Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-02-28
When Annie Played
GOOSeberry
BY Ethel Darlington

s Copyright, 1905, by Homer sprague
R~>NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNHNHNN/S
Black6eFfeS hcdgcd the road on
either SIDE as it wound higher and
higher toward the Berkshires. Here
and there some belated Strawberries,
tiny specks of crimson in the grass,
joined their fragrance to the invigor-
ating breath of the pines. From an
uLpainted barn came the persistent
click clack, thud-thud Of loom, where
Miss Lettice was weaving yards Of
carpet from little balls of colored rag.
A voice sharp enough to the verge Of
displeasure startled her.
"Will you finish tomorrow, sisterr
cit doesn't hardly seem possible
"'Twas promised Pears to me
you're uncommon slow. Surely you're
uot such fool as to be thinking o.
William Henderson and such nonsense
at your age"
Miss Lettice's hand involuntarIly
sought the fastening of her bodice, but
the faint crackle of the secreted paper
was too imperceptible to reach Mrs.
Aliens ears.
THE letter was delayed. He's going
away tomorrow
"Lettice Howard he's no man for
you. We settled that years ago. I'm
ashamed for you-that you so much as
think on him now
Hes free again Miss Lettice
spoke deprecatingly.
"Frce, is it? If he wasn't good
enough for you when he was young,
q widowcr with three children certain
ly amt no gain" With toss Of the
head Mrs Allen recrossed the road to
her cottage.
Miss Lettice sat mserably uncer-
tain, her hands idle in her lap. She
forgot the loom and Mrs. Harris, who
was counting on the finished carpet.
Her thoughts were with the curly head
ed lad from whom her sister had sep
arated her because he failed to settle
in the town where he was born, but,
like II rolling stone was forever wan
dering, apparently gathering little o
this worlds goods. Now he had re-
turned and wanted to see her. 1t
seemed Il cruel prank of fate to have
joined forces with her sister and In
the form of delayed mail prevent their
meeting \ tear gathered beneath her
lashes, but before it fell a pair of
warm arms wound themselves around
her neck.
aunt Lettice, you're in loye, in love.
Don't ask me how / know, because
you are You don't listen to what
folks are saving, and as to the car
pet
Yes, dear, the carpet" Miss Lettice
seized the shuttle and sent 1t flying
through the shed of warp threads. Her
feet mechanically worked the treadle
shifting the heddles; then with the bat
ten she bent the woof of rag into
place again and again.
1--WE can't talk through that noise"
she remarked plaintively.
"My dear, there is nothing
There is, you darling. Come, 'fess
up. I'm not to be put off. It's fellow
sympathy" The crimson deepened In
the laughing face, and with soft whee-
ding she gained the desired confidence,
and Miss Lettice surrendered her let
ter
1t was in no sense a love letter, yet
it was the nearest approach that the
spnster had ever received Possibly
she read between the lines:
Dear Lettice--I am visiting my brother
Joe till Wednesday. l want so much to
Yours. as ever. WILLIAM.
Il only got it last night
Its too late to write now" her
niece hurried on. but you must go to
Chatham to see him. Make believe
you're shopping. Jennie's going tomor-
row. I'll have Rob ask her to stop for
you"
Sister would never listen. Besides,
it's not the carriers day"
"She's making special trip for
Rob's mother. Just to think"-the girl
rose eXcitedly-"it must be ten years.
''Tweiye."
And you've cared all this time Oh,
Aunt LettiCe, how could you bear itf
Mothers good as she can be, only she's
had so mG"h trouble it's made her
little hard. Do as | say and I'll play
-ooSc3erry for you. After breakfast
come over here, as usual. About 10
walk down the road till the carrier
overtakes you, then to Chatham with
her ana to Joe Henderson's, ask for
William and you'll have hours togeth-
er. Jennie will pick you up on her
hOmeward trip. You'll be back to sup
per Mother need never know unless
you choose to tell her
But the carpet, If she doesn't hear
the loom she'll come over to find out
what's wrong"
Leave that TO me. I've got to think,
but I'll fix il somehow"
nnrin~ sumner Mrs Allen glanced