Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-26

and down went her exultation over
the Newtons in general.
"My cousinl'' she murmured.
"Yes, father had brother Henry out
West. He used to hear from him
about once in five years. That ac-
counts for the strange resem-O
| dear! dearl I'll never tell John.
He would make life burden. Why
should Agnes Newton write me all the
| disagreeable discoveries she makes?"
Hiding her letter, she sat down
| beside the window farthest from the
Higgins cottage and wrestled with her
chagrin. To yield was inevitable y
her conscience made that clear-but
how to do so gracefully was the ques-
ton. Like many other problems,
this was unexpectedly solved. She
heard the back door thrown open
suddenly, and as she started to her
feet wide-eyed, painting child ap.
peared.
SO Mis- Smith," she gasped,
"mamma won't speak, an she's all
still! Trudie says won't you please
come over?"
Mrs. Smith recognized the second
Higgins child, seized bottle of cam
phor, called Beatrice, and hurried af-
ter her little guide. Four weeping
infants met her at the door, while
Trundie was applying water to her
mothers white face.
lis she dead?" whispered the terri
fed child.
"No, no, dear, only in a faint.
With quick and skilful movements
Mrs. Smith applied restoratives.
Very soon the weary eyes Enclosed,
and color came again to lip and cheek.
"Why, Mrs. Smith, did they call
you?" she whispered. "Therel
there! don't darlings" With the
first intimation of consciousness the
children had pressed forward, eager
to reach her.
Don't you worry!" commanded
Mrs. Smith. ''Now, children, Bea-
trice is in the garden, and you can all
go over and she will give you some
cookies. I'll stay with your mother"
Four of them filed out on tiptoes,
but Trudie stayed until her mother
was in bed. Then she took the baby
and followed-a look of grave re-
sponsibility on her young face
Mrs. Higgins looked wistfully at
her neighbor. "I don't see why I
gave out so, Tn sure" she said.
''but my ironing was heavy, and I've
been so miserable this summer. 1t
seemed as if was going to die, and I
didn't care much if did. We're you
ever so wicked? But I'm sorry to
trouble you; I'll soon be up again
AS she smiled Mrs. Smith saw the
marked resemblance to her own SIS
ter, Louise, which Beatrice had
noticed.
All artificial barriers fell at that in
stant, and leaning over the bed, Mrs.
Smith almost sobbed, You're not
wicked, and you mustn't work SO hard
any more. You don't trouble me.
Tn going to take care of you, for I'm
your own cousin, Judith Newton. I've
just found it out!"
The pale little woman heaved
long, long sigh, lifted her arms, and
clasped them around Mrs. Smiths
neck: ooh, I've known it ever since
1 moved here! You look enough like
my father to be his own daughter,
and we knew you married Smith.
I've been SO hungry to get near you,
but didn't dare to speak first"
Tho little house was very still, and
nobody listened to the low murmur
of voices as the women talked on
and on.
: That evening the stout Swedish
woman was transferred to the Higgins
kitchen, where her broad face lowered
: into smiles, since she was one of the
rare mortals who prefer "a family
| where there are children"
, Mrs. Smith told her story also that
l evening, and her husband wiped his
eyes and cleared his throat vigorously
! as she described the finding of Cousin
Sarah.
0 81 won't go back on the family
Q tree, John, but I've been so wicked
e and pulled up over it-that's the
4 trouble!'' she confessed. "And here
Y at my very door was Cousin Sarah,
o just starving fora relative. No wonder
she didn't dare speak-oh, I can't
o forgive myself And those children
d there, John, you may laugh but we
i must have them over here while she's
sick. Perhaps you could put up
/, swings under the elms. I'm so glad
o Miss Newton wrote--in time. Cousin
q Sarah looks so much like Louise |
! can't help loving her."
n John nodded. He was possessed
q with variety of emotions. Youth 8
Companion.
, Bibliographica1 Treasure.