The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-06-29
AN OLD MAIDS sr1RY,

Wy '"'' ''h' iiC' WI u " bl'S"l'
laughing girl Of sixteen, a. her NTH.
er's old fricnl entered the pleasant sit.
iing-room, and, taking her especial
seat at the frtsilc,. began knitting
away most oncrsctically.
"Oh, yes! story story ="
cried the rest of the youGg party.
while little Arthur m1occnty ques-
toned:
Aunt ratsey, wha; /, the reason
you never gbt married -
Well, sonny, | don't know" and
he old lady sui = bcnignanily
Como, Aunt pat.cy," chimel in
Harry, tell us all about it. know
you uscl TO ilirt when yoi whore
youn. like EGi,.'
Twas my own fault that never
married. was young anI pretty
once, aud had scores Of brauxr
She spoke with a smil', but he.
voice trcmbIcd, AMI removing h,r
spcctaeles she wiped away the gather
Ing tears.
"D,Lt mind their lie questioning,
Aunt Patsev,' said Mrs. Herbert,
gently.
Nay, dear, ifit gives them any
pleasure to hear Of my young lays, let
them enjoy it,
And rubbing her glasses she again
replaced them AMI returned to the ca
pectant group.
You wish mc to tell a story. |
will tell you, then, how |, one evening,
plssel for BRIDE aud how much pain
it caused me. had Il dear friend.
Nellie Tistal. Until we both reached
the age Of seventeen we were always
together; then Nellie got married, aui
| was first bridesmaid. |, too, was Gu
gagged to be married. but Edward
Mortimcr-ihat was the name Of my
lntcndei-wa, at that time away from
home. | was L very wild girl, aud
would have my fun, no matter what
happened and though | was engaged
to a man whom | dcvutcly Lived, till
could not rcnouncc my propensity
for flirting aud joking. Richard Far
leigh was my perfect shadow, SO that
tho world laughed and said that
Edward had better come home.
- The night Of the wedding WAS
AS wild as ever many of my compan-
ions were aroaui me, aud Que said,
teasiug!y
"'Poor Patscv must wait a whol,
year before she, too, can sport Il brl-
dal veil
Instantly an idea flashed acros,
me.
"l tell you what, girls | sail
suppose | steal Ncllle's veil aul
give a party, its just for iUn ?'
Good good - they cried oa-
ecrly, aud soon We hal eyerythin.
arranged.
Some one was required to per
soua,e the groom: Richard far,cisl
stepped forward. This was Tucsd y
Edward would be back on Saturday
my party was fixed for the intcrven
ing Thur,day. In vain ms iricndi
demonstrated, aud said how ausr.
Edward would justly be. | did uOt
heed them. But when tho night
came, aud | entered the drawiDg-roou
clad in bridal attire, ON Richard Far
lcigh's arm, my heart missave me
Most Willingly would | nave dIveste,
myself oi the veil, but, alas had uo
the courage to encounter the tauut
Of my companions. The dance was a
It's height, when, hearing au eXc.ama
llou oi astOnishmcnt, | turned. TAeIc
Oh the very threshold stood EiwarC
Mortimer, gaz at mo with those sa
gray eyes, and pa le as marble 'Twa
but Tor moment. Before any GU
could arrest HIM, he was goue. re
membe ed no more; but when | rC
gained couscio lsness, days aiterward
they told me he hud gone away ioI
ever, believing me to be FaileIsh'
OrIde.
For years hoped and trusted h
would return, but he never cam,
Richard renewed his visits, asked III
" become his vile, 5ut II could not Ut
Ills very presence was 10 INC ire gh;
cd with painful associations aud SO
ueyer married, but am real Ul
maid
"Ehie, child, you are fond Of !mIr'
, lion. You smile when cal!eda eoqueIt,
l5e warned, my child, in time
Here Aunt Patsey re!aps4d iuto 81
.cnce, resum'ns the neglected. kaIt
ing; the children stole quietly away