Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-21

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1t seemed to grandmother after
wards that at first the rider intended to
to keep on without stopping; but just
as he came opposite the horse-block,
his eye lighted on the little girl with
Lydia Tree hugged tightly under arm.
He APPARENTLY changed his mind and
reined in his horse.
Grandmother was never able to give
much Of a description of the man. She
always had vague idea that he was
much Drowned by the sun, that his
blue clothes were of queer cut, and
that he spoke in some way differently
from people she knew.
But he smiled down upon her very
pleasantly as he asked, who lives
here, little girl?"
my father" said grandmother,
promptly.
And then, as she was really a very
polite little girl and wished to behave
properly, she introduced herself, AN
I'm his little girl, an this is Lydia
Tree"
AT the sight of Lydia Trees inter-
esting countenance held up for his in
spection, the stranger seemed much af-
fected. Probably he had never seen
anything quite SO beautiful. Grand
mother was very much pleased; so
when he asked her if she could get
him a drink of water, as he was very
warm and thirsty, and politely offered
to hold Lydia Tree while she went to
fetch it, she consented at once. it
would be pleasant and novel expe-
rlence for Lydia Tree to be on horse
back. She was not the mother to deny
her child any reasonable pleasure or
advantage. Lydia Tree was handed up
to the stranger, and grandmother de-
parGted pa4G 9. fer 6. th,s water. %L-4- g.
: 1t took her some minutes. for the
drinking gourd was rather large for
her small hands, and she had to walk
very slowly to avoid spilling the water.
When she reached the horse block she
saw Lydia Trees head sticking out
from the top of the strangers jacket.
She looked very much distressed,
grandmother thought, buttoned up in
that way, with her arms inside. Grand
mother felt half inclined to cry. She
was just about to request Lydia Trees
return, when the stranger finished his
long draught
81 think I'll take Lydia Tree now,
please" said grandmother, holding up
her short arm.
The man cast his rapid glance over
the yard. There was no one in sight.
He gave his horse sharp cut
with the whip. 1t seemed to grand
mother afterward that in that one
jump they We're down the road, leav-
ing nothing behind them but a cloud
of dust.
1t was several moments before her
poor little brain was pierced with the
terrible idea that Lydia Tree had also
gone. For a moment she was simply
paralyzed with anguish. Then, with a
cry which brought her mother run
ming from the house, she threw her
self cn the ground in a tempest of
tears.
1t was some time before any one
could make out what had happened.
Poor grandmother could only wiring
her hands and sob: Lydia Tree! o,
Lydia Tree!" When, finally, she had
become sufficiently coherent to give
them some idea of the tragedy that
had befallen her. horses were saddled
and several of the farm hands started
in pursuit. Grandmother was a great
favorite and everybody burned with in
diGnation to think that a grown man
should meanly rob little girl of her
treasure.
The man had too long a start. Never
again had grandmother set eyes on
him or Lydia Tree, although it was
many years before she gave over ex-
pecting them both. She could not be-
lieve that he did not intend to come
back Her heart was sore at the
thought of Lydia Tree compelled to
live among strangers. They all decid-
ed that the man was probably a sailor
who had stolen this odd-looking baby
doll, perhaps to take to little child
Of his own.
Grandmothers father tried to COM
IOrC ner by promising that JOnn should
make another Lydia Tree for her. John
somehow understood little girls as few
grown-up people do. So he made her
playhouse instead, for which grand
mother was secretly very grateful. al
though she did not think it right to
say she didn't want another doll, as
her father had suggested it. She and
John became greater friends than ever.
He certainly did have a grandfathers
heart.
This story Of Lydia Tree was An
nie's favorite story. She never tired of
hearing it. 1t was her secret convic-
tion that Lydia Tree would return
some day, although grandmother had
given up expecting her. She never
dreamed that she was to have any part
in il