The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-07-23
DAFFY
DANIEL

WV
Mrs. Tweedy peered from the win.
dow.
Abner, her husband, had also heard
the creak Of wagon wheels.
"Who be It, Marthy?" he asked.
Nobody but Daffy Daniel" she re-
Piled, resuming her menIing.
"Humph!' muttered Abner. wish
he'd sell me that south lot"
HE ought to he made to-" agreed
his wife. ''Any n as simple as Dafy
ought to have a %guardeen. l should
think you'd speak to the selectmen
about It, Abner."
1--WE a mind to-" grumbled Abner.
1.-THE lot don't do him any good"
argued Mrs. Tweely. 1--WE said for a
long time that Daffy amt got common
sense"
who boarded at the Tweedys', looked
up from her book.
why do they call him that?" she
asked.
"Call who what?' demanded Mrs.
Tweedy. startled by the sudden ques-
ton.
"DafYy Daniel
"Oh. Because he is daffy."
"In what way especially" insisted
Frances Blake. She was q small, clear
eyed m intrepid Of speech and
action. as be i%nsane?'
Land, no." protested Mrs. Tweedy.
"Daniel amt really crazy, but he's
simple minded. Folks have called him
'Daffy Daniel ever since the fire at
the Ford place. Daniel was only sew
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 Overlook. In the night he saw
the flames and came running five miles.
And when he reached home it was too
late. There want any home OF any
folks left.
HE Was sick for weeks afterward
and since then he's always been queer.
Some say he blames himself because
he wasn't home that night. He said,
If I'd been there l might have save;l
them"
"Poor fellow" murmured Miss Blake.
"And where does he live nowT
"Built himself q cottage on the Old
cellar. He loves the farm like q leech,
won't part with an inch of land, tho
Abner d like that south lot. 1t joins
u prOp'ty, you know"
"And 50 he is queer went on Fran.
ces Blake. lis he marriedT'
Law, no! Wouldn't look at a girl
Awful queer"
els he disagreeableY"
"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 dany, Miss
Blake. 1t all happened twenty years
ago."
Miss Blake made no comment. She
returned to her book, but for nearly a
hour she did not turn a leaf.
Presently Mrs. Tweedy arose to pre-
pare the evening meal. Abner got "
and lighted the big reading lamp.
But Frances Blake had lost interest
In her book. She got up and
bareheaded into the April sunset.
The garden was fragrant with the
smell Of growing things. The Odor OF
earth was pleasant.
From the woods ut the north came Il
vagrant breeze. 1t bore a Whit of
and springing grass.
"Ohr cried Frances Blake, throwing
her arms to the rosy clouds. II must
breathe this before it 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 a fence.
She heard the distant clamor Of the
Tweedys' supper bell and scorned it.
1t was Il 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 sickT' asked a mans quiet
voice.
anc looked up, startled. She saw
4 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, eve teeth.
THANK you, l am quite WELL" said
Frances. II was only enjoying the
evening. 1t Is 50 beautiful"
"YOu like it tooT' he asked eagerly.
II love it. but l don't dare mention
those things. My neighbors believe
should take the beauties Of nature
as q matter of course"
Like daily bread, and water, and
turnips, l suppose" laughed Frances
He nodded.
But one is supposed to enjoy bread
and turnips and be thankful for them
God made sunshine and flowers and
birds, and why not be grateful FOL
those toO?"
~ am" said Miss Blake quietly,