The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1884-03-27

TOUgniy, anu itS iuOSt sCOTcIlnp ray
only added brighter tint To the long,
fair hair, which hung in waves below
her waist, tho pride and admiration OF
her friends.
Yct IL was hard, oven for a stranger,
to look unmovcd upon tho great blue
eyes, so pathetic In their blindness, and
know that Li,a Cohen could never SEQ
again.
think Lta herself minded IL most
after Warren, the poet Of tho camp,
had been telling her Of tho rugged
grandeur Of the country about them,
and described tho singular beauty OF
the flowers which he brought her day
after day. or when one of her big, bur-
ly friends laid in her hand the picture
of his childrcn-ihc children whom she
had learned to love MS brothers and sis
tcrs. She had known about them all n
long time, ever since she could remem-
Der, and they often sent her friendly
messages and lite presents which she
used to sit holding in her hands, q
strange wistfulncss in the big blue
eyes, q great ache In tho little tender
heart, at the thought that she must al
ways feel, but never see. The little
girl cared n great deal about all her
friends; but lame Joo was her prime
favoritc, perhaps because he was lame.
He had grown lancr thnn over of late,
and was failing very fast, yet nobody
could bear TO break the news TO her.
She usod TO sit at his side by the hour
listening TO him or repeating the child
ish stories which Warren had read 10
her. One day while she was sitting
thus, pa,ting his wrinklcd check with
her soft hands, she stopped suddenly,
with puzzled look in her face. rs
though n new thought had struck her.
"The men say that the mines Of this
district don't pay we'll enough. and
they will shortly break up and go into
another country. What will YOU and |
do then, Uncle Joc?"
A tear tricklod down the old mans
wan cheek. He, too, was thinking of
a joirney into another country, and il
wrcnchcd his hcart-strings to think Of
leaving Lita behind, but he wiped away
the bright drops with the ragged
sleeve of his coat, and choking down
the sob in his throat, made answer:
You will so with them, Lita, my
child
''hnd you. too. Uncle Joe. What
would you do here without mc?' she
asked lauShingly. rs She clung tighter
TO his hand.
mot much, TO be sure. little one
not much" lie strokcd her long silk
cn hair tcndcrly, wishing that he might
bc able 10 tell her what no ono else
wanted TO; but he had not the courage,
and presently the little "irl said:
ut Is getting chilly, Uncle Joe; let's
go in"
But the old man went away, and did
not SEQ hcr again till c,cning. lie
bado her goodnight, and slowly fol-
lowed the rctrca,ing forms of the two
gentlemen, Ley,Dn ana Spencer, won
,lcring why she looked so pale tonight
and clung SO tightly around his neck at
parting. lIc felt u strange chill pass
over him whenever he thought Of the
music. but BY and by hc fell asleep and
forgot it all
Tho threatened storm came; such n
tempest as had not swept tho valley
since its settlement five years before.
But the sun shonc out brightly the next
morning. and there was one, at least.
who hailed its advent with n sigh of re-
lief; and that was Joe Milton. Crush
ed, bruised and sorcly wounded. he
dragged himself from heap of debris
and looked about him. No one was
stirring. Nearly all the others had
chosen safer places than he and were
sleeping soundly, now that the wild
strife which had taken place SO lately
between the clcmcnts had ceased.
How was il with little LitaP With au
effort poor Joe sat up and looked.
Where had stood dwelling place
last night was only heap of ruins
now. "Lita! Liia!" called the old man
pitcously; but there came no answer.
On his hands with all his remaining
strength mustered in the effort. he
crcpt TO the spot. No child WAS there.
Slowly, every breath pain almost un-
endurablc, he drew himself 10 the top
Of the log TO look. lie saw her, AM
was not long in gaining the spot.
Taking one limp hand in his and
clasping il tightly. ho sank down N
her side with agrca, sigh, though there
WAS u smile upon his face. and the pain
was all over lie had followed his lit
Tie friend in her long, long journey,
had gone into the other country.
A little later the miners. awakened
by the faithful Nannon. who had jusl
recovered sufficiently 10 crawl from the
ruins, began search for the missing.
Away beyond the scattered remains
of the cabin they founi ihcm--thc tive
so strangely contrasting; one so old and
gray, the other with CLAM OF light n,
she lay stretched out upon n bed OF
tangled grass and shining sand, tho
pallo rof death upon her fair young face,
and the glory Of the sunshine in hor
golden hair.