Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-10
AFTER THE STORM. ;


Barnabas Burlington.
MY sentiments exactly said Miss
Patty Chickson, ''and the sooner the
better, according to my way of think
ing"
AIr. Burlington was n portly individ-
ual, with a Roman nose, iron-gray
hair, and a stout, short figure.
Miss Chickson was tall and spare,
with little spiral curls and the romans
OF complexion, and with blue eyes,
that had been passing bright 20 years
ago.
"There Is an end to all human endur-
ance," observed the gentleman. stern
y.
Sir" said Miss Chickson, 81 have
put up with your eccentricites until
forbcarance has ceased tobe virtue"
A months notice." said Mr.. Buf-
flngton, sayagely homishlng his yell
low silk pocket-handkerchief.
''You are quite at liberty to go at
the end Of 24 hours, for all l care"
retorted Miss Chickson, with dignity.
Madam, I take you at your word, >
said the gentleman.
Mr.. Barnabas Burlington had lodged
with Miss Patty Chlckson for 10
years. He was rich and eccentric;
she was poor and proud. AS young
people, there had been certain love
passages between thcm-or rather the
buds of loves passages, which had
never blossomed into full perfe rtion-
and when Mr.. Burlington came home
from China and found his old pastors
orphan daughter trying to gain
scanty livelihood by letting apart
ments, he engaged her entire second
floor at once, and paid his way like
rajah.
Poor girl! poor girlr' said Mr.. Bar
nabas Burlington. But how thin and
old-maidish she has grown! l really
can't imagine how 1 could ever have
fancled her 4 divinity. What fools
young men are, to be surer'
Poor, dear Mr.. Burlington! how
stout and vulgar he has becomer' said
Miss Chlckson. "And only to think
how slender he was once! How the
dreams of ones youthful days DO al
terri
Mr.. Barnabas Burlington was not
perfect enough to be canonlzed. and
Miss Chickson had her petty peculiari-
ties. The consequence was that little
collisions were inevitable.
And one day there came longer
measuring of wordy words than usual,
and Mr.. Burlington and Miss Chick
son formally parted
''Ten years is quite long enough to
tolerate this state of things" said tho
old bachelor.
"I'm only surprised that l haven't
turned him away long ago" said the
old maid.
So when Mr.. Burlington had gone
away, in cab piled high with bag
gage, Miss Chickson rang the bell for
her maid.
Barbara" said she.
"Tes, ma'am?" said Barbara.
''aIr. Burlington is gone at last"
80 l perceive, maam," said Bar
bara. And won't he come back again,
ma'amr
"Neverr said Miss Chickson, with
spirit.
"Ohr' said Barbara, rather sur
prised
1T Will be necessary for us to re-
duce expenses" remarked the mis-
tress. "Of course 1 cannot any long
er afford to keep so large house as
this Mr.. Burlington, whatever were
his faults, cannot at least be accused
of parsmony."
Certainly not. ma'am," said Bar
bara.
"Of all liberal, free handed, kind
spoken gents"
Barbara you WITH oblige me by
hiding your tonguel' said Miss Chick
SON
Certainly, ma'am." said Barbara.
"Get me cup Of tea said Miss
Chickson, "and when l have drunk it
l will go out to look for a cheaper
house, in less aristocratlc neighbor-
hood"
Barbara brought up the tea, In
quaint little Wedgewood teapot, on a
Japanese tray.
Miss Chickson drank 1t IN silence,
looking sadly at the fire.
Tea was, so to speak. Miss Chick
sons inspiration When she was low
spirited or in doubt or puzzled. or in
any way thrown off her mental bal
ance, she drank tea. and straightway
became herself again.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Barnabas Buffing-
ton. in the solitary splendors of
west end hotel, was scarcely less Ill
at ease.
81 don't like this sort of thing at
all" said Mr.. Burlington to himself.
one morning month later. 'Tt isn't
homeiike. There's no cat here. Patty
Chickson always kept a cat There's
something very domestic and cozy
looking about cat. I'll go out ana
look down the advertising columns of
the daily paper and see what induce
ments they have to offer in the way
of quiet, respectable homes for elder
ly gentlemen"