Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-29

| sSA AAoW ~ waS hVs AnI FlASo - H1AsAAS
hands with him. It is strange he should
have become 80 fractious. He was so
good and merry and kind when I was a
little girl. I've heard father say often
he'd rather shoe horse for him than
for any ono else in the village And
then she would fall to thinking how
grand he used to look to her childish
eyes when he came riding up on his bay
mare to the smithy, where she spent
half her time watching her father at
the forge. And he always brought her
a gay picture book, or pretty ribbon,
or box of candies, or a bright new
silver piece-one Christmas it was n
gold one-and claimed a kiss (good
gracious how her cheeks flu. he'd ut the
remembrance?) for payment when he
rode away again. How happy. how
very happy, she had been then,
with that dear father and dear
old Aunt Nanny $50 happy that
she had scarcely ever felt the loss
OF the mother who had died in giving
her birth. But when Molly was fifteen,
the blacksmith, so strong and ruddy
that it seemed impossible pain or sick
ness could ever come near him, fell
sick, and after lingering, sorely Grip
pied, for nearly two years, died, leaving
nothing to his darling but hard work.
Yes, there was one alternative to be-
come Mrs. Jake Willow, and mistress
OF the forge again; but Jake was u
rough, vulgar fellow, and Molly, inher-
iting the delicate tastes and gentle ways
OF her mother (who had been shy,
pretty young governess before she mar
ried the handsome blacksmith), shrank
| from the loud voice ard rude laughter
OF her would be husband. And so, in
preference to accepting Jake's offer, she
became-and Heaven knows this was a
hard enough thing to donald of all
work In the cottage of the Misses Cam
eron. Poor little Molly prettier than
many princess, with lovely, black
fringed gray eyes, and hair of the very
darkest brown-hair that would curl in
spite of her, to Miss Cameron's great
displeasure. "n had such untidy
hair" that lady would often declare,
glancing approvingly into the mirror at
the fiat dyed bands that made 8 trian-
gle of her high narrow forehea "rd
shave my head !" and "We'd certainly
shave our heads" would echo Miss
Georgette.
The kitchen floor finished, the rugs
shaken and returned to their places,
the bread put away in the big stone
jar in the cupboard, Molly sought her
own room (which, to tell the truth, was
70 room at all, but corner of the gar
retrudely partitioned of, with only q
small skyiight to admit light and air
there were rooms, empty, unused
rooms, in the attic, but "they we're
much too good for 3 servant" Miss
Cameron said land "very much too
good for q servant" agreed her sister,
to make ready for her fitting. Molly
looked around it as she tied her straw
hat over her rebellious tresses. and
again the tears filled her eyes. It had
not been happy place of rest to her,
but it had been place of rest and
shelter, and she had been glad to have
it, fearing to leave il less worse luck
lay beyond.
And she would not have been com
pelled to leave IL had it not been for
that unfortunate mirror, and the un-
ceaeing complaints Of the old bachelor.
Old bashelorl Why, he couldn't be 80
very old after all, for he was only one
and TIVE nty (she was then between five
and six) when he gave her the ribbons
and books and silver pieces, and she
gave him the kisses.
But the sound of closing shutters
broke in on her reverie, and reminded
her that her departure was waited for,
and taking her bundle In her hand, shs
ran quickly and lightly downstairs to
the parlor, where the maiden ladies
sat erect and stern, their bonnets al
ready on in readiness for the lecture.
"Pm going now" said Molly, stand
ing in the doorway, her sweet, patheti 10
face, with its pleading gray eyes and
quivering lips, in no way touching what
her mistresses were pleased to call their
hearts. "0ood by. ma'am. Good by
Miss Georgette."
But the only reply she got was
" Bear in mind that you are still in
debted to US eight and twenty dollars.
II. however, you should prefer to pur-
chase mirror yourself in place of the
one broken by you, We will consent to