The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-06-15

heavily, ''Molly, I am ruined"
"Ruined"
eyes. ruined. Mr.. Simms, one OF
the head ones on the road, has Just
been in, and said the road'll not touch
this town. 1t is goin' by on the other
side"
Molly's face blanched, for she well
knew what this meant. Money nearly
spent on the larger shop. No one
would buy il. All their bright hopes
dashed in a moment. Recovering
somewhat, sbe put her arms about
Eben, saying:
Even 30, Eben. We can begin
again and live as we have lived these
past few years. You are bu. twenty
eight now"
At last her sensible words and com
forting touch reached MIN, and he
agreed TO try to regain his cheerfulness.
A year passed. Molly saw with dis
may the change wrought in Eben by
his misfortune. He was restless, long
ing to do something, to go somewhere !;
irritable even, Mt times so unlike the
gay, good-humored husband of other
days.
Molly feared, she scarcely knew
what, and when sitting at their evening
meal one evening, Eben said:
'I've made uL my mind, Molly, to
leave this place"
She felt the blow had fallen.
"Well, Eben," she answered quietly,
"when and where shall we go?"
Eben glanced down at his plate, not
liking to see look of surprise and
pain, which he know would come to the
face of his wife, at the words he was
about TO say.
'1've been thinkin', Molly" he said,
slowly, "as how you might stay on here
n while, an I'll go to Boston first an
see what l can do, an il / don't find
the right lay of the land, mebbe I'll go
farther till / do"
But Eben-" Molly demonstrated.
Eben did not wait for her to finish,
and continued:
"Theres little money I'll leave We,
which will keep We for while, until /
find place to settle; then I'll send for
ye."
Eyes, Eben, said Molly, "the money
will keep me for IA little while, but /
want to 90 with you. Do let me. Take
me with you. Oh, don't leave me be-
hind. / feel, Eben, as though we'd
both he sorry for it, il you don't let
me go with You now"
Az she clung to him, Eben almost
yielded to her sweet persuasion, but
suddenly answered with determined
obstinacy.
''No, Molly, I'm a-goin' first
IL was with Il sad and heavy heart
that Molly prepared Ebcns valise for
his journey. The next morning, as she
stood watching him going down the
road, Eben, turning, saw her there and
for the instant his heart prompted him
to turn back, she looked 80 sorrowful,
and he thought of her words, 81 feel
q thCusn ~S'd b,.l !. be~ so.iy If you
don't let me CO." But he would not
give in to such feelings, and soon he
was on his way lost in bright hopes of
future success, when he and Molly
would be living in luxury.
When Eben disappeared, Molly went
in through the shop. There every
thing had been put away, and the shop
cleared of the shoemakers' tools. II
looked SO desolate as Molly took the
seat Eben used to occupy that her
self-control gave away and the sobs
came quick and hard. As the days
passed Molly often caught herself lis
tening for the sound of Eben's ham
mer, but no such sound came to Molly
listening, waiting for years. No ac-
customed sound came to the passerby
aLd i'll time the people came to the
little shop to buy the shining loaves OF
bread which Molly baked.
1t was May day like the one when
Eben had come home and said, "This
day week, Molly" and Molly had so
shyly answered "Yes." 1t was the
time of day when few customers came
in. In the back part of the shop or
store sat woman about thirty five
years old, still fair to look upon, but
with an expression in her face which
told of anxiety and disappointment.
She did rot notice the entrance of any
one, being 80 absorbed in the thought.
The memory of another May was alive
still and she was living those early
days over again. Until mans voice
close to her aroused her, saying with
out further preface:
''Molly, came for the answer"
Molly looked up at him without ag-
itation, but there came no reply. 1t
seemed TO her she could not speak.
The man continued:
"You know, Molly, Eben ia dead,
for your last word from him that he
was dying with the fever, and James
brought you the news from the Cali
fornia mining camp five years ago.
Surely have waited patiently for my
answer. What is it?"
And the reply in low voice was
81 will go with you. I've waited
hoping against hope to hear again
from Eben, but believe now that he
died at that time"
fau, Ia-a lao a