or looked on proudly. There, over there
pair of lovers walked, shy and oontented
and unheeding, through the crowds. The
man looked like John Tracy when John
was young. The girl-she didn't look like
Mary
Adam Tooker shrugged his shoulders
impatiently. We're all the daughters mid
die aged and all the women oldf A lost,
tiny urchin. tugged at his hand, calling
him grandpa" in an Imperative baby
voice. He dropped the little fist, then
picked it up again and spent patient
hour finding the child's people.
He resolved TO stay TO the fireworks, as
he had planned TO do. though he had lost
the Zest of the day. As the first rocket
shot into the air he heard a familiar voice
near him-Alary S, "Oh, mother, isn't il
beautiful"
She was sitting on the back seat of John
Tracy's wagon beside her mother. Uncon-
sciously her shoulders were Strengthened
and her head thrown back John Tracy,
looking back at her. took his enjoyment
reflected from her happy face. Once or
twice he leaned back and readjusted the
light robe over her lap and let his hand
linger minute, unhindered.
He looks like John Tracy, too, when
John was young, muttered Adam Took
or, with a grim smile, IAN, thank good
ness, this girl looks like Mary Maryr'
He went up TO the wagon and touched her
arm, reaching up on tiptoe. $50 you
come over, you an Lavinyf Good evenin,
John There's goin to be quite a show,
they say, wuth your drivin over.
A rocket or two went up overhead with
out their notice. An embarrassed silence
possessed the little group. When Mary
spoke at length, there was little culver
underlying the bravery of her voice, but
she subdued it resolutely as she went on.
'Good evening, fatherl" she said
"Ain't you tired out standing on your
feet soy guess there plenty of room for
you to sit down beside John, isn't there
John? You can just as well as not.
right in. Mr.. Tooker-jump right i'm |" he
cried heartily. Il was just thinking what
y pity il was TO waste all this room In the
middle of crowd. You get right inn
Yes, do, Adam, ventured Mrs. Tooker
timidly. You look real tuckered out. 4"
But with his foot on the wagon step
Adam Tooker changed his mind and step
ped heavily down again. He reached up
a stout forefinger and gently prodded
Mary arm.
mo" he said gravely, though under
his shaggy brows his eyes actually twin
killed. mo; you get in ahead, Mary, with
John. I'll set with Laviny on the back
seat. l guess that'll even us up better. y
And so, "evened up" they sat and
watched the rockets burst into stars over
their heads and trail down fainter and
fainter into obscurity. On the back seat
perhaps a remembrance of other years
young, loving years-came to Adam Took
er, for once Lavinia's tired hand In its
loose cotton glove was sure 1t felt a lin
gering, clumsy touch
And on the front seat Mary lockers
Independence day was ending with vista
of happy, independent years for her and
John.-Youth' Companion.