Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-10

| ing to fill ones heart with a pleasant
premonitioR of coming good.
"I feel as if something nice was 60.
ing to happenp' said Miss Ferry to
herself, as she looked out into the
beautiful, fresh world. "But there
What am I thinking of? It'll be
buttonholes, or maybe Jane'll want
me to tend Willie through one of his
collie spells!'
Breakfast over, Miss Ferry sat
down IN her little sewing chair and
| took up her n ork; but for some rea-
son the needle would not go, and her
thoughts would wander far from the
little garment she was fashioning.
She was gazing at the swayipg elm
tops, and her work had fallen from
her hands, when rousing rap at the
door started her into the conscious.
ness of the present.
Good landl What's Gomez" she
exclaimed, springing up, to find that
it was only Colonel Heath's coachman
with a bundle.
"The work Mrs. Heath promised
me-" thought Miss Ferry, as she laid
the big parcel on the old lounge. 81
| don't believe I'll open it now; some.
how don't want to see more work to.
day"
In moment, however, she changed
her mind. ''Mrs. Heath's real good
to me; maybe it's something she wants
done right up" and she proceeded to
undo the numerous wrappings.
"Seems to me it's done up mighty
careful for just being sent down here.
What under the sun is it, anyway?"
she said aloud, as she took off the
cover of the long pasteboard box and
unfolded pretty dark blue dress, all
made and finished.
Something Miss Florence wants
altered. guess. It's too small for
Mrs. Heath. Here's the directions" )"
she continued, as an envelope fell from
the folds of the skirt
AS she read, her thin face flushed
and she laid the note down with a
gasp. ooh, I can'tl And after all
I've said to her!" she whispered. Then
she read it again.
Dear Miss Ferry-I was in the city yes.
terday and saw this dress, which made me
think of you. thought that as you were
so busy taking stitches for other people
perhaps it might be little help to have
something all made up, and 1 think 1t will
fit you. Will you accept 1t with my lovei
Please don't mind my sending 4. dear Miss
Ferry, for you share so much with others
you must let Others share with you some
times.
Mamma wishes me to ask you If you will
1
We are going to drive in the afternoon to
Pine Point, and 1t will give us so much
pleasure to have you with us. Please come
and wear the new dress. James will call
for you at eleven. Yours very truly,
FLORENCE W. HEATH.
"The good Lord bless her!" said
Miss Ferry, with little sob. "It
seems as if I couldn't take so much
from any one, but it would be down
right ungrateful not to-" And then
the Joy OF possession entered into her
soul.
She examined the dress with the APP
probation of q skilled seamstress.
Gust see those silk facings; and it's
finished elegantly. I never expected
to live to see this day. And after all
my complaining, tool I amt deserv-
ing! But, OH even Miss Florence
can't know what it means to me to
have new dress!"
Promtly at eleven James, impress
sive in dark blue livery and shining
buttons, helped the futtering little
woman, in her trim new suit, into the
soft-cushioned carriage.
am not going to describe the vel.
come Miss Ferry received at the
Heaths' nor the long day of delight
she passed in that beautiful home.
IL is needless to say that the dainty
lunch bore no suggestions of being
warmed over, and that beans and hash
played no part in the elaborate dinner,
like unto none that Miss Ferry had
ever sbefore tasted. 1t was such o
satisfaction to rise from the table with
feeling of luxurious leisurel Not
even her kind hostess could appreciate
what it meant to the little woman to
leave the diniug-room with no thought
of unwashed dishes on her mind
After lunch came the drive. The
roomy victoria rolled over the roads
with delightful ease, and the sleek
horses, that tossed their heads and
shook their glossy names, bore their
load along at pace that was pleasure
to their well exercised limbs They
drove through pleasant wood roads,
and the fragrant breath of the pines
was like balm to Miss Ferry's tired
lungs. They drove by the beach
bordered bay, and the sea sparkled and
danced before them.
tt seemed to Miss Ferry that the
out-of-door world was never so bright
and fresh and clear as it was that af-
ternoon. She lay back in rapt enjoy
ment, abandoning herself to the pres
ent, knowing that seams would be less
monotonous and buttonnoles not so
much a nightmare when lightened by
the memories of that drive.
When the long day was over and
Miss Ferry bade the Heaths good by,
she tried to make plain little Of her
gratitude.
cts the first day of whole things 1
| hol - eoil oba ffVa,1 La