The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-05-12


weeping and making the most terrible
grimaces to hide it.
When he had finished. the old profes.
sor got up, and shut the pian) without
a word; and Martha, flushed and trem-
bling, went with the stranger to the door
for she knew from her fathers look
that he was saying to himself that he
would never play again.
On the doorstep she thought to look
at the handkerchief; bat it was finer than
any she had ever owned, and beautifully
embroidered.
Take it," she said, handing it back.
"This is not nine"
Il know it. answered the young man;
"but kept yours purposely, Gold would
not buy it of me-" And, with q grave
bow he went away.
"What was that atyoung jackanapes say
ing to your asked her father when she
came back.
Martha, who did not know how to de-
ceive, told him every word.
"oh, ho!' growled the old man, "Tll
haye him there. If he has stolen away
my pupils, he shan't have my daughter.
Tho next time he comes you're not to let
him in-do you hear, Martha?"
Eyes, SIR" answered Martha. Aad,
letting fall pile of plates, broke half OF
them, tore her only gown in trying TO
save them, burned her fingers when she
lighted her fathers pipe. got well scold-
ed, and went crying to bed.
After that, every morning was laid on
4 the doorstep brace of birds, o basket
of fruit, or some fine fish, always for the
| professor, who began to fancy that some
of his old friends had at last remembered
him, and chuckled nightly over them
to Martha, who blushed as red as rose,
but never said a word.
Oae morning. however, the old man
who was as curious as a woman-took it
in bis head to find out whether it rained
fish, birds, and fruit, or whether he had
still friend in Blunder; and, posting
himself behind the curtains, watched the
doorstep as q cat would mouse, till to
his horror, he deserted the dark-eyed
young professor in the very act Of de.
positinga superb haunch of venison.
You scoundrel! You villianl you COW.
ard!' shrieked the old man. in fury,
throwing open the window; 'you wretch
you poisoner! you pettifogger! you huok'
steri you ninny! you"
Here, he could thiuk of nothing else,
he threw his wooden leg at him.
The young man picked it up. and po
litely handed it to Martha, who came
running to the window, as by this timt
did also half of the Bluudernarians-
who being only half awake, and hardI,
dressed at all. decided that the young
professor had been trying to poison III,
old one; that he was discovered in tbt
act of trying to elope with Martha; tia
the house was on fire; that the old pro
fessor was crazy; that he was drunk, a nj
a variety of equally consistent and sousi
BILE opinions. But the truth of the mat
ter leaking out las it always will, it'll
ones, no matter how deep they bury it)
the Blundernarians exclaimed, with on
, voice, that the old professor was an lido
: and an ass, and, as idiots and asses hav
no right to live, unanimously resolved
; to starve him out, by depriving Marthj
: OF the little work by which she had beel
5 able to support her father and herself
Only the minister couldn't be made t.
see that he ought to stNrve fellow .crea
S ture because he was poor and cross; an,
D between her and the dark-syed stranger
I who used to smuggle his contribution
= now into the kitchen. they managed t
B, struggle on for few mouths longer.
At last, one day, Martha found th
dark eyed stranger himself in the kitch
Ell, and was going to blush aud scream
but concluded TO cry, when he told be
that he was going away.
= Il have ruined your father" be said
+ sorrowfully, "and be won't let me repa
J. him; so you see must 60"
u ut will do no good, answered MarthG
: Some one else will come. You hav
4" taught our people too much. They wi
d never come back to Herr WcrstanU
e drum"
But there is another reason" he said
Il am very unhappy. love a It'll
, blue-eyed girl, who is my next-doo
:, neighbor, but her father hates me, and
II don't think she would marry me withou
s his consent-do your Aud he locke
straight into Msrthas eyes, as if she coul
i know anything about it.
II don't think she would" answere
Martha. ''if she is a good girl"
re 'She is very good" he said. positivel!
Dl- $50 you see there is no hope for me, an
ID must CO."
,e On which Martha whispered somothiu
in his ear-to which he said DO yo
n think soto which she answered; :
or know so, "-on which he said; I'm TT!
,e and went away.
g. That evening the professor was qui
to alone, and the door was open. He W
le Wondsring what kept Martha 80 long,aI