The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-07-31
- ele ct II nI Ie /.
A STORY SUCCESSFULLY TOLD.

Pretty, plump Hrs, Archibald
Steele wrote the following paragraph
in one Of her letters to her husband
the other day:
"John must come down here et once,
whether you can spare him or not. Our
dear little Laura is greatly taken with u
tall, young man, with hooked nose and
thin lips. called Stuy vesaut. II is whiss
pered about the hotel that he Is very
good match, aud Daura's eyes As, indie ed
all the other pretty eyes about-ore per-
petually beseeching him for attention. In
the daytime he is always with long black
horse, that covers more ground with it,
legs while it IS going than any other ami
NAL | ever saw. When Laura goes out to
drive beh ind il, and vanishes out Of sight
with the bony creaiufe, I iremble to think
how dreadful IL would be If our dear littlo
girl would ever DO part and parcel Of this
wrstched man aud his beast. 30 | think
John had better come down At once. ]
quite long to see his handsome face and
hear his honest voice, and think 1t is
about time that John should tell his little
story to Laura sndphave things settled
Comfortably.
Mr.. Archibald Steele smiled when
he put the letter of his wife in his
waistcoat pocket, and picking up the
morning paper, scanned through his
eold.rimmed spectacles the news OF
the day. Finding nothing therein to
refine the exceeding satisfactory con"
dition of his affairs, he put it down
smiling as only prosperous, con-
tented downtown merchant can
smile. He stepped to the door ol
his Office and beckoned to a young
man with strip of commercial paper
in his hand and pencil behind his
ear, with tho general air OF briskness
and shrewdness about him that bee
tokened successful down town
merchant empryo. Mr.. Steele smil,
cd the third tune, with the air OF
one who was not at all afraid OF any
-blooded obstacle that might be
thrown in the path Of domestic hap
piness.
"John,' said Mr. Steele, closing
the door of his private office, and
looking upon his young clerk benev,
olently, "I've got an order from
Mrs. Steele which I wish you would
attend to-
"Cortaiuly, sir,' said john, shall
Igo out and get the articles my
self 2
"Why tho fact is, John, said the
merchant. enjoying his joke more
and more. its only ono article
rather bulky one. 1t was bargainod
for q long time ago. / think you
will have to 60 down with it, John.
Down to tho seashore! said
John, getting q little hot and fuss
tered lis it very valuable parole,
sir 2
"Well, perhaps your natural mod
osty may depreciate its worth, John
Mrs. Steele and think good deal
of it, and Laura, too, am sure
does. The commodity is yourself,
John. Mrs. Steele wants you TO GO
down and take little holiday there.
When tho name Of Laura was
mentioned the young mans face
grew more hustered and hot than
before.
"You are very kind, sir he said,
"and Mrs. Steele is more like an an-
gel than o woman"
'Rather solid aud plump for that,
interposed Mr.. Steele, but liking the
phrase nevertheless.
But it is u simple madness,' pur
sued John, "to dream OF further
happiness than enjoy iiow--youl
affection and that Of your wife-my
position here l don't dare, l cam
hope for anything more. Oh, MIR
Steele, can't toll her my story. Sht
would turn from me with horror ant
aversion. She is 10 young, 30 beau
tiful, Lot me at loast enjoy th'
present."
"And Ia the meantime some ca
davorous, blue-blooded scoundre
will carry her of from us oil.
Then Johns faco grew palo an.
stern. III thors 10 tho slightest feel
Ing upon her part ior--for any ON
else, then, indeed, Mr.. Steele, IN.
case 10 hopeless.
The commercial papor duttere.
from his hand, the ponou fell from
bic esr, and he leaned bis hea,
AgAnst The dssk and tremhlsd
"Why, Who would suppose yol
could " such 3 coward 9 6aid nj
6tUolo. impoAnouo)v. ~yoo ohaU r
s'ss y M ~ I! !