Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-16

~ N ,hiGN FlNNs{s pitFSh uAlt "hlbC
M[t N0j jGgaJ puppy.
We GNEtYsfS From the gyra-
.llStassSsssssf esssssasAS tons of the two
9ssSEgcei-% A4fs=eesfssr young creatures on
the grass, Mrs. Spreadbrow let her
eyes wander dreamily across the bay
to the irregular sky line of the big
city, where she knew that Mr.. Spread
brow was busily engaged in convert
ing bales of cotton into crisp bank
| notes.
All, thought she, happily, she had
much to be thankful for, the best hus-
band in the world, promising fam
lily, charming home on Staten ISL
and and-but at this juncture her rev.
erie was broken in upon by sound
of footsteps on the gravel walk lead
ing from the front gate to the house,
and looking up, she beheld the COM
Portable figure of her dear friend, Mrs.
| Townley.
There followed scene, such as any
lady who has been surprised by the
sudden and unexpected arrival of a
valued friend can readily imagine. In
the course of it Mrs. Townley was
conveyed to the parlor of the trim cot
tage, to sit and "cool OFF, before 60
ing upstairs.
"Take off your bonnet, DEAR" said
her CHEEKY hostess. "I will put
your satchel and parcel and things
on this chair. o, have so much to
tell you about and scold you for; why
haven't you come down before?"
In the midst of Mrs. Townley's ex-
plantations as to why she had absented
herself, there burst through the open
French window, like the advent of o
whirlwind, the puppy, Sport, in full
cry, followed by Eddy.
Round and round the room they cir
cled for some moments, and then,
obedient to the oft-repeated commands
of his mother, the little youth turned
and embraced their visitor with much
heartiness. The peace that followe d
these demonstrations was rudely put
to fight by the click of the front gate,
and the cry from Eddy, who was sta
toned at the window, announcing "a
lady coming"
Somebody to call. How provok-
ing" said Mrs. Spreadbrow, with a
pucker of her placid brow. "Come,
Maria, let's go upstairs before Della
goes to the door. There goes the bell!
Never mind your things"
In au instant the room was cleared
Of all save the black and white puppy,
who shambled about for momeps,
then trotted laboriously out into the
garden by the same route he had come
in.
'It's a young lady, Mrs. Spread.
brow, and she says she wants to see
you on business" announced Della, q
moment later, thrusting her head
through the door of the room to which
Mrs. Spreadbrow and her friend had
/ retreated.
Dear mel what can she want?'
The lady's voice expressed as much
irritation as that kindly organ coult
embody.
AS she entered the parlor, tall
. slim girl, who had been standing
nervously in the middle of the room
l advanced to meet her, and the icy
. tone and manner that Mrs. Spread
brow had determined to assume to
r. ward the disturber of her seclusio1
t melted quite away as the pretty youn,
a creature lifted a pair of sad dark eye
to her face and said in an emil ar
rassed voice:
"Please pardon me for intruding.
Il have come to-to-''
= "Pray sit down." interrupted Mrs
g Spreadbrow, cheerily.
"Thank you," said the girl, ant
u dropping into a chair. 81 will no
: detain you long. 1 have here a chill
v dren's history" and from tn
e depths of roomy satchel she pro
, duced q small book-"that Catchan
& Teasam are publishing
> Ali Now Mrs. Spreadbrow kney
Il the worst. ''But don't want it,
e she said, gently.
SIT won't do any-any harm-to-
to look at it." The girl spoke as
! trying to repeat lesson, and with
y wistful look in her face.
:. eyes, it will; because if I let yo
J. show it to me L may buy it, and
really don't want it,"
Nobody does; but you have pu
e your rejection of it very kindly" sal
T. the girl, rising to go.
e Her voice trembled, and the smil
- she managed to screw her pretty lip
into was far from cheerful. Mrs
= Spreadbrow was touched. There wa
s. something 80 pathetic about the voic
/. and manner, and she was SO yer
young and 80 very pretty. Th
motherly lady laid her hand ON th
J girls arm. saying softly: