The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-03-02

fire crackled cheerfuly it the stove; n
smell OF frcsh.baked Graham gem, per.
vadei the air, aud Grandma Elton had
just taken saucepan Of stewed apples
oil the fire.
Leah and Naomi, two fresh human
rosebuds of sixteen aud eighteen, were
uutying their hoods and removing their
wraps 10y the door.
IN no. reluctantly answered
Naomi; IL don't remember tina, there
was.
"You sec, Aunt Elizabeth" awk.
wardly explained Leah, "it's young
folks party"
Elizabeth laughed a short, disdainful
laugh.
"Oi, l understand, !, =" said she. "Peo.
pie over thirty have no business thinking
shout st, Valentine parties"
. ,7''" D." cried Leah. eager, 70 II ii the
wo'nd she had so uuconsciousiy inflicted,
"if were to explain to Ellen Vincent
that you would like an invitation, | am
quite sure ~
"lou will do nothing OF the sort, 4"
said Ei2 2Ibeth, with what Naomi WAS
wont to call her tragedy queen" air
80! all persons, AN the last to 20
begging for invitations. Wlll you ligh,
the lamp, grandma, pleasei Tea is
ready
Naomi looked at Leah. Leah shook
her head at Naomi.
Grandma motloned them to keep
silence, and the Grauam gems aud apple
sauce we're eaten IN mute gravity.
Elizabeth went to her room early that
night.
Naomi came and leanei against the
big, carved wooden mantle.
IL am SO sorry, ~ sighed she.
$50 am /, said Leah.
al think Aunt Elizabeth would have
liked to 20 TO the party; FOR all she Is SO
Old, murmured Naomi.
"Thrty-three isn't such q venerable
old age observed Crane ma, scratching
her check with her knitting needle,
Though, To be sure, Naomi, its twice
rs old rs you are. All the same, 1t would
have been more thoughtful oil Carrie
Smith to invite her, too"
Carrie said she didn't want all the
old maids in creatlon" gigged Leah.
"Nonsensc, child" said grandma,
knitting away very fast ~ shouldn't
wonder ii Elizabeth were married before
you, after all.
Leah and Naomi exchanged laughing
glauces rs they rsu away to dress for
the 81. Valentines Eve party.
la their eyes Aunt Elizabeth belonged
to n past age--a race which had no
business with love or marriage.
"And besides, said Leah, as she
buttoned the pearl KNOBS o; her sisters
white serge gown, 1--WE all know that
Aunt Elizabeth has been disappointed in
love"
"Yes, TO be sure" asseuted Naomi.
"Do you think, Leah, that white
chrysanthemums would be prettiest to
wear, or Roman pearl beads, in ones
hair!'
So the merry young things went to the
st. Valentines Eve party.
Elizabeth heard the Jingle OF the
siegh-bells rs they drove away.
Grandma turned the heel of her
stocking aud went quietly TO bed, and
Elizabeth was all alone in the great
silent, echo!ng house.
al suppose must get used to this
sort OF thing" she said, bitterly, to her.
self. "lt's the irst tine that have ever
been left out OF these neighborhood fes.
tivities, aud it thurts-ye., it does hurt
little Am really growing so oldl How
shall | look when | get to he graudma's
agei Will they cal! me 'Old Miss
Eltonf Shalt carry an ear-t,umpeti"
She smiled--not II mirthful smile.
sits worth trying thought she.
"Come, II can't go to the St. Valen.
tines party, can at least have little
private masquerade all bJ myself. Dear
old grandma is sound asleep. Sac will
never KNOW