Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-26

Kathie. "An' Jim looks a sickenin'
idit, with thet grin on his face" And
she turned away in disgust. Another
woman, an that un. of all others, in
my place."
Only by experience could one under.
stand what Maria now felt.
During the years that had passed,
! hard crust had formed over her heart,
and buried almost out of sight the af-
| fection she felt for her brother and
her home. But the scene within,
which told her that what had been
could be no more, that there was an
other to share her brothers tolls and
cares, broke the crust and left her
heart sore and aching. She laid her
head on the cold. bare window sill
and wept.
But the thought, the bitterest drop
in her cup, that she had brought it on
! herself, made her wipe her face rough
ly on her shawl.
'Tll go back ter Mary's, fer | CANT
think of livin' in the same house with
her, even eff Jim wanted me-" Her
lip trembled piteously. "Good-by dear
OF home! | guess I'll never be this
near ye agin." And she turned away,
taking little heed of the noise she
made in the leaves till she heard stir
within.
who's that?" called Jims voice.
Maria paused. They must never
know she had come back. But in the
stiffness her every movement could be
heard. She stood shivering till an in
spiration came.
"M-iaul," She mimicked cat per-
fectly.
Them blasted cats agin!" exclaimed
Jim. Scat! scat!" And he stamped
on the floor with his heavy boots.
81 b'lieve every cat in the neighbor-
hood comes to that corner as soon as
it's good dark" said Kathie.
The sound of that voice impellel
Maria a few steps further, she gave
another dismal "m-i-aul" as she went.
Jim started up, and she heard his
heavy steps as he attempted to cross
the floor staalthily. She crouched
close to the wall, hoping if he came
out he would overlook her. But Jim,
instead of coming out, was going up
stairs
He's Grter his gum" she thought.
81 guess he won't shoot straight down.
AnyNay I'll hev to stay fer ef l run
he'll be shore to fire on me-
She waited anXiously for Jim's next
move, and he did not keep her long
in suspense. From an upper window
bucket of icy water deluged her,
while jim engaged in a species of war
dance, shouted Scat" at the top Of
mis- voice.
Maria barely suppressed a scream
as the cold water ran down her back
and soaked through her clothing. The
thought of walking a half mile after
sucll a bath would have been out of
the question at any other time; but
now she bounded to her feet. and re-
gardess of the noise Of her steps, was
running through the leaves when
Jim, with a final vociferous Scat"
dashed the bucket from the window.
1t struck Maria on the head, and with
= frightened scream she fell to the
ground,
jim heard the cry and rushed out,
closely followed by his bride.
"Oh, Kathie, it's Marier! Do you
spose I've killed herr"
NO" answered Kathie soothingly,
"sho amt dead. Go buill fire in her
room right quick. while l get her
some dry clothes
Maria scarcely knew, or was too
afr.r- H. Ill srl,t
and Jim brought the doctor to see her
before breakfast
The injury from the bucket was
trihing. The doctor said her illness
was a general breakdown, caused
probably by overwork and exposure.
"Sho never would take keer of her.
SELF Jim said to Kathie. But now
you kin watch arter her. and mebbe
persuade her ter be keerful."
q don't know" answered Kathie,
doubtfully. I'm afeard she don't like
me much"
She'll soon Earn to love yer
though" said Jim, fondly stroking the
sunny hair
Jims words were prophetic. Long
before Maria was well enough to be
moved to her sisters she had learned
to love gentle Kathie. her faithful and
alTectionate nurse.
And in the peacefully happy years
that followed if Maria and jim seemed
on the verge of a quarrel, it was
Kathies soft words that soothed the
RULED tempers, and made all calm
and serene again.-Waverley Maga-
zine.
Thomas Jefferson as IA Letter. Writer.
Mr.. Jefferson probably wrote more
letters with his own hand than any
other public man that ever lived. The
extent of his correspondence may be
inferred from the fact that 26,00O
letters neatly folded and briefed, were
preserved by him and found carefully
fled away at the time of his death,
with copies Of the replies sent to