The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-24
erty yet. Keep your heroics till you

utterly stubborn, and that to argue was
to take time for no result. so he ac-
ccptcd his dismissal, and went to his
own room. Thinking deeply, he came
to the resolution 30 try his power to con-
qucr fortune before seeing Rhoda again.
She knew he loved her, and II his love
was returned, would trust him. IL she
cared for him only in cousinly way,
then the separation might help him to
bear a later disappointment. He would
not desert his father, but perhaps when
he had proved himself no braggart, his
father might relent.
1t was drcary enough in the weeks
that followed in the tiny parlor, behind
the little stationers store where Rhoda
Lewis stroyc to keep the wolf from the
door. Brought up in utter ignorance of
business, the young storekeeper had de-
pended unconsciously upon her cousin
Frank in all financial difficulties. Frank
had taught her how TO keep her books.
had given her instructions about renew
ing her stock in trade, managed her
banking business. hud been her adviser
and best friend from the day when she
returned from her fathers funeral. to
know she must bc brcadwinner for her
self and her invalid mother. She had
never looked upon him rs II lover, only
rs her very dear cousin, until her uncle
rudcly opened her eyes and heart by in
forming her of the penalty attached 20
his sons courtship. Then love awakened
TO sting her sharply when pride forbade
her chcrishing the sweet intruder.
Yet, while she Suffered in heart, there
was a magic Of prosperity about the tiny
store. Customers 1ockcd to her, and she
found sale for a better class of goods than
she had vcntured upon at first. She had
some skill in watcr-color painting, no
wonderful talent but sufficient capacity
for much of the pretty decorating, just
aJ that time coming into fashion. For
what she had leisure to accomplish in
that line, she found quick sale at large
profit
Her sorest grief was in her mothers
wasting health, and the certainty that u
long standing disease must terminate fa-
tally, though the decline was very slow.
Heart aud brain were sorcly taxed. the
more that she had been so carefully
guarded from all care and sorrow during
her fathers life. But she was brave and
faithful in the discharge Of daily duty,
trusting in Gods care for her future, us
humbly as n child trusts its mother.
Two years had passed since Frank
Lewis put up her shutters, when he wrote
to her from another city, telling her that
he had good position, was working
faithfully to make himself independent,
and asking her to be his wife if his in
come ever filled his pockets sufficiently to
start home.
IL tried to work in my old home, TO be
near my father" he wrote, but it was bet
ter for me To be away for time"
1t was strange, deep happiness that
met this letter, for Rhoda knew she
loved her cousin as the one love Of her
life. She wrote back mt once, frankly
and lovingly, and the correspondence be-
came her ray of sunshine in her sorrow
for her mother and her daily toll for
bread Still the months rolled into years,
Rhoda was left motherless, and the stern
old man in the grand home Frank had
left grew more lonely and desolate as age
crcpt on, till four years had passed, and
Frank came for his bride.
Before seeking her he went to his old
home, and unannounced, entered the
room where his father sat musing idly,
his hands resting ON his lap, his eyes
fixed upon the fire. He did not look up
rs Frank entered, thinking it was Il ser
want who came in, and his sons heart
sank as he SAW how old and worn he
looked. Surely, four years ago his hair
was not SO gray aud thin, his face so
deeply lined suddenly he reused him
self, looked toward the door, and then,
opening his arms, cried, with yearning
tenderness:
my boy. Frank, my SON."
1t was long before he could do more
than stroke his sons hands and hair,
speaking fondcst words of affection.
"You will not leave me again, Frank2"
he pleaded.
''Not unless you forbid Rhoda to be
here, too"
$50, so. You have not wavercd, then,
in all these four years"
"Havc not my letters told you so
much2"
"Rightl Yes, yes, you are constant.
You thought me II hard father, Franki"
"Only in that one thing. You have
been good father to me-"
"But not u kind onel l see where |
made IA mistake. But | meant only kind
ness, Frank; only kindness. married
when | was young-like yourself, the
son of rich father. My wife was but
terny of fashion. Twas IN earnest man,
striving to do life's duties faithfully.
was utterly miserable in my married life,
and wherever | looked see how money
and its possession crushed out real love.
When YOU first loved Rhoda you were
mere children, but even then | hoped it
was transcient fancy. Then came my
brothers misfortunes, and Rhoda's op-
portunity to prove herself a strong, true,
woman, or feeble nursing of luxury.
You, too, were drifting into the idle fol-
lies OF man without purpose in life.
resolved to test you both, TO prove your
love and manhood, as l was proving
Rhoda's courage.
"Well, well, my dear boy, you were
not quite so independent, after all, as
you fancied. My letters procured you
the favorable reception you met with at