Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-12
AN INCIDENT.
BY GEORGE WESTON TOWNSEND.
90 NNNNNaa1

the mare into the stable quicker than
was necessary.
At supper the new conner was as i'll
at ease as ever. He played nervous
| ly with his food. The girl carried on
a conversation concerning incidents
long since passed. Dorsie ate in si-
lence, but when she reached certain
point in her talk. both her listeners
showed some interest.
Ma sed ies' fore she died" and
here her voice trembled, "thet of yer
shud ever come aroun'. ter give yer
her part OF ther money. She was fair,
she was. It's quite er pile fur US
morn $50. She sed. she did. thet Dor
sic was ter bav' $40. an me. bein' a
gurl an alone, ter hav' $50, an fer yer
to hav' what was left We've alters
kept it tight in under ther chimley
shelf, Jest waitin' fer yer comm, fer
ma sed you'd be back some day, sure
We used So onct. Was hard pushed,
warn't we. Dorsie?"
Dorsie nodded. but his keen eyes
were watching his father. The father
spoke. and it seemed an effort to
speak steadily.
I've gut nuff fer me. Youse can keep
it in thet ther chimley. / don't want
it."
The girl was silent. Perhaps she
cared less for the money. although it
was needed. than for one little word,
some little show of interest from this
man whom they welcomed home as
father. in her and her departed
mother. Surely he would ask some
questions about her last illness-how
they managed to live. and the priva-
tions they had gone through with.
Disappointment was plainly written
on her face as she arose from the
table, crossed the room and from
shelf took down a faded photograph.
She mechanically brushed it with her
apron and placed it before the man.
She had thet there taken nigh on
ter three years ago. It's purity good,
only she looked alters more pleasant.
She was cheerful-and good, too"
Dorsie gave furtive glance at his
sister and saw that her eyes were
swimming with tears. He never
could talk or bear to hear her talk of
their mother The father shuffled his
feet on the uneven floor. carelessly
| glanced at the photograph, and say
ing he would take a look about,
slouched out at the open door
When Dorsie returned some time
afterward, he found his sister at the
table, her head on her arms. crying as
if her heart would break Dorsie felt
badly enough, but when it came to ex-
pressing himself. he simply could not
do it. so he started for the door. Then
he hesitated. turned and looked at the
forlorn figure and went silently over to
her, placing a big brown hand on her
shoulder. He stood there until her
sobs subsidized, then he spoke.
"It's tough. sis. He's poor un. an
| hope he won't stay here. l can't
breathe when he's in ther same room
with u.s."
He stopped and looked around the
cabin undecidedly. He wanted to say
more to comfort her, but he'd said
considerable for him. He waited.
She lifted her wet face to his.
"Oh, Dork. eff he'd only sed ies' one
leetle word bout ma-ies' leetle
somethin' kind-it would seem easier.
But he's SO hard. and he looks so
orful." And she hid her face again
and sobbed aloud.
She must have dropped into a weary
sleep, for an hour after she still sat
with her arms on the table. her head,
| .tr;tJ i+e 10, oe
upon them. The shadows We're deep
| ening, and just as the moon was rising
above the sandy stretch that lay in
front of the doorway. man stealthily
crept through the open door. crossed
the creaking floor, and approached the
mantel shelf. A muttered oath. fol-
lowed by half stifed cry of exulta-
ton, then something was knocked
from the shelf and fell to the floor
with crash
The girl jumped up quickly. Just as
the moonlight flooded the dipgy room
| She was half afraid. then as she saw
| who the intruder was, and that he was
looking at the photograph of her de-
parted mother. she forgot her sorrow
| Her father was forgiven. He left the
house soon after. and she stood at
the doorway watching him go down
the road with a happy smile. Why
should she know that he was heading
for the nearest tavern. He had been
warned to keep away from this town.
but he had something now in his
ragged shirt that he knew we'll would
guard him against any serious deten-
ton, beside giving to him the amuse-
ment he craved.
When Dorsie came home he found
the girl troubled.
"Dork, thet ther money behind ther
shelf has gone. Jes' mist it as was
goin' ter count out dads part. He's
been here. an l was asleep, an when
l woke up he was stanin by mas
pictur, alookin' at it, an l guess he
felt purity bad, too"
Dorsie's face grew dark.
| (Which Way d'he 20 sis9