Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-06-20
A c1Ass IN suNDAx soHoo1.
tcontInuea from last wsekl


What they had to say concerned
me and mine fenced myself be-
hind this excuse IN defending my
self against the self-accusatiou of
eavesdropping. Mineq I had look
ed her way a hundred times and she
had completely ignored my pres
euoe. Had she given signs Of stud
led indifference, I should not have
cared, for where a woman takes the
trouble to dissemble, she has some
thing to hide What they we're
saying concerned me alone, then.
II can't understand, Rebecker,
why she don't go just for the trip, "
said Mrs. Miller, emphasizing her
remark by striking her nose with
her finger. Think of the exour.
sion !"
That's just what was a figurin
on, Caroline. Think Of the trip
So I says, says 1, Maria, its an op-
portunity to see the country you'll
allus regret havin missed. I'm an
old woman. says, but If l ever
have a chancet to go west you can
figure on me takin' it. "
"They say Willie Bawkis has got
the idee, too, said Mrs. Miller.
my man told me that just last
night Willie was allowin round the
store that he'd like first rate to git
some gold if it wasn't so fur.
"Now, Caroline, you doesn't sup
pose them folks would be bothered
luggin along a great big eater like
Willie Bawkis, do you? Him go?
Why he allus allows he's goin' TO do
everything anybody else does, just
so as to be bigitive. Maria, she
tries hard to give the idee nobody is
goin'. She said fat she wasn't, and
that fur as she knowd the Doctor
would stay home, too, and let John
Roker take the trip alone. But,
Maria, says, says 1, think of your
father. Think what a trip it I'D be
for him. Why, the Centennial ain t
in it with sech opportunities. She
just laughed, Caroline, and lowed
it was only gossip anyway, for If
Mr.. Roker went to the Klondike--''
ITO the Klondike So cousin
Joe was right. When you are soon
to move up yonder you don't care
only to change your county here. ="
Now it was easy to see the whole Of
Mr.. Roker's scheme, and it was
plain that it was one that might be
readily carried out. The Klondike
meant gold The Doctor in his old
age was having a few misglvings
about the future of his daughter.
As long as he lived she would have
a home. But after that? Here was
a way to make up for the waste of
the past. One winter in the new
Eldorado, and riches for Maria !
Then think of the adventure. On
Mr.. Roker's part there was the well
grounded belief that the girl would
not allow herself to be separated
from her father even though she
might have to endure with him the
rigors of the northern climate.
There she would be far away from
the fascinations of 'fancy clothes"
and smooth tongued men from
town. He would have her all to
himself.
"What did he then do, Miss
Spade what did he then dor"
The Squire was shouting at the
inattentive spinster If he thought
to embarrass her by his glaring
eyes he was mistaken, for She quick
ly gathered up her paper, ran her
finger down the column and said,
He had fifteen sons and twenty
servants.
"No, no, no, >" cried the Squire.
Miss Spade gave no heed. Her
eyes were not turned in his direc
tion for she and Mrs. Miller had
put their heads together again.
"Mr. Hume, you may tell us what
did he then do?"
had not the slightest idea, for
my mind had wandered toward the
Arctic circle. Mrs. Marcy came to
my rescue by whispering through
the corner of her mouth hidden
from her preoeptor. Thirteen.
$50 Mephibosheth dwelt in Jeru-
salem. said 1.
"And where did he eat, Mrs.
Marcy?"
"Re ate at the Kings table.
"And what atiiiction did he suffer
with. Mrs. Yoller2"
"He was lame in both his feet. "
'As was sayin', Caroline. Miss
Spade was whispering, Maria,
when I mentioned the matter thi.
mornin', said it was too rediclous
Didn't Narr Ior nenev