Woodruff County news., 1902-07-03

fresh and beautiful in her light summer gown, with bouquet of pansies at her throat, that the frown disappeared from the fathers face and a proud, glad light shone in his eyes.
 You are superior to nature, Mabel he said, holding out his hands in welcome. q do believe you would look like rose new washed ;n dew, if you did not sleep for fortnight"
 But do sleep, papa. When one is happy one doesn't mind noise, even of cannon crackers"
 T should have to be in state of ecstatic bliss not to mind em. The roar of a battle field is music, compared to this internal banging"
 'You forget, sir, that they are celebrat- ing the independence of this glorious Amer ica. l am ashamed for you. Where is your patriotism?" She released her hands, put them behind her, and looked at him with all the severity she could command.
 "The Goddess of Liberty offended with one of her subjects! By love! the role is becoming You should put on red, white and blue sash and sit on the platform at the celebration to-day"
 A wave of color swept over the neck and face of the girl. T wish 1 might, papa, VI 1Aoe IS, WISH 'S1y AiuSH lO ISdA tiS speaking in the grove to-day. You will take me. won't you!"
 Go over there to be jammed about in a crowd of crazy idiots who think they are showing their patriotism by shooting off fire crackers and making spread-eagle speeches? I'd like to please you, daughter, but you will have to wish again"
 ''I'm sure it would be good fun, papa, and l want to hear the speaking. Capt. Tolli- yer is gong to speak, and"
 "Tolliver! What is he doing here?'
 "He is just back from the Philippines on leave of absence, and has consented to make an address"
 Col. Johnstone took two or three turns up and down the gallery. Then, coming to his daughter, he said, slowly:
 ''You know, Mabel, how feel toward Tolliver. He is the son of my old com rade and 1 have tried to make man of him. But he is dreamer. He has re- fused to accept position in the bank, where he might learn to earn living. He went to this war against my express wishes. He is un- grateful as well as foolish"
 I'm sure you misjudge him, papa. Capt. Iolliver is doing what he thinks right. He believes he ought to make his own way in the world, as you have done"
 lie has no right to ask you to suffer for hls Qulxotic notions. If he had stayed with me l would have made a man of him."
 mats just 1t, papa; he doesn t. want any one to make man of him. He wants to be one himself. Isn't that better?"
 Hes dreamer, Mabel, and there is no place Tn this world for dreamers. But there, never mind. We'll go to the celebra- eion, IL your heart is set on it. Come and pour the coffee, and we'll have breakfast Drat that cracker! I'll see to it next year that none of them are brought inside the road gate. We'll hear what young Tol iNer has to say, but that's all. He is milk ana water, dreamer. The fellow might nave had good position in my bank. Now, ne must look out for himself"
 Qulte [ crowd had assembled in Oak grove when Mabel and her father drove up 1ol. Johnstone was the most prominent man m the community and was greeted on all hands with homely words of welcome He tied his horse in the shade of a suear manla and heand his daughter moved slowly along toward the platform, before which tempo. rary seats had been arranged for those who wished to listen to the exercises. Groups ot people were scattered about on inc orass under the trees, surrounded by baskets of food and deicacies, for there was to he an old-fashioned picnic at the conclusion of the speaking, and almost everybody hnd come prepared to stay the day out. Rows were running about begging fire to set off their crackers, or flourishing toy pistols in way thSS threatened the eyesight of half