The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-11-01
"Arethusa,n interrupted Adolphus,

DacK-
"That I altogether decline TO do,
replied Arcthusa; "it was cowardly to
ask me to ride when you did MT know
how to manage the machine"
Now, il Adolphus had observed femi-
nine nature of the round and rosy kind
as closely as have, he would have held
his tongue. for he would have seen the
two tears just trembling on the wink Of
Aries eyelids, and known the trouble
was nearly ended; but being only an
exaspcrated man. he SAID very coldly
"Since that is your opinion, Miss Ander.
son, ] will release you from all promises
to me, as you would hardly care to be
tied to coward for life."
"Oh, thanks, very much" responded
Arie as sweetly and calmly as If she was
accepting glass of water; "it is very
kind of you to think of it," and she
busted herself removing a bit of mud
from her dress The sudden change of
voice and expression made my head
swim although had seen the two tears
drop, and it evidently did Adolphus,
for he looked puzzled, although his tones
were still frigid as he inquired: "Do
you prefer to walk home, Miss Ander-
son, or will you trust yourself again to
the tricycle. and my inefficient hands,
"Jh | think it would be batter to ride
since the tricycle. is he c; it would seem
n pity to get all heated and dusty from
the walk, don't you thnkp Then
drawing a blue silk handkerchief from
her pocket, she tripped up to Adolphus
and observed in the most matter. ol-fact
way possible, "Would you mind, MIR.
RadclilIe, Just tyi1g e this under my chin !;
the ends are so short can't get mt them
! am sorry TO trouble you but I'm afraid
l shall take cold if | ride with nothing
on my head"
"les. certainly" answered Adolphus,
awkwardly, and he tried still more awk.
wardly to tie knot under the remark
ably pretty chin that was held up for the
purpose. The eyelashcs were down, so
he had an ample opportunity to observe
that 1t was a remarkably pretty chin.
with quite an unusually alluring assort-
ment of dimplcs around the corners of
the mouth, and somehow, as he looked,
the clouds passed away from his face,
and holding the blonde head straight 10.
ward him and very firmly by the knot
he had succeeded in making, he sad
gently; "Arie, would you mind looking
at me-
"Oh, net the least in the world" was the
demure answer, "only the sun hurts my
eyes
-, au,ion is very excellent trait" he
answered dryly, 'but l do not know
that | ever knew it to develop so sud.
denly. You might shield your eyes with
your hands il you are really afraid of
permanent blindness"
"Why, surely" cried Arie. "you al
ways are so full of resource in an emer.
gency,' and covering both pink palms
over pinkcr face, she looked at him
with an expression of infantile admira-
ton so bright and warm that 1t would
almost dry wet umbrella! At all events,
Adolphus was not PROOF against it, and
a simultaneous burst of laughter broke
from them that startled the robins in
the branches overhead, which suggested
10 Alolphus that he should secure the
perquisites that belonged to the occasion
before any further interruption oc-
Cured.
This having been satisfactorily ar
ranged he asked: snow, tell me frankly.
AIie, aren't you little bit ashamed to
break your engagement for such trille"
''lI' she exclaimed, Il break an en-
gagement: who would ever suspect me
of such thing. I've always been taught
that man was a dangerous animal and it
was dangerous to contradict him when
he was in earnest. Besides" she added,
still more meekly, sit might lead to a
quarrel"
well" said Adolphus, highly pleased
with this sally, II suppose shall be
Ju,t fool enough to get you,
sphinx as you are" and he
seated her on the tricycle. rs
carefully as if she had been Dresden
china shcpherdess and thus for the trs.
time his eyes dropped upon me where |
lay in the gutter, wondering what
quality of the masculine mind was that
which led him to prefer to be made a
fool of in this way
THAT umbrella is past all usefulness" "
he observed indiilerently; ''we'll just
leave it where it is"
But Arethusa did not think so. She
wanted me 'as memento of their first
falling out" So | was brought along
forthwith and enjoyed the privilege OF
listening to various plans for my rc,tora.
tion to strength and beauty, besides n
great deal Of conversation quite too deli
cate to bear pen and ink
The next morning | was handed over
to the tender merces of an umbrella sur.
geon, and his face was certainly a study
rs he examined me. My fractured ribs,
my warped backbone, and generally
broken up condition, evidently made q
great impression upon him, for, ad ,ust-
ing his glasses, he looked searchingly at
AdolphuS and asked dryly: "You didn't
make m stake AMI bring the wrong
umbrella, did youi This isn't wortl
mending."
"Possibly Pm the best Judge of that,
with his most lordly air
"All right, all right, sir; if you dom
mind paying twice rs much rs you
would for a new one, Pm sure I've IL,
objection 10 put my work on it," AnC
then followed a discussion as to IN,
dress and equipments; that was intenscl,
interesting to me, for knew how mucl
depended upon it. II some delicat
color were chosen my life would indeed
be gay one, for should be reservet
for full.dre,s occasions, but, alas hov
soon it would end as fade must, anC
so he thrust aside into some dark corne
and forgottenl So was thankful enough