The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-03

Iml Rasped.
Upon my word, I don't know" said
Mr.. Olney, angrily. "She's a madcapp
Miss Perry was gazing up at them in
comical defiance, her white hand waving.
"Tm not hurt. ! suppose you're sorry
I'm not hurt, MarmadukeY" she cried.
"You see the foot path just below you
Miss Perry?" Mary called to her, coldly.
''If YOU will take that II will bring you
gradually to u lower grade in the walk,
where you can climb up easily
ave will walk down and meet you
there" said Phil. "Shan't we, Mary"
every well, :" said Nary, frigidly.
Miss Perry, with a last defiant word or
two, was OIL.
Mary led the way down the walk stifily.
Phil was laughing.
"NIiss Perry is irrcpressiblc" he OBJ
served, admiringly.
"Oh, she's a madcap," Mr. Olney re-
pca.ci strolling leisurely in the rear.
Mary accomplished the five minutes
walk in silence.
A slender figure, in dragglod black
silk, looked up at them drolly from down
the slope.
Phil and Mr. Olney sprang down and
pulled her up. Mary was positive she
had stopped there purposely.
Her heart burned within her. What a
fool she would have looked in such
position
But Miss Perry was flushed and laugh
ing and lovely.
"What are you giggling at, you
wretchcsl' she cried, tipping her bent
bonnet rccklcssly o7er her nose, and
spreading her lace skirt-which hung in
tags. "Stop this minute, Narmaduke! (!
I've had delightful little excursion. I've
enjoyed it-thcrc now didn't get my
violets, but"
Miss Perry was turning white. She
claspcd her round arm with shiver Of
pain. Blood was triclSling on the fair
skin.
ut was a stonc-it cut it as fellw
she murmured.
Now she would have pity and concern
as well as admiration. II was n cut-aud-
dried scheme, Mar1S reflected, irefully.
Phil would have to, heb her home.
She turned away, hcrli.2 between her
teeth, hot and futile tears in her eyes.
She would not look on mt it,
But it was Miss Perry's ambiguous re-
lative who offered his arm.
"lf you've had enough of an escapade,
Mag" he remarked, drily, "pcrhaps
you'll let me take you home"
She took his arm without a word, that
warm red rising in her soft face; and
Phil joined Mary.
Mary looked llxcdly at the river. She
! felt Phil's big, blue eyes upon her, but
| she did not meet them.
/ Sh, had no patience with him-a sim
( pleton who would let shallow flirt make
AN idiot of him
What's the matter, Maryi" he STAN
mcred, mt last. I-I-you don't seem
TO like Miss Perry much, Mary"
That was too much.
"No, don't" said Mary grimly.
81 think shes jolly, you know" said
Phil timidly. "And I'm sorry for her
awlully sorry"
at is only scratch, said Mary, with
forced calmness.
~ don't mean that" said Phil. He
took Mary's elbow to help her up the
grade, but she pulled it away. "Not
that, you know. You see, She Won
der il she'd mind my telling you-just
youl"
81 don't want to hear it," said Mary,
in agony.
"She wouldn't mind" Phil insisted.
"If she told me, she'd tell anybody. It's
about her Marmaduke--he isn't hers,
that is, but she'd like him to be. They've
been going on together for years, gath
cred, without it's ever coming to any
thing; and she doesn't know whether
Olney wants it to come to anything. He's
so careless and lazy, she doesn't know
whether he likes her or not. But sh,
likes him. She told me that right out,
Mary, as innocent as baby; seemed t.
want somebody TO tell it to. And SHE
cried when she said it--just cried. That
was why she went on like that when W.
came up with you-made all that fusi
about the flowers, and went down tn,
bank 10 take his attention off her rec
; eyes. She says she can't marry anybod!
else; and then not to be sure he cares TO
her--well, it is tough. II he don't wan
her, / don't know what he does want,
said Phil, Indignantly.
Mary Lane was looking down at thu
grass.
+ "Was that what she was sayingl'
she murmured. "lle-he said she wa
flirting with you"
r "He didH" said Phil, warmly. "H
( wants throttling. I've mind to do i
for him. He doesn't deserve her, TIN
puppyw
~ thought so, too" Mary faltered on
! ~ thought she was. And l was S
S angry with her for doing It'll"
Phil laughed.
y "And did you think was flirting wit
= her, Mary1" he demanded.
Eyes" she owned.
Il "Then you need throttlingw But h
@ contented himself with soft shake @
her shoulder. "Mary, did you think
1t could flirt with anybody but you! Don
you know like you, and always have
d and mean to marry you-you, nobod
clse1 Mary, for shane! Didn't 20
7, know iii"
5. The grass seemed to swim bcfol