The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-02-27
AMBITION.

Il m In hurry. Joo siaahleIeu the
tall young girl whom Job Lindley had
addressed.
"But l won't detain you second !"
catching up the change and the parcel
from the counter of the little general
shop which served for grocery, dry
goods emporium, -four mill and postofice
for the dwellers in succothville. I'm
ready now"
Libby Morse was slender, bright-eyed
girl of Is. job Lindley was the village
druggist, quick, keen-faced. young fell
low, with a healthy glow on his cheeks.
They walked briskly along over the
hard frozen winter roads, in the gray
twilight
"Were you getting anything at the
store ?" Job asked. "Have you any bun
dies for me to carry
Libby laughed bitterly.
Il was asking for letters" said she.
@There were none for me. didn't much
expect there would be. Luck don't come
to me-
Luck" Job looked at her in per
picked way. Il hope, Libby do hope
YOU haven't been persuaded into buying
tickets in the Breezetown lottery"
"Nonssnse ~ retorted Libby.
"Your uncle gives YOU adj the spending
money you want. don't he ~
"IIe gives me all ask for" Libby an
sxered adding, within herself:
"And little enough that is. :"
@You're not discontented at living with
him."
"Not especially"
Because, Libby, if you don't like il
where you are
"oh, Job, there comes Alice Mark
ham" !" hastily interrupted the girl. "Pve
got message for Alice. You'll excuse
me, won't you Good-byel'
| Job Lindley stood puzzled, iu the mid.
/ die of the road, watching Libby's figure
vanish against the yellow bar that still
marked the spot where the sun had gone
down half an hour ago.
Its queer" said he. "I'm hanged il
! understand it, Every time ] get neal
that subject she slips away from me, ex
actly as if she understood what [ was 20
ing to say. It's like trying to catch the
waters of a running brook in ones hand
To me there's no girl in all Succothvillt
like Libby Morse, and yet | can't for th'
life Of me tell whether she cares for mt
or not"
In the meantime Libby had joined Al
ice Markham, the young district schoo
teacher, whose week it was, in boarding
around" i" to go to Mr.. Morse's.
@Oh, Alice" said she, breathless witt
the haste she had made. Ave had sucf
an escape"
eChHd, what on earth do you mean !?
said Miss Markham, who, though sh'
was scarcely month older than Libby
in actual time, had the dignity of at leas
thirty summers.
Perhaps it was as much owing to tn
/ responsibilities re of her position as TO nat
uraI temperament, but still it was Their
the sober, charming sedateness of
young queen.
Il think, Alice" said Libby, in a mys
terious whisper, "that Job Lindley want
to ask me 10 marry him. I've Just beel
walking with him"
"Well-and if he does ,"
ats such nonsense" said Libby
slightly accelerating her swim, elasti
pace.
Il don't see that at all,H said compose'
Alice. Every girl is the better for
good. sensible husband"
"Fiddlesticks r' cried Libby. AS if
girl with an ambition like me wanted t
be tied down to live in the back parlo
behind a druggists counter
'An ambiiion2s repeated Miss Mark
ham.
"Ah, haven't told you cried exult
ant Libby, dancing up and down unit
her feet sounded like tiny castanet
against the frozen ground. "But l hav
an ambition-two orthree ofthem shal
tell you what they are, Alice?'
"If you can leave off fitting along lik
a will-o'-the-wisp, certainly said Alice
twining one arm around Libby's slende
young waist.
"Weil. you see" explained Libby, low
ering her voice to a confidential mystery
although there was only the frost bright
ened stars and the yellow rim of ligh
above the western woods to overhear he
communication. Uncle Thomas hasn'
been very successful with bis farm Of lat
and as he has nine children of his owl
he naturally feels that am burden I
him. And he hints that ought to b
doing something for myself Now wha
can girl do FOR herself in Succothvill
but to go out to service or enter the fa'
tory or take in plain sewingg
mot much else, must confess" sal
Miss Markham.
"wen,n pursued Libby, q don't fanc
any Of these three rosds TO a liyelihoo'
So have picked out three other path
for myseIf haye been studying up tn
papers. Alice, and I've written loy
story, in competition for the three hur
dred dollar prize offered by the Titufei
Literary Clarion
Child, child - cried Alice. awhat d
: you know about love I"
"As much as other girls, fancy" sal
giddy Libby ~rve read about opheli
and Desdemona and Lucia di Lamme
: mcor, and ali those classic heroines, an
Of course one depends good deal
ones imagination. 1t wasn't a bad stor.
! ~..od nd