The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-10-13
elf. She bas aiways done 20. v

-
you suppose I should not love your
mother Z"
II shall ask no sucb concession Of
you," be said my mother will in
tsrfere 10 no way with us. The will
go her way. we ours"
Flossie pulled the gold engagement
ring from her finger, aud gave IL to
him saying:
at is enough A man who can
thus discard his mother would besi.
tate no lees to ding aside his wife"
"Flossie," cried Mark. augrily,
you are talking nonsense idle
sentiment. What is the use Of pro-
claiming to the world that ones
mother is an apple woman T.
She looked at him with large,
wistful eyes.
"lIark." said sbc, my mother
died when l was little babe. and
all my life long my heart has yearu-
cd for a mothers tenderness. And
you-yon spurn it from you No.
Marx, we are too widely different iu
heart aud mind ever to be one"
Tie sat suIleuly frowuing at tue
goor.
"Flossie.' said he, "you ara at
tempting to dictate to me, and
will not endure il"
VERY well" she answered quiet-
ly, then we part"
And they did part. flossie went
back to the corset factory and told
Ir. Riveu that she had altered her
mind, aud would remain in his em q.
ployment, to which he grufily made
reply. that he was glad OF it,"
Aud she became fast friends with
the old apple-woman. whose grieI
was great because the match was
broken up
at is not because ! do not love
him, said Flos,ie. pitifnlly, 'but be.
cause I think we should not make
each other happy"
my dear" sail Mary Gallagher,
''is it because-T a,n his mother"
"No-oh. n ~ criel III l,ssie.
The old woman drew long sigh.
II WAS afraid she said.
So Plossia took to visiting tue OLD
woman, evening after evening, and
they grew strangely fond Of each
other, the very oil apple woman
and the beautiful young girl.
| Until one evening, sad news came.
There had been a railroad accident
aud Mark Gallagher was brought
home for dead.
But he was not dead. sorely
wounded aud bruised, and in that
hour OF trial old Mary took the
place that she bad held at his cradle
years aud years ago.
Mother" he said when they first
allowed him to talk" l should have
been cold aud deal in my grave bat
for you, dear mother, | have been
an ungratefal brute. Can you ever
forgive me :"
"Ob, my son, my son !"
"Bui you will find that shall be
changed man now,' he said foudly
pressing her brown old hand. 81
have been spared to you, and to you
I shall hencefortb devote my life. !
would like to see Flossie Field,
once" he added, speaking AZ il to
himself, 'to tell her that ! nee now
how right she wac But."-
Would You like to see Flossie
Field any son :" The old lady rose
briskly and opened the door Of au
adjoining room,
My dearie," she said. Come
here. My own rose bud, he wants
to speak TO yoa.' z
And to Mark Gsllagber's Infinite
surprise, Flossie Field herself came
ia all smiles aud bushes.
"tlossie !"
Yes" Mark, il is l."
And then his mother told him
how near and dear they bad grown
to one snotber.
"obe is u treasure, Mark.my Floss
sie Il cried Mrs. Gallagher. earnest
ly.
"A treasure u he echoed, bit terly.
God help NE /! Yes, hut it is a
treasure which ] have forfeited for
ever. you two are within the gates
Of paradise. but am shut ont, AID
through my own fault"
Floosie came to his side. aud
looked at him With tender, pittyiug
eyes.
"Mark ~ she ALTERED. lob.