The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-11-27
worth without pleasant hubbub all

blue palm trees spread over the damask
cloth, and blood-red beets, cranberry
sauce and apples, making dishes of color
all over it. Potatoes, changed from pink
TO brown, stood on the platter, garnished
crisp and toothsome.
Dams coming friend did not appear,
though a pllce was set for him. But
everything was done to turn aud it was
voted they should sit down.
Dan attacked the four-footed dainty
with carving tools, plates were passed
round and filled and dinner went on
swimmingly.
Olive felt uneasy. The moment of
decision was drawing near. Her word
once passed TO Squire Ashton, there could
he no backing out. She wished she
might remove the day still further And
yet il she was going 20 marry him, why
delay!
"a young porlser is better than turkey
any day." said Dan unctuously.
"Aunt Olive is in love- said Sue, rs
she passed her plate down to Dan to be
rcfilled. "She isn't eating mouthtul,
Den; scoop out some stutfing thai is nice
and hot, please"
'.What in thunder is wedged in herel"
exclaimed Dan, as ne proceeded to
"scoop, and small tin box fell from
she porker upon the platter with a jim
gle.
''Thc summer savory box, said Olive.
"whose trick was thati l might have
known"
please send the box up on my plate,
interrupted sue.
-Four and twenty boxes
Bakingin apis.
Bess chanted merrily.
She wrenched the cover from the box
and took out the letter she had hidden
there. "Here's your love letter, Aunt
Olive" she said, passing it up to the
head of the table.
Four and twenty love letters
Browning in porker,
cried Clara.
ave found it in Robinson Crusoe's
clutches" explained Sue;
With a puzz.od face AYse sliprSj her
knife through the Drowned envelope
and took out the letter. They saw her
face change as she glanced over it.
This was the message that came to her
from the past:
DEAR OLIvE--Must the unlHnd wor Is OF
last evening be our last ones' am hot
tempered and you are proud, but IL could
see you once again before sail you might
reverse your decision. II may come this
evening hang your red shawl from your
chamber window n signal. IL cannot
part from you AS u lover l shall never come
back again. PHILIP.
The look in Olives face as she read the
message hushcd the voluble tongues Of
| the girls etfcctually.
"A letter." she said TO Dan with the
ghost Of a smile, ''that 1 should have
received ten years ago"
perhaps 1T reached you in the nick
of time afteSall," he suggested cheerily.
Olive shook her her negatively. This
was the word she had longed for after
her quarrel with Philip Ellenwood long
ago. She had been anxious to reverse
her decision, but she was too proud to
make the first venture. She had thought
bitterly he did not care, and now here
was his letter giving the lie to her doubt.
She recalled the long, lonely tramp
she had taken to battle down her feelings
the day before he sailed A messenger
must have brought the note in her ab-
sence, and her father had slipped it be-
tween the pages of "Robinson Crusoe'
and forgotten it. What a mockery il
was now.
In proportion as Olive became grave
Dan grew hilarious, and with his eye on
her face told sea yarns in such happy
style that the girls giggled until thei
sides achcd.
The November evening closed in will
a snow storm, and lamp was orough
before they got through with the nut
and raislns.
''I wonder what keeps" Dan was be
ginning when the knocker sounded.
"There he is now," he finished.
"No, it is Squire Ashton's knock,
said Bess with conviction. as she rose Il
open the door and show the Squire int
the parlor.
His arrival was shock TO Olive. TIL
past had claimed her. The reading o
the letter had made her heartsick. Da
watched her unquiet face with muc
satisfaction as she arose from the table
He followed her to the parlor door.
''Don't you promise TO marry SOUR
Ashton" he whispered ,nstinctively
mind, now, or you will be sorry"
She looked puzzled.
$50 on" said Dan, opening the pa
lor door for her. ~ can trust YOU"
The Squire stood before the open fir
holding out his hands to the blaze. Il
came toward her.
"You will give me YES at last" h
said persuasively.
She could not meet his eloquent, g,
pectant eyes. A great pity for him an
for herself came over her. The old Low
was vet alive. And yet why should sh
not hide in the shelter of this noble hear
: Philip was far away--dead perhaps. TT
old, overpowering loneliness was sweel
ing over her.