The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-11-18
FREDA's FlcT!0N
BY GRACE FA,sL,E.

AAASS NAoA q Dial CIy kdSSOu LAG
dainty supper FreGa served, but she
drank every drop OF the back COT
fee. Freda gave her mistress many
an anxious side glance as she 70
moved the dishes. She set the tray
down on the kitchen table AMI shook
her head slowly.
"Ah, something's wrong" she
unused. She amt been like herself
since she come home from the noun
tains. Ill just wager there's q man
back of ali these blue spells. Well,
l wish he'd turn out to be the right
man, for she ought to be married
and took care off,
Freda kept Miss Markham's bun.
galow Immaculate and served whole
some meals, but felt that she ought
to give additional service in lessen
ing her mistress's Indifference toward
matrimony. She felt justified in us.
ing strategy If it led to her mistress
happiness. She walked rather noisily
to the door of the living room, which
was lighted only by the blaze from
the fireplace.
Miss Markham, If I'm too bother
some. just say SO; but this drizzly
November day has Kept me all shut
in till I've got to- thinking again
about something / thought I'd for.
got"
why. Freda, Is it anything I can
help you to settler" Miss Markham's
tone was sympathetic.
"Oh, l knew you'd be ready to
help; you're always doing things for
everybody but Yourself"
well. that is the right way. Freda.
I'm less imnortant than a great many
people," The short Silence which fol.
lowed this remark was bluntly broken
by Freda.
What I wanted to talk to you
about" she said. twas a nan l couldn't
lei to forget"
what! You, too, Freda?" exclaimed
Miss Markham, quite unconscious Of
all that her words implied.
"Yes'm; you see it was this way:
He "a gardener and I was cook for
the same family. He was a good
lookin' Irishman and a whole year
younger than me. He'd melt his blue
eyes and tell me he'd never liked any
other girl as he did me, but when
[ wasn't a bit sure about my feelings
for him how could l be sure about
his for me?" Freda gazed straight
into the fire as she concluded part
n of the plan, and Miss Markham
was leaning out from the big chair
looking hard at her.
How strange, Freda. that you
should have told me all this tonight"
Then, catching herself, Miss Markham
added, that is, | mean it is strange
you mentioned it BEFORE
We'll, you see Freda answered,
still looking ut TIE fire, II used to
think I did ri~ht, but sometimes now
I wonder if l did,"
what did you do, Freda?"
II just came away without saying
good-by or letting him know where
I'd gone. l felt mighty smart about
it till l got good and lonesome, and
sometimes l thought he might be lone.
some, too. More than once I've
thought"-and here Freda introduced
a heavy %sigh--"that having my own
way is not so good for me as learning
to live for other foll's and taking care
of a husband and babies would have
BEEN"
Miss Markham laid a sympathetic
hand on Freda's shoulder. The other
hand carried her handkerchief to her
eyes.
Having finished her story. Freda
hurried out, but she did not go too
far to hear every sound from the Iiv-
ing room. Miss Markham turned on
the light and opened her desk. There
was a rustic of paper, a scratching of
a pen. another rustic of paper, and
Immediately Miss Markham, in her
waterproof and her collie by her side,
took a walk IN the drizzly darkness
down toward the mail box. When
they came back they had an OLD
time romp on the veranda. The next
day Miss Markham sang about the
house and brought a cheerful face and
good appetite to her meals.
. The morning following was a beau.
tiful Indian summer day and she went
for a ride, wearing her khaki suit,
tan boots and soft brown hat. While
she was gone a tall, distinguished