The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-11-03

her very last-her inspired suggestion
They did not 80 round.
Mr.. Barney. some hours latter, found
her, as Mrs. Stone had found her.
placidly embroidering by the window
overlooking the lawn. She put down
her work to rise and greet him cOrdi-
! ally. "It was very good OF you ID
come, ,"she said, and looked at him
with interest Thin and worn" would
have described both his clothing and
his face-possibly his soul as well.
Drink, indeed" thought Mrs. Armi-
tage Indignantly. "It's hard work and
discour asement that ails the man"
"Sit down, Mr.. Barney" she said,
aloud.
my wife said you wanted to see
me- said Mr.. Barney, sitting down
with eonstraint, but without embar-
rassment like q true American work.
ing man, who is not to be daunted by
the mere surface Of things
81 did; it's about that tree. Mr.. Bar
ney. We must have those branches
that shade your house cut of immed-
lately. You are a carpenter, are you
not?"
'No, ma'am-a mason"
"Oh, then" began Mrs. Armtage;
but Mr. Barney interrupted her polite
ly but firmly.
Not but could cut off the branch
es, though, all right, II 1t was only
that; but"-he Strengthened his bent
shoulders and looked at Mrs.Armi-
tage-"it's kind of you to think of it,
and my wife tells me you've been
very kind, but | don't know that |
should care to be beholden to a
stranger that way. You probably think
good deal of those trees"
Il do" said Mary Armitage, prompt
ly; but I've always been in the
habit of thinking even more of my
neighbors."
The man made no reply for a mo-
ment; then he said, slowly:
1T would hurt them considerable.
It's kind of you, as l said, but | don't
think | can let you do it."
81 shan't wait for you to let me-"
replied Mrs. Armitage. Those trees
are mine, and those branches are CON-
ing off tomorrow. Do you suppose
| am going to have your pneumonias
and rheumatisms on my conscience"'
The common-sense tone went home.
Mr.. Barney's face changed; he mur-
INJURED something about his wife not
being very strong and the baby being
croupy. She nodded in reply.
well, of course; and I'm not going
to lie awake nights on their account.
Mr.. Barney, to crafty you. It's just a
question of whether you do the cut
ting or have to send for a man to do
it."
Mr.. Barney rose to his feet.
"I'll cut them for you" ne said.
"There's another thing, Mr.. Barn.
ey" Mrs. Armitage went on. There
are some remnants of old wire on that
fence; you see, the place has been
vacant for years. We are two women
alone, and it wasn't pleasant to think
of stray tramps-so | wired the fence.
You'd better look it over and have
the pieces stripped off as soon as
possible, otherwise your boys will
he in rags--for Of course they'll simp-
ly have to climb that fence"
Nh. Barney smiled grimly.
81 see you know boys" he said
"Well, always wanted to be one,"
admitted Mary Armitage, with a
laugh. I'm my days girls were hand
ioapped. Oh, one thing more, Mr.. Bar
rey, that gate. had that wired up,
too, long ago, and nailed up, to keep
out those tramps. Naturally | don't
want to wire and nail up my neigh
bors: I'd be much obliged if you would
unnail and unwire it. The little dag
onal path across my place saves quite
five minutes going to town, and |
hope you'll use lit freely. Besides, the
children will be running back and
forth, and they don't want to have to
go round to the front every time es-
pecial]y as I hope they are coming
often"
MI. BdTHey S nOulueTS udu DeeH
Strengthening more and more; he held
them entirely straight now as he
looked Mrs. Armitage full in the face,
and replied:
They will come just rs often as
you want them, and no oftener; and
II they ever give you a moments
trouble-but they won't" he broke
of. suddenly. They're not bad boys,
only"
'T don't need to be told that" she
said, smiling.
MRS. Armitage, you are the first
who has treated us white-if you
know what that means-since we
camc to this town. I can't express
myself, and anyway, you wouldn't un-
derstand what 1t means-you couldn't
but II there's anything-no matter
what-that any one OF us can do for
you"
There will be, thousands OF things
thousands" answered Mrs. Armi.
tage, earnestly, holding out her hand.
| hadn't realized how much I've been
needing neighbors-real neighbors. I
shall look to you for all kinds OF
fbipoc Dorpay on1y hoDa