The Press., 1915-08-11
DAFFY r, DANIEL
By cLARIssA MAcKIE

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 Mrs. Tweedy peered from the win. dow.
 Abner, her husband. had also heard the creak of wagon wheels.
 "Who be 1t, Marthy?" he asked
 Nobody but Daffy Daniel" she re- piled, resuming her mending.
 .Humphr' muttered Abner. Wish he'd sell me that south lot"
 He ought to be made to-" agreed his wife. Any one as simple as Daffy ought to have a guardeen. I should think you'd speak to the selectmen about it, Abner."
 i've a mind to-" grumbled Abner.
 "The lot don't do him any good" " argued Mrs. Tweedy. i've said for a long time that Daffy ain't got common sense"
 Miss Blake, the new schoolteacher, who boarded at the Tweedys', looked up from her book.
 "why do they call him thatT she asked.
 "Can who whatr demanded Mrs. Tweedy, startled by the sudden Ques- | tion-
 "Daffy Daniel"
 "Oh! Because he Is daffy."
 "In what way especiallyr insisted Frances Blake. She was a small, clear eyed woman. intrepid of speech and action. "Is he insaneT Land, nor protested Mrs. Tweedy. Daniel ain't really crazy, but he's simple minded Folks have called him 'Daffy Daniel ever since the fire at the Ford place. Daniel was only sey enteen. and his pa and ma and his sis ter was burned to death. Daniel had been spending the night with his cous- in at Overbrook. In the night he saw the flames and came running five miles. And when he reached home 1t was too late. There want any home or any folks left
 He was sick for weeks afterward and since then he's always been queer. Some say he bfames himself because he wasn't home that night. He said, If I'd been there I might have saved them"
 Poor fellow" murmured Miss Blake, And where does he live nowT
 Built himself a cottage on the old cellar. He loves the farm like leech, won't part with an inch of land, tho Abner d like that south lot It joins our prop'ty. you know"
 And so he is queer." went on Fran ces Blake. "Is he marriedr'
  Awful queerp'
 "Is he disagreeableT'
 "No-o-o. not exactly" admitted Mrs. Tweedy. Hes very short in his man. ner. don't stop to talk with neighbors and reads most all the time. He's queer. He's downright daffy, Miss Blake. 1t all happened twenty years ago."
 Miss Blake made no comment. She returned to her book, but for nearly an hour she did not turn a leaf.
 Presently Mrs. Tweedy arose to pre- pare the evening meal. Abner got ur and lighted the big reading lamp.
 But Frances Blake had lost interest In her book. She got up and went bareheaded into the April sunset.
 The garden was fragrant with the smell of growing things. The odor Of earth was pleasant
 From the woods at the north came a vagrant breeze It bore a whiff of and springing grass.
 "Ohw cried Frances Blake, throwing her arms to the rosy clouds. II must breathe this before 1t goes away"
 So she wandered down the back path, through the orchard where robins were calling in low thrilling tones, wherr Insects chirruped in the grasses
 Out of the orchard she wandered into the rolling pastures. Once or twice she crossed fence.
 She heard the distant clamor of the Tweedys' supper bell and scorned 1t.
 It was a magic world, bathed in a rosy light. Bird songs, flower life and smell of springtime Frances closed her eyes and leaned against the fence.
 Are you sickr' asked a mans quiet voice
 Frances looked up, startled. She saw a tall, broad shouldered man in a rough gray suit. His cleanly cut features were bronzed with sun and weather. There was a boyish look about him in spite of his gravity. He had good brown eyes and white. even teeth.
 Thank you, am quite we'll" said Frances. "I was only enjoying the evening. It is so beautiful"
 You like 1t tooT he asked eagerly. "I love it, but I don't dare mention those things. My neighbors believe one should take the beauties of nature as a matter of course"
 Like daily bread, and water, and turnips, I suppose" laughed Frances.
 He nodded.
 But one is supposed to enjoy bread tnd turnips and be thankful for them God made sunshine and flowers and birds. and wty not be grateful for those toof~
 ''I am." said Miss Blake quietly. And so should you"
 'I am doubly so, since I have dis covered another one who thinks as I do. ListenF
 From the orchard came the throb- ping. haunting song of the first whip poorwfll.
 'I am Frances Blake, the new school teacher" she said impulsively. "Who are your He took her hand in his and clasped 1t in friendly way. "IY' he repeated in an altered tone. ''Why, they call me 'Daffy Daniel" "Daffy Danielr Frances was star tied. How absurd of theml 1 meant your real name," she added Daniel Ford" he said dazedly. Good night. MT. Ford" said Fran ces. Mrs. Tweedy is ringing the bell so desperately must go." He watched her cross the fields until