The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-01-23
shc stood before The counter and -


init book like dis"
at seems worthless to me-" said
poor Phoebe, signing.
"You get dook in, like some oder
peoples, nit dem rascals, said the Ger
man. "You look dired, madame, and
not veil. Go home and rest-I atvlse
you as a doctor"
A customer, who had been looking at
her, threw down the price of tooth
brush he had bought, and seizing his
purchase, followed Phoebe out of the
door.
"Let me see your book, madam" he
said. Every nice; I'll subscribe. Give
me your book. I'll write my name and
residence"
He did so. Phoebe thanked him, and
tried to read it, but the letters danced
before her eyes. Her head was so hot,
so heavy, she must go back TO Mr.. Coz.
zen's, get her dollar, give in her sub
scription, tell him that she had failed.
She would feel better after she had
rested, she thought-better. How kind
that man had been. But he subscribed
for her book--she knew it wcll-out of
sheer pity; as one gives aims to beg
gar.
She was in Mr.. Cozzen's office again.
He looked at her out of his bush of white
hair. His black eyes and black nose
more poodle like than before
She had wasted her day, risked sun.
stroke, failed in her effort, and crushed
her hopes. What did he care, il he had
one subscription morcl A book agent
was almost sure to get one, and hundreds
toilcd over the earth every day with the
same results.
Every foolish to give it up So" he de-
clared. "The first day never counts |
have ladies ON my list making a hundred
dollars week who got no subscribers on
the first day, and Oh, your dollar!
Yes, yes. And here is your percentage
ten cents But YOU ought not to de-
spair when you have secured the name Of
Captain Barton on your list Well, good
day"
She was gone, threading the streets
that led to the ferry. The boat first
then the train. Was that the train
coming2 What roar! How black it
was! She staggered, but she did not fall
to the ground. Some one caught her ia
his arms.
Out of darkness, out of rest, out of
strange communion with her mother in
another world, Phoebe floated back to life
again. A woman sat beside her and
famed her
"She's all right now," said voice of
the family-doctor order. "Only faint
ness; not sunstrokc."
Then peace again; and waking, much
better.
my poor fathcr" she sighed "He
must be so terrified, Some one has been
so kind; but let me get to my father at
once
"All in good time" said the motherly
woman at her side.
"Your father won't be anxious,
Phoebe, said man, and her only sub
scriber stepped where she could see him.
~ found your name and address in your
little notebook. / went and told him
you'd be home tomorrow. You don't
remember me, Phnbe?'
Phoebe smoothed her dress and sat up
on the chin;z couch and looked at the
speaker.
"You subscribed for my book" she
said.
"But before that, said the man. "Be-
fore | had II beard, and went away to sea
with no hopes of being Captain. Don't
you know Billy Barton, PhTbc?'
"Oh.' cried Phubc. '.Is it youl"
II thought knew you,. said Captain
Barton. IL followed you, wondering if
| dared speak and you looked so i'll. So
l was there when you tainted"
He took her hand, and held it, and
lifted it to his lips before he put it down.
1.-The same sweet girl, " he said, softly.
Goodnight, Peggy will take good care
of you. Every one who falls sick at this
hotel knows Peggy"
BY next morning Phnbc was we'll
again, but Captain Barton insisted Oh see
ing her home.
"What did pa say?" she ask ID. "Are
you sure he was not worricd?"
ale said,' replied the Captain, with a
smile, "that girls are never to be depended
on, and that if he had had u son he never
would have cut up such pranks.
Phoebe felt the tears rise to her eyes.
"The old gentleman is very much
broken" said Captain Barton. ale does
want a son as well rs daughter don't you
think so, Phpbe!'
When he said that, he looked like the
Billy Barton of the long-gone times.
A few months afterward he asked the
same question, adding:
"Wont / dol"
And so it came to pass that Phnbc, in,
stead of ending her life as Il solitary
spinster, married man who loved her
truly. The mortgage was paid off the
old place, anl the farm was no longer
managed on shares. And the old gentle
man, what with freedom from care, aud
luxurious living, grew stronger and
brighter in every way; much fonder of
his daughter, too, as in the oldea time.
So that one day, when Phpbe Barton
came down to breakfast, and sat waiting
for those other two, and thinking of the
day with which this story begins, she
laughed softly to herself, and declared
"And I'm really the happiest woman
in the world to-day, l believe, after
all, Tile Ledger.