The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-05-03
A BRIARLEY HOLIDAY.
BY WlNlFRED KIRKLAND.

ENJOY me-
II WONDER" Lena asked herself, "if
Cousin Hannah ever wanted to play.
l suppose not. That's the Briarley Of
it! Well, I'm glad I've got Cousin Han
nah, if do have to be Briarley now"
1t seemed to Hannah that the farm
drove them like a taskmaster with
lash. In June, close together, came
the strawberries and the cherries; be-
fore they are past the red raspberries
and the currants; then black raspber-
ries and blackberries; and while your
hands are still stained from these, ap-
Piles and apples and apples! Right in
the midst of these, come the cucumber
pickles, and these you must keep close
picked for your life. or else the proper
finger length will be grown a hands
span in night
The pile of dollars in TIE savings
bank grew larger and larger. A few
more busy summers and there would
be no mortgage, and Briarley farm
would would be theirs indeed. But, o
dear, to stand in nid-August and look
back over summer, and see no vacant
spot into which you could possibly have
packed a holiday! To look ahead and
see nothing but pickles-green tOma-
toes, red tomatoes, caulifower, cab
bage-pickles lasting on and on into
October!
Hannah Overton looked at her sum-
mer and made resolution. To herself
she said:
"shes young, and she'll still have
time"
To Lena she said, as they sat at the
tea table:
"Im going to borrow Hiram Hands
team, and drive over to Caleb Miller's
to see about those ounces. You can
manage the apples without me, can't
you? I'll weigh the sugar tonight.
After I've seen Caleb, I'll maybe go on
to Davidstown. l can't tell. I'll be
gone all day, perhaps. I'll take & lunch
with me in case l don't get home for
dinner. You won't mind being left
alone, since you'll be brsy?"
"Oh, no! I'll have a chance to show
you how much can do in day all by
myself"
81 know that we'll enough already"
answered Hannah, with forced anima-
ton. She always did feel like sneak
| in the presence of the fierce Briarley
energy.
The next morning early Hannah
drove away. She was composed enough
until she was out of sight of the house,
then the gypsy lights woke il her eyes.
For a short distance the road s,:irted
her property. Hannah looked at her
tidy fields with some resentment.
Its pity woman can't have time
to enjoy her own farm she muttered.
81 declare I'm going to have some time
off, If / do have to steal it from herr'
with glance back in the direction
of the house.
At that little word came sudden
revulsion of feeling, for Hannah knew
that at that moment her che wish was
to have that same person sitting besiGe
her in the buggy, jogging along behind
the old ambling, amiable horse, with
a holiday before them.
Hannah did go to Caleb Miller's. but
no farther She was honest in telling
Lena that she did not know what she
should do afterward. What she did dc
was to turn round.
Left alone, Lena washed the break
fast things with hands that trembled
She swept tie speckless kitchen floor
in nervous haste. For just moment
she stood surveying the shining plates
Of sugar on the table, the empty jelly
tumblers cleaning in the sun, the
bushel basket heaped with apples un
der the table. Then she turned to the
range, where burned clear, steady
fire, an excellent fire for jelly; and
after a moments hesitation she turned
off the drafts.
She ran into the pantry and quickly
put up a lunch for herself. She drew
the shades of the kitchen windows
took down her sunbonnet from its pes
and closed the door behind her. Out
side, she turned and addressed it:
| hllCutll, III llOl COlulLS uuCh al
day. I'm going to play with my farm'
1t was lovely, lazy August morning
baby clouds were floating in the blu,
overhead, there was droning of beei
in the air, and warm summer odor
were breathing from the mignonett,
/ bed and the orchard.
: If you had been a well-behaved ant
| prosaic hen on that farm, you woul,
have thought that Lena had gone mad
but she was only playing. When sh
was a little girl she had climbed tn
orchard trees, and swung on the forke,
5 branches; she had Jumped from tn
| barn rafters down into the fragran
r hay; she had wandered, singing, u
: and down the avenues of cornstalks.
She did all Of these things again. Sh
: lay on her back under the orchar
, trees, and again listened TO find hoy
: noisy the grass Gail be with all III
: busy life that goes on down ther,