The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-03-07
had been pleasant TO 60 to Geo

| INO9Oc.
That it was nice TO think of hav.
ing q dear little wife to care nbou;
him always, aud share his Joys and
sorrows; and that he could not cesi.
ly forget Phoebe for any ono else,
evon a prettier girl.
And then ho walked alone by the
river bank, and thought how thoy
had been together there so often
and how warm and soft hcr little
hand lay in his and suddenly found
two tears in his eyes, and said
"jsug it, I've been q fool T. and
went home and wrote this little noto
10 her
"rHoEBE DEAR-T was wrong. We've
both been wrong to let i'll feeling come
| between us. Forgive me. dearest, and
scnd me word that you have done an
| shall await your letter with impa
tioncc. SAN
Then Sam sent tho notc to Mrs
Spinner's house by his landlord .
little boy, telling him to be sure 10
give it himself to Miss Pbcebe.
BY this timo the falling out was
FIVE days old, and Phmbo wac simply
wrotchod.
But in tho Spinner household,
work went on in regular order,
whether heart achcd or not.
But q sad refrain sounded in Phn-
be's observation-disclosures. Unchanged
ble-"Sam and | have parted
The clock licked it,
Tho wind, amoug the vine leaves
outside the window. whispered IL
and, oh, her heart, nt every beat,
measured il off
sam and I have parted. Ssm
aad have parted
But sho mover thought Of giving
in, or writing, ut least in effect
Come back to mo
She only wondered vaguely wheth
or anything would ever be worth do
ing again.
Meanwhile. tho Ambassador from
Sam was Gathering up tho village
street with tho noto in hia hand
which was intended to mako ell
smooth again.
He cav through door a figure he
know TO be PEocb0's.
Heres a letter, said he. Hero 8
o letter
Nobody hoard him.
Phoebe vas listening eternsliy to
that sad rcitoration Of her hoa,t,
"Ser1 and have pirtoi" "
The boy thought he was heard,
however, ana oacog for his play. laid
the white lnissive across the top OF 4
jar and boiled.
As he ysniehcd, down topplcd the
!iitlo uota iuto the great jar.
And 50 sam waited in vn;n for az
anawer, sri grew angry again.
Add 30 in the days to come the
two met and passed without 9 word.
and the cossips had their talk, aud
ns often hoppens, love s0ddencd the
lives OF those IL once hal glaA3ened
Summer passed; autumn was gone,
winter was nearly over; and M.s.
Templetowor came to take tea with
the Spinrers
They set down at tho table, Mrs
Templetower's tongue going hard.
"Sam Western has got Il fever,
said she. "iIe's very had they say
might go on any day. It's q pity;
he's young man yet; but ii ain' t so
bad ns if he was marrol, you know" "
"lts 10 DO hoped hell get better, "
sa;d Mrs. Spinner.
And her mothers ego saw Phoebe
flash.
"Why don't you help the jam.
Phoebe p she said sharply, to call
the girl to herself. "fhe jar is before
you"
Phoebe took a little plato in her
hand, dipped the spoon in Che jar, or
tried to.
1t did not go in easily.
Sho tried again.
Something Hat and stiff leaped off
the fruit upon the cloth.
"Goodness - cried Mrs. Spinner.
"Why, Phoebe. thoro'sa 4 bit of stick,
or something
Its le or, mother" said
Phoebe.
And nlie took it by the corner and
carried it in tho kitchen.
Why, sho did not know, but it
made her shiver to look at it.
She wiped il on towel, and mado
out her name upon it, anda presenti'
ment of the truth dawned upon her,
She tore the envelope away.
Within the papor was stained and
spoilt, but loves eyes are sharp.
Sho read part of tho letter and
guessed the rest.
The date was intact.
How it cane into the preserve jar
she did not know.
And he had been faithful.
He had asked her forgiveness, and
had thought her unforgiving.
"Ah he ought to have known that
a woman never is that to n man she
has once loved" she said. "And
now he lies dying, perhaps, and I am
not with him. Oh, my darling, my
darling"