Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-02
ABORIGINES :
BY Esther Harlan :
Copyright, 1901, by A. S. Richardson !
BY Esther Harlan

+*+*s***s*s-4 +s..s***4
The "cliff dwellers," from the dizzy
altitude of their apartments in the old
studio building, were on terms of semi
rivalry (veiled of course by the usual
biilowy courtesies) with the mound
builders" who "burrowed" on the first
floor. The former drew with pencil"
and the latter did things with a pen,"
and there was absolutely no ground for
collision in their work, but instructive
ly they pretended there was leach Sc
cretly wondering If the others guessed
facts merely to disguise the real cause
for the friction-a man, as usual, or,
rather, three men, who also "bunked"
in the studio building. The sum of the
situation was the cliff dwellers We're
the poster sort both as to occupation
and personality. They dressed smartly,
chatted entertainingly, even wittily,
were trammeled by no traditions and
were match in most ways for any
up to date young man of their ac-
quaintance.
Whereas the mound builders were
not full fledged Bohemians and far
from smart" they still had ideals
and illusions, also chaperon, who was
the mother of one of them. They had
taken the ground floor apartment be-
cause the rent was lower.
When Dal and his chum and "the
other one" spent an evening either sep
arately or collectively with the mound
builders, they came away feeling de-
cidedly jolly, almost boyishly so, on
good terms with themselves and the
rest of the world.
"a call on the builders leaves good,
"the other one' had remarked one
night.
"The little girls mothers a brick"
Dal chimed in. "She makes one feel
like the time when the treetops seemed
close against the sky"
Dallas Sinclair had dropped in this
afternoon just for a word with Viva
cia, she of the cliff dwellers, and had
stepped back of the screen to examine
some of her latest sketches. Fivacia
had paused in the next room to slip on
pretty house gown. Somehow she al
ways liked to look her best when Dal
came.
So it happened that while Dal was
back of the screen they left the eleva-
tor and paused to study the card care
lessly left in the ground glass door.
"'Back at q It's ten minutes of.
Let's wait. l can never screw my cour
age up to this point again."
1t was the voice of ''the little GIRL"
she of the mound builders. Then the
door was pushed farther open, and the
two entered.
"Oh, mamsie, dear! If our den only
looked like this! l wonder people ever
come to see us-we're SO sparse"
Dallas was in an agony. 1t would
certainly not do to disclose his pres
ence. His soul loathed the role of caves
dropper. Yet he did so want to know
which one she cared for, himself or
'the other one"
"If only my last wee bit story will be
CO." the sweet voice went on, then
can accept Mr.. Sinclair's invitation at
last. suppose most Of our friends real
ly believe our no place like home ex-
cuses by this time"
SIS that the bachelor girl story
'Tips?'" the older voice asked. "Why
didn't you let Mr.. Sinclair have that,
Dorothy? He told you he was on the
Up to Date staff"
Now, mother mine, you know l
couldn't do thing like that. l would
rather never have it printed"
"Well, maybe not. You're a funny
little chick of daughter, but one can
overdo even so desirable thing as in
dependence. If Mr.. Sinclair wants to
be of service to you, l don't see why
even if he is merely a casual acquaint-
ance"-the color crept up over the girls
fair throat-"you would do the same
for him, am sure"
But, anyway, it's lots more fun,
mamsie, dear" the girl began, with an
effort at lightness, ito blaze ones own
trees"
"And that is why you said No to
Tom Davenport last week and refused
Aunt Sagemans gifts
'Now, mother, dear, you know Aunt
Sageman treated you atrociously not
so long back. I'm not going to swallow
that just because l happen to need
togs."
"Stll it doesn't do to be too proud,
dearie Who was Elijah-who let
himself be cared for by-wasn't it ra-
vensy
"Mamsie, you must read up" the
girl exclaimed, laughing. Ravens are
all right, or even English sparrows,
for that matter, but l draw the line at
| relations. And as for Tom, he was
good, and he had pennies and ances-
tors and all the usual means Of grace,
but-well, | just couldn't, that's all.
1t would seem nice, though" reflec-
lively, mot to have to calculate
whether my shoes will hang together
till | get back before / accept an in
vitation for a stroll. I'm afraid Provi-
dence has grown trife absentminded
in my direction of late"
Dorothy, my dear" the older voice
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