Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-03
The
Kennedys'
Fourth Of July

The postmaster-who was also the vii
lage blacksmith-had just come in from
the forge. He was huge, clumsy crea-
ture, with a whisky Redeemed face and
kindly smile He was sorting n bundle of
letters between his big, blackencd fingers.
The little old man at the outer side of the
partition was watching him with an ex-
preston of timorous entreaty.
Seems like | seen letter here for
you. Mr. Kennedy. Sophy," he called tc
his wife, who sat sewing in the rear OF
the ROOM "hain't there letter here for
Mr.. Kennedy"
"Yes, there is. It's Cecelia's writin
too. It's a tolcrable thick letter. Look
again, Bill
Here it is-I've got it," He passed
an envelope through the little wooden
gated aperture to the knotty brown hand
trembingly outstretchcd to receive it.
ut is from her, amt it, Mr.. Kennedy?
Comm home, maybe"
II don't know. That's what I'm
wonderin." He had laid the letter down
on the ledge and was eagerly fastening
pair OF spectaclcs behind his ears. Land,
land, II 1t should be, what would mother
say-whatever would she say"
He was weather beaten old farmer,
with clean cut clean shaven face-s
face that, despite Its firmness of feature.
was full Of gentleness. The well shaped
old head was matched with gray hair,
and the eyes back of the glasses were sin
cere and sympathetic.
"No," he announced in a tone OF disap-
pointment. He had got the letter open ut
last and was reading it rapidly. She's
at the exposition, an she wanted we
should know she was well an happy, an
hopin we was the same, an-thats about
all. Oh, yes, an she's sent mother dress
pattern. 'Twould be at the deepO' same
time as this letter come. She's reel good
hearted, Cecilia is. She-she went away
soon after you folks settled here" The
old eyes were wistfully lifted Il don't
suppose you remember her right WELL"
he concluded.
"Oh, yes, do" returned Bill Wheeler
heartily. "The prettiest girl said so to
Sophy when | seen her-didn't |, Sophy?
The prettiest girl in these parts"
"She was a good girl, too," put in the
old man eagerly. "rhcre wasn't no better
girl around than Cecilia. But after that
winter we sent her to school in Hastings
seemed like she couldn't bear the farm.
She was young, an she found it lonesome.
1t was lonesome, with only mother an me
there There was them that said she
ought to have let us know she was goin,
but / say to mother she couldn't bear to
tell us goodby. She's wrote regular since,
but her letters come from lots of diff Trent
towns. The lady she's companion for Is
one that's allus takin towers, they call
'em. II is pleasant life for my girl. An
the wages Is good, but Though his lips
continued to move, the remainder of the
sentence was. inaudible. ''I'll be goin
down to the decpo' now" he said.
Thanks TO you, Mr.. Wheeler"
That's all right good day to you"
And, when the door had closed behind old
man Kennedy, Wheeler stood silent a
moment or two.
Somehow 1t makes me feel queer to
hear him talk that way, Sophy. It's six
years since she run off. She weren't but
- then. An all she's done is send 'em
presents-ain't ever come a-nigh EN-"
Mrs. Wheeler, a scrawny, dyspcptic
looking creature, bit her thread off with
a vicious jerk.
"Bet there's good reason she don't. I
allus said she was a no account girl an
none"
"Sho, now, Sophy," he demonstrated.
II wouldn't be too sure OF that. Like as
not she's earnn her money honest"
"Liker'n not she amt" retorted Sophy
tartly and resumed her sewing.
Old man Kennedy plodded off with his
basket and, after getting package at
the depot, drove home. The sun had gone
4 hut ., hpi
afternoon still fingered as he turned into
the road that led to his farm. Waist high
and green as sea water the corn rippled
away to the horizon in limitlcss pillows.
The light wind driving over the oats set
1t courtcsying in fantastic undulations or
bowed 1t in temporary deprcssions of
bronze brown shadow. And in the hedges
OF Usage orange and honey locust were the
whir of the wings and the twitter of bird
yespers.
His wife was waiting for him when he
stopped in front Of the house before driv-
Ing around to the barn.
"You got the groceries, father, an
what's this? A present from Cecilia!
My dear little daughter! A letter too!
Oh. let the horses wait, father. You
must read it to me. Why, your hand is
burnin. Are you sick?"
Mono" He numbered down over the
wheel. "I'll tell you in minute. Lis
ten." He read aloud for her the lines her
eyes had grown too dim to decipher.
When he had come to the end, he burst
out with the plan which was to electrify
her. He spoke 80 fast he stumbled over
his words and repeated himself. But at
last it was clear to her. They were to
spend the Fourth of July at the exposi
tion. And it was possible Cecilia would
still be In the city with her mistress. And
-ecstatic possiblity-they might see her.
There's no address on the letter." he
hurried on, "but we might meet her, or
we could put in the paper that Mr.. and
Mrs. Kennedy was stoppin-wherever we
might bean was hopin to receive call
from a friend. We might say young
lady friend. But we wouldn't put her
name, for belke the lady she lives with
is that grand she'd not be maxim so much
Of an aquil of the choild if she was to see
how plain we are. Say we'll go, mother"
"We'll go" Tears splashed down on
the letter she still held, but they Were
happy tears, being begotten by hope. I'D
go to the ends OF the earth just to hold