Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-17


81 know Mr.. Phineas MARVEL,
answered Mrs. Hyde, with dignity.
"Well, it's all the same" retortei
she of the acidulated countenance
"He's boarded at our house three
weeks and four days. He's dowr
with the small-po
"Oh, myl" calculated Mrs. Hyde.
'Poor, dear soul. And who takes
care of him"
That's just the very question, u
said the visitor. 81 can't. I've got
my own family, as never has had the
smallpox, to think of-and the other
boarders has all cleared out, and the
doctor don't know of no one as would
be willing to undertake the risk.
P'raps You could Gomez"
Mrs. Hyde visibly recoiled.
"N-no!" she answered. ST would
rather not. AS you say yourself, it's
a great risk to run, and"
But Patty Smith, who had listened
in silence heretofore, stepped for
ward.
"Tll go, aunty," said she, "if you'll
take care of the twins. 1 have had
the smallpox. 1 am not afraid of it"
"But, Patty, I thought you dis.
liked Mr.. MARVEL so much?"
81 did," said Patty, with smile
and shrug of her shoulders. 'But
it isn't worth willie to think of that
now. He is sick, and solitary, and
he is fellow creature. That is
enough"
And Patty packed her little bundle,
kissed the peachy, unconscious
cheeks of the twins, and went on her
mission, like new variety of Soeur
de Charlie.
What disconsolate scene was that!
in the midst of which lay Mr.. MARVEL,
tossing ON a bed of sickness. A fire.
less CRATE; undraped windows, through
which the sun beat with merciless
brilliancy; dust in every spot on
which dust could possibly alight, and
pillow and bed linen a week old.
'I'll soon set all these matters
straight" said Patty, moving around
with the quick decision that was nat.
ural to her. And within half an hour
the scene had assumed more home
like look, even to the staring, uncon-
scious eyes of the delirious man.
''Who are you? An angelo" he
asked, lowering his voice to whisper.
"No," she answered, smiling in
spite OF herself. 'Pm Patty"
'Don't leave me-" he urged. SITS
so dreadful to be left alone"
"No," she answered; "I won't"
Phineas MARVEL lay ill for month
and with slow recovery came sense
of all that Patty Smith had done for
him.
"I'll tell you what" said the doc
tor, on the day that he made his last
professional visit, "if it hadn't been
for Mrs. Smith, you would have been
snugly slowed away between four
boards by this time, my
friend"
"I know it," Mr.. MARVEL answered.
"Well," said Mrs. Hyde, when at
last Patty returned home and hugged
the twins within an inch of their
lives, 81 hope the poor, dear gentle.
man is better.
"Oh, he's all right noww said
Patty. "He's coming back to-mor-
row or the next day. Is the room all
ready?"
'All ready" Mrs. Hyde answered.
Mr.. MARVEL returned the next day
and once more took possession of his
old quarters.
"AIrs. HYDE" said he, with little
embarrassment, when that lady came
upstairs to inquire his wishes in re-
gard to any early tea, "there's some.
thing [, perhaps, ought to mention to
you"
Indeed, sir" said the wondering
Mrs. Hyde. WHAT'S that?"
'I'm going to be married!" an.
the bachelor, with infinite
sheepishness.
Married, sir? YouP Dear, dearl
Then you'll be leaving me again,
shouldn't wonder"
'Not necessarily, Mrs. Hyde. l
dare say you and my future wife will
get along very comfortably together"
Indeed, sirW
''For I'm going to marry-Patty."
"Patty?" echoed Mrs. Hyde.
Eyes, Patty"
"And how about the twins?" de-
manded the amazed matron.
The twins, Mrs. Hyde, are the
dearest little creatures in the world"
And, improbable as it may seem,
Mr.. MARVEL really looked as if he be-
lieved what he saidl
1t was all true. He did marry
Patty-aud he was proud of his pretty,
energetic little wife, and still more
proud, strange to say, of the twins!
81 wouldn't believe it unless I'd ha
seen 1t with my own eyes" said Mrs.
Hyde. "He as never could endure
children afore! But I'm as pleased
as Punch, for Patty's saker'
And Patty and her middle.aged
husband were serenely happy to.
gethe4.