Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-29

wreathed door where Victor
Doty's young wife sat, with her brown
haired baby in her arms.
\ long hour she had sat there. with
the child on her knee, grooming old
songs which she had loved to sing
when gay-hearted girl, in her faith
cr's house, but which she had almost
forgotten in the work-day life which
had been hers for the last two years.
She had been very happy, though, in
her wild Western home. 1t had grown
to he for her the centre for all happy
visions, all pleasant dreams, all peace
ful days.
BY her CHEEKY fireside in the long
winter evenings and by the sweet
climbing roses out on her little porca
on the bright summer nights, she
had learned contentment; and she
often asked herself, in the quiet
autumn days which We're spreading
a golden glory over the earth, what
there had been in those old days half
as satisfying as the simple joys of
their home-life.
And then sne would go in, and lay
the baby down in his cradle bed, and
go about on light, quick feet, to pre-
pare their evening meal.
But on this brightest of bright days,
when she had been thinking with
half-longing of the forms and faces
at home, there had dashed down the
road Il gay cavalcade-far ladies and
brave gentlemen, in holiday attire
and foremost among them was Madge
Wilder, a careless, happy rider, intent
on the double duty of managing her
fiery pony and of seeing every beauti-
ful thing on either side of the road.
She was the first one to catch
glimpse of the cottage standing back
among the trees, and of the sweet
picture framed in by the scarlet bloom
of the autumn leaves.
'0h, Clara!" she said, wheeling her
pony so as to bring her to the side of
Miss Rodelle's horse, "do you see that
exquisite picture in there? It's a poem
without words, and isn't it beautiful?"
Don't you know the face, Madge"
"Surely it can be no one we know,
living here in this wilderness:"
at is Aimee Dane"
With a cry of surprise, Madge Wild.
er turned her pony's head, and beck
oning to Ray Harcourt, the gentleman
nearest her, she rode directly toward
the cottage.
Aimee had come out on the steps and
watched them as they dismounted; but
only their side faces We're toward her,
and the low branches of the trees
really had no idea of meeting Old
friends, until Madge's clear voice rang
across the intervening space:
'Aimee Dane. is it truly you"
And then, like fire that springs
suddenly into blaze, up leaped the old
love and friendship into vivid being
again.
"Oh, Madgew she cried.
Aud the two friends had met, and
their arms Were round each other; and
for one moment even baby was for
gotten.
But Madge introduced Mr.. Harcourt,
and that reminded Aimee that she too.
had young gentleman to introduce;
and the brown-haired boy, so like his
father, with his big blue eyes and
smiling mouth, was brought out and
Leld up with mothers proud delight.
Before they We're half through adj
miring him, Victor Doty came in, and
when he found that her friends had
gone on, and that Madge was intend
ing to spend two or three months with
Il relative only five miles distant, be
said at once, with genial smile:
why not stay with us little
while, Miss Wilder? Our cottage is
a small one, but we always have room
for friend; and am sure your pres
ence would cheer Aimee"
Aimee looked her entreaty, and Vic
tor promised to send for Madge's
trunk the next morning
Il cannot resist SO warm an invita-
ton; so if you will give me nook at
your iireside for five or six days, l
will stay" said Madge.
Mr.. Harcourt agreed to take a note
for her, that her trunk might be ready
in the morning, and galloped away
with little look of regret at leaving
her behind.
"You won't need much here, Madge,
in the way OF dress" said Aimee,
laughing. Eve never see company,
and the dress you have on will do for
all occasions
Madse smiled, but evidently thought
differently, for when her trunk carae,
there was an array of dainty dresses
spread out for inspection that made
Aimee's brown eyes enyious.
That night Madge put on soft-tint-
ed silk, the hue Of wood-vlole'- ID