The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-08-30

ion o. tber law, she hain't. Flowed ther |
want no reason why | shouldn't hev u |
case in court cz sell @, some other fell !
lers cl heLn't no more proputty'n hev.
! guv it up, though: no use tryin' ter
fight Duck Hawkins m Pamely ct ther
same time"
"Iullo, Jim Carroll" cried the clerk,
famiiarly.
A young man OF easy appearance en-.
tered the room, and at once greeted lily
Todbcater rs an acquaintance. lie was
well dressed and even attra tive, II one
avoided looking into his eyes. He drew
the settler along hurriedly toward one OF
the row of wagons encircling the square,
and then told him to stop moment be-
fore the most prctentious store. He came
out with large package in his hand,
and took a seat beside the settler.
"Drive onl" he said hiIariously.
"Youie n rich man lily Iodbeater"
~ allow it'll be all right ef amely
don't'-rcluctantl hcsitated the other.
"Oh. I'll see to that said the young
man, with great confidence. ''Tve got
something here that'll make it all right.
It's n birthday present, you know. She
told me 1t was to day, and l had this all
ready
Hy's jaw dropped in astonishment;
il was new idea to him. He cluckcd
to the old sorrcl, and slapped the lines
lazily. evidently overcome with the
cndeavor to grasp all the new ideas
which had recently been thrust into his
unaccustomed brain.
Granddaddy sat bcaming over dish
Of that hot porridge.
eyer or a mastcr.haud ct porridgc
thcts what yc bc, pamcly" chucklcd
the old man. ether can't no gal beat
my grandfather, ef | do say it. nary
timc.'
Pamely turned toward Jim Carroll,
who entered the open door without the
formality of knock. 4 blush covered
her cheeks, but her smile vanished while
she set out chair for the quest.
"lou see, | haven't forgotten your
birthday" he exclaimed, gaily, holding
out the package Significantly.
lgmely slowly reached out her hand
TO receive the prolercd gift, her young
heart ,titied with one great throb of joy.
Gus surprise.
Her fingers seemed unable to loosen
the cord. He snatched it from her TO
tear of the wrappings, and held up and
allowed TO trail on the wel.scrubbcd
floor the Brilliant folds of new merino
dress.
Her dark blue eyes grew round and
black With astonishment ana admiration.
She glanced down at her faded calico
skirt. and the contrast seemed too great.
Never in her life had she possessed sucn
beautiful gown. Then she lifted her
face to look straight into the heavy
lidded eyes of Jim Carroll. A sudden
change came over her; she shrank back
awkwardly.
81 reckon don't want no new dresses
jist now, Mr.. Carroll. Yer kin give it to
some one in BluiI City ez needs it,"
She turned hastily, entered the other
room. closed the door, and left the
young man, suffer ng the humiliation Of
defeat.
1t was late in the evening when Jim
Carroll left Ry Todbeater leaning against
the rails Of the zig-zag fence behind the
barn.
'dave it all ready" he repeated, as he
turned away, ''lll bring the captain out
ia the morning.
"Ya'as,n drawlcd the settler, al
reckon it'll be all right ef Pamely"-he
slunk around the barn in the path lead
ing to the spring without completing his
sentence.
The edge of the woods was full OF
In OK shadows when amcly haStcned
a,ong the same path to crafty gram
daddv's desire for "A drink of water from
the ,pring. The moon had risen and a
sivery ray penetrated the ovcrhanging
T.. l.. d D..
gIrl dipped her tin pail in it, depths. 1t
rested also on some shining substance
hali-imucddei in the earth near the
waters edge She had never discovered
IL before. and now stopped and picked il
up, surprised TO find 1t so heavy. it was
rough and gray save on one side, which
cNLibitcd some slvory bits Of surface.
She was about to rctrace her steps when
dark figure crouahing behind a tree
caught her gulc. \ quick throb of fear
was followed by surprise when the flap
ping straw hut revealed Il her acute
vision the identity oi the proving in
dyidual
'Wlat N thcr world er We doin' ou
hycr this time cr night.' she questioned
II allowed yer wul roun' with jim
Carroll
"Naw," sheepi'hly Y replied her brother
sits thet hot ! rcckoued it nd be cooc
under the trees
"le mu, wanter be eat up by the
skcctcrs, Hy; what'er yer dom with the
, thcr fire .shoyelf
'Jest he'd it in my hand an brung i
long; digg.n' ter see ef ther mought b,
any gold roun' in these parts, he added
with an awkward chuckle
"Did sc find any rocks like this hyerF
she asked, holding up the shining bi
she had found
; "lIeaps on EN-, said Hy, seemingly
e anxious TO make virtue Of confession
5 scot EN- in my pocket, and he pro
e ceeded TO pull out a handful of simila
pieces. ''Fact is, Pamely, this ez vally
! bile land, heyin' sich sights o. lead or
J lyin' roun loose, ef il amt ez slick e
D Duck Hawkins's It'll bring or big price
I sure eZ shootin'm
5 "When dye find it out-ther lead or
o bein' hyer" questioned Pamcly.
'Jcst ther other day ] wuz a.sayin
/ ter myself: What's the reason ther ain
n lead ore on this hyer land ez well e
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