Newport weekly independent., 1902-07-04

fresh and beautiful in her light summer gown, with bouquet of pansies at her throat, that the frown disappeared from the fathers face and proud, glad light shone in his eyes.
 ''Y ou are superior to nature, Mabel, he said, holding out his hands in welcome. T do believe you would look like a 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 a state of ecstatic bliss not to mind 'em. The roar of 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 a red, white the celebration today"
 A wave of color swept over the neck and face of the girl. q wish l might, papa, or-that is, l wish very much to hear the speaking in the grove to-day. You will take me. won't you?"
 Go over there to be damned 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?"
 Gle 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 Tade and l have tried to make a man of him. But he is a 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. Hei un- grateful as well as foolish"
 'Im sure you misjudge him, papa Capt. Tolliver is doing what he thinks right. He believes he ought to make his own way in the world, as you have done"
 He has no right to ask you to suffer for HIS QulAoIlc Hotlons. II ne nad stayed With me l would have made man of him"
 That's just it, papa; he doesn't want any one to make man of him. He wants to be one himself. Isn't that better?''
 'He's dreamer, Mabel, and there is no place in this world for dreamers But, there, never mind. We'll go to the celebra tion, if 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- liver has to say, but that's all. He is milk and water, a dreamer. The fellow might have had good position in my bank Now, he must look out for himself"
 Quite {. crowd had assembled in Oak grove when Mabel and her father drove up. Col. Johnstone was the most prominent ma Tn the community, and was greeted on all hands with homely words of welcome He tied his horse in the shade of sugar ma pie, and he and 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 of people were scattered about on the grass under the trees, surrounded by baskets of food and delicacies, for there was to be an old-fashioned picnic at the conclusion of the speaking, and almost everybody had come prepared to stay the day out. Boys were running about begging fire to set of their crackers, or fourishing toy pistols in g way th&S threatened the eyesight of hall