The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-11-14

sweet corn, and we'll have dish Of good.
old fashioned succotash. Mya is good
cook, but she never could make succo-
tash. And in the afternoon we'll have
Toby harnessed up and drive over to
Widow Sally Smiths to tea"
The long shadows of afternoon were
lying athwart the closely mown grass
when old Toby was led to the door, and
Mrs. Bliven called loudly to Leona to
bring down her bonnet and shawl.
The girl, who had no especial fancy
for the society of Widow Sally Smith
and her hard voiced daughters, listlessly
obcycd
But the moment she opened the "bcst
bedroom door, where the old lady kept
her choicest treasures, she uttered shrek
Of dismay. There, on the floor, in a Sc
rics of Jagged strips and indistinguish-
able debris, lay Mrs. Blivens's famous
Leghorn bonnet!
"Goodness mc!' cried a shrill voice,
"whats tie matterl"
And Leona became conscious that old
Mrs. Bliven had toiled heavily UP the
stairs, and stood close beside her, peering
over her shoulder. Her face grew black
rs night.
"Oh, Aunt Bliven." gasped Leona,
chow could this have happened9"
''I see through it all, plain enough, {"
said Mrs. Bliven. "You needn't trouble
20 tell any lies about it. Leona Parishl /
heard what YOU and Myra were talking
about yesterday morning--about the old
lady and the bonnet that was shipped to
pieces and the blame laid on rats. It's n
very smart, ingenious plan, don't
doubt; but somehow it don't suit me TO
have such very smart, ingenious folks
about my premises. SO, il you please,
I'll dispense with the rest of your visit.
Tho horse and wagon are at the door,
and little Peter will drive you to the de-
pot as soon as ever you've packed your
trunk.
But. Aunt Bliyen, | never"
81 told you I'd have no mere false
hoods strrnly interrupted the old lady.
II don't know what sort Of consciences
you girls have, in this age of the world.
Be silent, say, and obey me-"
And thus, in all the bitterness of un-
mcritcd disgrace, Leona was turned out
Of the house, that was beginning to be
unspcakably dear to her.
James Bliyen, when he came homc.
was thundcrstruck.
"Mothor, for heavens sake" cried he,
"what is this2 The girl has no place to
90 to-
"l.ct her 90 back to the boarding
school she came from!n said Mrs. Bliven,
stcrnly. "I'll have no double-dealers in
this house,"
OH 90 after her and bring her back"
you'll do rs YOU choose" said tho
old woman "but if Lconas the girl |
take her to be, she won't come with
YOU"
A sudden wave Of despair swept over
Jamcs's soul as he recognized the truth of
these words.
"NIothcr," he cried, 'youll forgive
her! You'll send for her to return-for
my sake. motherl"
But Mrs. Blven shook her head.
"No girl that isn't frank hearted and
true can have a home herc!" she reiter-
ated.
Yet, in spite of al this, the house
seemed strangely desolately without Le-
ona's light step and winning smile.
Late at night there was q loud knock
ing at the door. 1t was Myra Manton,
come ! ack.
"Things is all right" said she. They
was frightened more than they was hurt.
AbSalOm Atkins always was n coward,
and | aint goin' to spend any more o. my
time foOlin' with 'cm; so I've come back.
Was YOU surprised when you seen Waggy
was gone! The dog" in answer to Mrs.
Blivcn'S puzzled look, "that Cappen
Jackson left in my charge When seen
the mischief he'd done, Jest ketched
him up and left him to Cappen's sisters
Mary Ann Jackson, at the crossroads,
and afterward it occurred to me you
might miss him and worry for fear he was
LOST
II never once thought of the dog"
said Mrs Bliven, impatiently.
"And the bonnetl" said Myra. "Im
powerfully sorry, but"
"Thc bonnct" said Mrs. Bliven.
"What do you mean, Myral What are
you talking about!"
"You don't tell me you never diskiv-
cred iti' cried Myra, bursting into n
laugh. "Well, do declare. What did
you s'posc done it!"
"Donc whatl"
"Why, worried that ere Leghorn hat
% your'n into ribbons! 1t was Waggy,
that's who it was! Pups is always mis-
chieyouS, and think he's the worst /
ever seen, meant TO told Deacon Ship
mans boy, that helped me to tote my
Satchel to the daypo, to explain it Z ye,
but we was pretty nigh bein' left, and
furry and fluster driv it all outen my
head
Mrs. Blivcn stared at Myra.
1t was the dog, after all, then, said
she.
"La me, who else did ye suspect2"
cried Myra. where's Leonal | fetched
home some o them puce-colored poppy
seeds and slip o rose geranium for her,
caused | knowed-Goodness what's the
matter with you, eh9 What are you
looking at me that way for2'
BY the very earliest morning train
James Bliven went after Leona, with a
letter from his mother imploring her to
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