The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-07-23
DAFFY
DANIEL
by CLARISSA MACKIE


4ssKsssr, her husband, had also heard
Ia sueak. OF wagon wheels.
~%Jae>5e it, Marthy?" he asked.
',ssbody but Daffy Daniel" she re-
gsssz, .xesuming her mending.
ss@nph" muttered Abner. Wish
Teisslssll me that south lot"
He Jught to be made to-" agreed
fdf1.ife. Amy one as simple as Daffy
-<rstr 10 have guardeen. l should
znlaAS you'd speak to the selectmen
,I5&sks u, Abner."
'SSs a mind to-" grumbled Abner.
'-zIAe lot don't do him any good"
fxxSlet3 Mrs Tweedy. I've said for
ssss; cine that Daffy amt got common
Awsesr
zsss. Blake, the new schoolteacher,
7UkS' boarded at the Tweedys', looked
ca srura her book.
Willy do they call him that?" she
.lxasd
T1sI who - what?" demanded Mrs.
Esssssdy. startled by the sudden ques-
sAya.
Dauy Daniel
''y9hf Because lie is daffy."
In what way especially?" insisted
ss-tA ces. Blake. She was Il small, clear
>sgrT, woman. intrepid of speech and
2ess1U- rs he insane?"
Eaad, no!'' protested Mrs. Tweedy.
'gi6utei amt really crazy, but he's
ssSlp9e minded. Folks have called him
H@&y Daniel ever since the fire Mt
ye. g5rd place. Daniel was only sew
,,xSssen. and his pa and ma and his sis
ssT~ VAS burned to death. Daniel had
'tsu, spending the night with his cous-
.z&Sx overlook. In the night he saw
,;sst flames and came running five miles.
sH.sEa when he reached home it was too
KreG There want any home or any
-SnRsy.Ieft
4aEs was sick for weeks afterward
AK since then he's always been queer.
5Sxn9 say he blames himself because
seg@BaSn't home that night. He said,
II I'd been there | might have savel
.naxxA,'
'T,eor:feIow," murmured Miss Blake.
Gait himself cottage on the old
nsfsar- lie loves the farm like Il lecch.
TusESs part with an inch of land. tho
kSiszeT d like that south lot. 1t joins
: gSr. igsep'ty, you know
a1st1 so he is queer" went on Fran
Grs Blake. us he married."
'-Tay, MOI Wouldn't look at girl
zSgtYn aueer!''
q ne disagreeableT'
"'yo-oro- not exactly" admitted Mrs.
ys'scedy. Hes very short in his man
1aAr aon't stop to talk with neighbors
aG6t reads most all the time. He's
gsnssc7 He's downright daffy. Miss
ssss3SSe. l5N all happened twenty years
hsrsg,
Nslp Blake made no comment. She
s1&gxued 10 her book, but for nearly III
lsssT she did not turn a leaf.
ysesently Mrs. Tweedy arose to pre-
gszTe the evening meal. Abner got III
szzsESElitcd the big reading lamp.
5ss,"tnnces Blake had lost interest
22a ser book. She got up ana wenj
gar,sfieaded into the April sunset.
Tfs. garden was fragrant with the
sazs& Of growing things. The odor OF
e-srr=fsTgs pleasant.
2:s1un tic woods at the north came Il
TsxrCIHt breeze. 1t bore Whit of
.'zsgafras and violets and new leaves
.grre Swinging grass.
@'sSr' cried Frances Blake, throwing
ere ,srms To TIC rosy clouds. II must
ss5sSEe this before it goes away"
.SsAshc wandered down the back path.
7isgtugh' tile orchard where robins were
'UE&A1 in low thrilling tones, WHERE
.zeya.rs ehirruped In the grasses.
FGzc 3f the orchard she wandered into
a% rglliug pastures. Once or twice she
srlysed fence.
,Tgsr heard the distant clamOr Of the
.TVrsac7ys supper bell and scorned it.
* MS u magic world, bathed in a
ray dght. Bird songs, flower life and
szaaG Of springtime Frances closed
Z '.sazcrycs and leaned against the fence.
. -.Irg you sick?" asked Il mans quiet
imSf4s.
Ateuces looked up, startled. She saw
4sDa3. broad shouldcred man in rough
sEEcy suit His clearly cut features
7yeEY brOnzcd with sun and weather.
TllSrF was Il boyisl Look about him. In
SORE Of his gravity. He had good
spsgY eyes and white. even teeth.
-l7GuIl you, | am quite well,' said
-&sScsA. 81 was only enjoying the
rxpoc Eug II is 80 beautiful"
I'm ike 1t too?' lie asked eagerly.
~ s&SS IL. but don't dare mention
'sss&n iiIiHgs. My neighbors believe
.sos.tlould take TIE beauties of nature
ilrnaC1tter OF course"
-SSg daily bread, and water. and
'csnzRs' suppose laughed Frances.
1seaodded
VIZ cue is supposed TO enjoy bread
lsncs rruips and be thankful for them
wsssss tsade sunshine and flowers and
sERS. gad why not be grateful fol
3fsszfo0?"
81 rzl," said Miss Blake quietly
'.i.,-szsasS should you"
~ szu dOubly so, since ] have dis
~zxErEci another one who thinks as
~ aNtenr'
E3eaE The orchard came the throb
ass- dGUnting song of the first whip
1arwxaI. y ! ..t
srvsxpn Frances Blake, the new school