The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-05-09
Foster, BeSSe & Company.
$50 and o5s Main St. Bridgeport.

you'd ought togo, Irene. There's a
dozen team loads comm over from
West Lennox and the Holler."
Irene said nothing, but she looked
after him with an inscrutable ex-
preston as he drove up the road.
She was gathering lilies of the valley
in her little garden when he came
back. Joe's carriage was leading long
line OF teams filled with people in gala
dress. Ryeboro picnics were jovial oc-
casions and always attracted pleasure
lovers from far and near. Joe's was the
only covered carriage in the procession.
and sundry glances of envious admir-
alton followed its shining wheels. Miss
Loring, seated beside Joe, looked
pleasantly interested in everything,
She was radiant in marvellous picnic
costume.
Old Simon was at the toll gates. He
.huckled as he surveyed the long line
of teams. Tonight there would be a
goodly number of dimes to add to the
old chest.
Joe droye up to the gates with nom
chalant air.
Here you 60, Simon" he said and
tossed him the dime.
"No you DON'T" retorted Simon
with wink, mot for 10 cents, you
don tip
"What say?" inquired Joe with lofty
politeness.
'You don't 60 over this bridge with
that turnout for less'n II cents" said
Simon loudly. "Twelve cents is the
charge for top kerriage."
"You're out of your head, Simon, -
commented Joe affably-though his
heart sink little, for he knew his
mani come over for 10 this morn
in.
swell, yell 60 back for IL or swim,
jest's We like, returned Simon, "Irene
took yer toll an''she didn't know no
better. It's IL cents for a.kivered ker.
riage," l tell We. My father built this
bridge an he used ter say, ANY dern.
ed fool that thinks be can ford to
drive kivered team can ford to pay IL
cents toll. And I've stuck to his view
ont"
The teams in the line were crowdinp
up now. Everybody was listening.
Miss Loring's well-bred lips were be.
ginning to twitch a little, Wild plans
OF escape went flashing through Joe's
head. Should he turn around in the
face OF all that crowd and in the hear.
ing of Miss Loring and borrow two
cents of the town clerk, who was Just
behind him? or should he get down and
throw Simon over the river bank and
open the gate himself? His thoughts
were turning strongly to the latter
course when Irene, her hands filled
with lilies of the valley, came quickly
out of the garden. Joe WINGED little
at the sight Of her. He had had a
guilty feeling all the week when he
thought Of Irene. If she wanted re.
venge for past Sights, providence had
! placed very complete one within her
reach. He thrust his hand deep into
his empty pocket and looked at the
locked gates desperately. Was she go
ing to interfere in his behalf and make
the situation 10 times more humiliat-
ing?
Irene came swiftly to the side of the
covered carriage. She leaned passed
Joe and heaped the fragrant mass of
lilies into Miss Loring slap. She spoke
as if she had not heard the alteration
at all.
"Have some of my lilies, Miss Lor-
ing," she said, "they blossom SO can't
pick half of 'em.''
Miss Loring's handsome face bright
ened with real delight and she broke
out into small torrent of thanks and
EXPLANATIONS. Joe felt something slip
into the hand that was buried in his
pocket. Irene's little fingers were
deft as magician's. The eye of science
could scarcely have detected the
passage of the coins fromi her ging-
ham pocket to Joe's hand. She drew
back, smiling an answer to Miss Lor-
ing's thanks, and Joe tossed quarter
vindictively at Simon.
''Put that in yer chist!" he said con-
temptuously, and in another moment
the procession was entering the dark
mouth of the bridge.
Irene was tired that night when she