The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-06-13
Nevertheless it did seem hard that she

tiAic u nave Cuuuitu III DN Vnc nOuI, W1u
strange to say, the mother had called it
"Mary." She never said it was for me,
and often wondered, but never asked
her--for somehow al us simple folks were
a biz afraid of ".hc lady"
II was one dull, rainy evening in Febru-
ary when poor Susie came to me with her
pitiful story of sacrifice she had resolved
to make. remember very particularly,
because Mrs. Greathouse was to have a
party on the 25th, the next night, and
was hurried with her gown.
She came in quite early for it, but the
rich silk was all finished. | trembled a
mite as she scanned it so closely. but she
found no fault whatever and paid me the
50 for il promptly. Her last words were !:
"Nou are looking far from WELL Mary:
brother Tom would hardly recognize his
old sweetheart il he could see you now.
You need rest, my Gear; do take some;"
then she passed out.
Good advice-excelent, said Susie
in n hard voice, and | was glad she had
not noticed what Mrs. Greathouse said
about her brother.
"I wish you had charged her $15 in
stead of S., Mary. The dress was worth
it,"
"Yes, | know" / answered drearily;
"but even that would not have paid all
the bills, and for the first time in Susie's
presence broke down aud cried
Even as wept softly aud Susie tried to
comfort me, "the lady entered the little
shop and bending above Susie and me
dropped n letter in my lap--a great, big,
funny y-looking affair.
"a letter! oh, Mary who would send
you letterln said Susie.
"The lady" paused a moment in the
shadows of the room and | tore off the
envelope, and there fell in my lap a great
lot of bank bills.
Money" cried Susie; "money. Who
what does it meant oh, here's note.
Listen:
DEAR MARY-Acccpt little present from
n loving FRIEND.
That was al. We looked at each other
stupidity.
"Who could have sent it2 Oh Susie,
it's a mistakel" gasped.
"No, it is not; the letter is sent to
you and is for you. find it is just 800.
I'm so glad.
l kept the money. needed it so
sorcly, and they all said il really was
mine; but felt uneasy all the time, and
wondered and wondered, for we hadn't
rich relation in the world But even
that hundred dollars would not last for
ever, and by and by saw Susie looking
over her old things and trying to make
up her mind that the time had come
when she could tell her betrothed hus-
band 3le was ready. Poor, poor little
Susie
"Ive set the day at last" she said.
''lt's to be next Tuesday then she be-
gan to sob.
Once more "the lady" entered and
dropped in my lap another letter and u
book.
This letter was not so bulky, but when
opened it found that it contained two
bills of 500 each.
"What-who" | began vaguely as be-
fore, when once more ''thc lady" bent
over Susie and me, and, winding her
white arms around our nechs, fell into Il
violent fit of weeping.
"Oh, my sisters" she sobbed, when
She could speak. "Do you think me
blind as well as heartless? Do you think
you are to do all the work and me noncl
Dear patient fingers" and to our aston
ishment She kissed first my needle
pricked hand, and then Susie's, chapped
and toil-markcd.
"There's the BOOK" she continued
''read it whea you can. began it when
my husband was first taken ill., fancicd
| could get it done in time to help him,
but | couldn't. Yet he knows-he must
k2ow-how glad | am to be able to helo
those so dear TO him"
"Florence," said in wonder, "what
are you talking about"
"Why, my book; it is there in your
lap, as well as the money for it--a por-
ton of it. l always scribbled more or
less, but in careless manner, until saw
the great need and then found | could
write even better than | dared hope. |
never tod because ! wanted to surprise
you. Susie, little sister, don't dream OF
that distasseful marriage. | was so afraid
it wouldn't come in time to save you.
Aad Mary, gentle one, I've something for
you even better than gold. I-forgive
mel found oct all about your sad love
story, of the quarrel long ago, and the
lover in the West, and | sent little
bird with a message of your faithfulness,
your noble life, and the answer came,
ooh, the West is not ve:y far awa-)
I'm coming"
l wondered why cusie, with such a
face of peace and JOY as had not seen
her wear for years, should look startled
and step back, while 'the lady"-oh,
such a lady-stood between me and the
door.
Suddenly she bent and kissed my hot
check, and deity snatching the comb that
held my crrls so very primly-as deemed
most becoming a staid old maid-she fled
with Susie into the next room and closed
the door.
knew then why she had held herself
so persistently before me, for standing on
the threshold of the outside door stood a
tall man, tanned and beared.
could not speak. would have fled,
too, but could not move.
al I'll