Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-09-26


Of my money and the last drop Of my
blood"
1t was useless to attempt to reason
with him. His rage increased. John
was obliged to obey him and depart.
He humbly asked Patty's pardon, and
received assurance of her continued
friendship, even while her father was
ordering him never to speak to her
again. John strode out Of the gate
and down the road, and Patty, her
blue eyes overfowing with tears, took
refuge in her own room.
Seth Lloyd strode into the cool,
quaint, old-fashioned sitting-room,
where his wife was indulging in her
Sunday afternoon nap. Mrs. Lloyd
was a meek little woman, who always
managed to fan the flame Of her hus-
bands anger by her ill-timed efforts to
extinguish It, When his story was
told, she said, tearfully:
ooh, Seth, jest wouldn't. Like as
not, the Manchesters will go to law,
and how 1t would sound for folks to
say you was arrested"
This only made matters worse. Mr..
Lloyd brought his hands together with
a resounding slap, and shouted:
II wish they'd try It, I'll show
Dick Manchester who's got the most
money, him or mel"
"Oh, father, don't talk So" and Mrs.
Lloyd wiped tear from her cheek. Il
most know Patty likes John, and l
wouldn't have our girls heart hurt for
all the hedges in the country"
This remark was the one thing need
ed to raise the passion of Seth Lloyd to
white heat. Notwithstanding his
long trusteeship in the little church
near by, he swore, with an awful oath,
that Patty should have nothing to do
with the Manchesters.
| AS for John, he also acted unwisely.
He went straight home, and finding his
father lying under the great walnut
trees which shaded the lawn, he told
him the whole story.
Richard Manchester was a much
younger man than his neighbor. John
was an only child, and as the boy had
been motherless since his birth, there
was little his father had denied him.
But as he listened, the face of the elder
man grew hard and stern. This was
not the first trouble between Seth Lloyd
and himself. Manchester's more pro-
gressive ways of farming had always
been ridiculed by the old man, and
more especially had this been the case
in the last few years since these very
ways had begun to bring in large re-
turns The hedge had already been a
source of dispute, as it took the place
of line fence, and had, when small,
often been passed over and trodden on
p by Manchesters cattle.
II think I've stood enough from Seth
Lloyd" Mr.. Manchester, senior, said,
firmly. Il believe I'll test the matter
of the hedge in the courts, although
am opposed, on general principles, to
lawing. You kept Professor Lutz's
letters, didn't you, John?"
"Yes, sir, but"
But what?" the father asked, i'm
patiently. Il hope old Lloyd did not
frighten you?"
II don't think am afraid" John an
swered, smiling a little. But there's
Patty"
Patty? Oh, yes, see. Well, John,
I'll go a little slow for your sake, but
Seth Lloyd will never overlook what
happened to-day"
Time proved the truth of Richard
Manchester's words. Seth Lloyd let no
opportunity Of annoying his neighbor
go unimproved. Several times hot
words passed between the two men.
John and Patty met at church and
In various social ways. There was
little chance for conversation, and
John determined to see the girl alone
and come to a definite understanding
with her. Fortune soon favored him.
One sunny afternoon he was drilling
wheat AS he turned his team he
caught glimpse Of a trim little figure
in dark blue strolling leisurely along
the road only few rods from him.
John tied his horse to convenient
tree, hurried across the field, leaped
over the fence, and stood leaning
against the trunk of beech when
Patty approached.
She started, but the look of 10y in
her eyes did not escape Johns notice.
Come. Patty, and sit down here"
he said, imperatively. Il must talk
to you, and there's no telling when 1
can see you again"
Patty obeyed unquestioningly, and
he took his place at her side. The
sunlight peered down at them through
the screen of silver-green leaves, bring
ing out glints of brightness in Patty's
hair, and in the goldenrod in her lap,
and squirrel paused to eye them cur
iously; but they needed none of these.
There, once more, the story of love
was told, the story each retelling of
which is the crown of some life.
"Yes, I love you, john" Patty said,
her cheeks aglow, "but papa will never,
never consent, and l dare not oppose
him."
tn1