The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-03-23

mission lot anything. we WOutu nave
to run away, and that would break hei
heart. am all she has in the world,
aud. though she scolds me good deal,
love her. wouldn't desert her,
Jack"
"You could come back again, says
he.
"Of course, know that. But then
she would always feel disappoiutedfn inc
aud hurt and No, no, shall never
do that. She trusts me So"
"Then don't know what's going to
be the end Of it," says he.
''Wc must only wait, says Letitia,
despoudiugly. "And now, Jack, you
had better 90. She is sure to come up
here presently, to see how the men arc
getting on with that fence. You know
what an excellent woman of business she
is. II she caught you here
"TLere would be wigs on the green. y
says Jack, laughing. "Well, good by
for awhile. suppose IL come back
this evening shall find you here2"
"Yes-oh, yes! Jack, do take care !;
the men will see you"
"Not they" SAYS Jack, kissing her
again. "Aud you-what arc you going
to do while am away"
"Think Of you," with a little saucy
glance mt HIM from under her long ashes.
"By the bye, have you got match about
you"
"What on earth do you want ii for1''
says hc. giving her some wax lights out
OF little silver box rs he speaks. $50.
ing TO have a cigarc,te'"
Nonsense feel as if wanted TO
set fire to some of those dry little
lunches of grass; fairy tufts we used to
call them long ago. They would bum
beautifully to day, the sun is so hot"
"Well, don't set fire TO yourself, what
ever you do says he, thoughtlcssly.
Once again they kiss, and this time
really part.
Letitia stands watching him till he is
out Of sight, standing on tiptoe rs he
gets over the wall TO blow last kiss TO
him. Then coming out of the shelter OF
her trySting. place, she walks into the
old meadow, now beaten down save
where the tall, course tufts OF grass are
growing. Lighting one of her matches
she knceis down aud sets fire to the tult
nearest her. II used to bc an amu.c.
ment Of hers in her childhood, aud she
is not yet so far removed from those
days rs to have lost all childish iaucies.
Sitting down on the side of tiny hillock
AZ "A distance sic watches the dancing
ilamcs--so small, 50 hlc ckering, 50 harm.
less.
She leans back against the bank be
bind her and crosses her white arms he.
hlud her head. What day 1t isl
most heavenly, swcct--quite drowsy
day. Most lovely that light smoke is
climbing slowly uphill ard fading away
among the young beach trees above.
And the flames, like fairies dancing.
Perhaps they are fairies who dwell in
these old, dry tufts. No wonder they
are daucing-with rage. evidently. Their
stronghold are seized, destroyed by the
tyrant man! No--woman this time.
All. ah In this case woman has come
to the front, at all events. She has
been reading about the emancipation oi
woman last night, aud had laughed over
il. After all, she didn't want to be
emancipatcd; she only wante -omacS TO,
love her alwnys--.~ .;binG "a, s-.,-.- .-..-
haps the other queer women only meant
that, too, only they hadn't found their
Ja,ks yet. Poul. How warm it isl
Gradually her head sinks | ack upon
her arms, her eyelids droop over the
soft, clear ewes. How delicious il is
here. How cosy! Again the eyes open,
but very lazily this time. See how the
| little insects run TO and fro over her
white frock, hlthcr aud thther, all in
search OF the great want-food. A pass.
ing thought makes her laugh indolently.
She hopes they will not make food of
her. And then the the eyelids close
rcsolu;cly; she leans back. Sleep has
caugh, her
So sound, indeed, is her slumber, that
sne does not know that now tne little
black Insects are rushing over her, not in
search Of food, but OF safety-salety
from the tiny no, flames that are creep.
my every moment closer 10 the thin
white irCcG. Now .hey have touched her
.oot, and have so FAR penetrated the thin
slipper as TO make her unplesantly warm,
on. not enough 20 wakcn her. She only
turns little and sighs; but now!
Now she springs 10 her feet with an
aiughted scream. Smoke! Smoke
everywhere Aud what is this creep.
ing up the front Of her gownl A thread
Of fire. 1t blows upon her face. She
recois from il, but it follows her. Madly
she lifts her hands and tries to beat It
back. The men, The men at the
lence Where are they! Alas, they
have all gone TO dinner. Once again a
frantic cry bursts from her lips.
Il is answered. Al this moment Har-
dinge reaches her, and hinging oil his
coat, he catches her in it. Folding it
around her, lie holds her as if in viss.
What brought him back beyond the
mercy Of God he never knew, except
that those last words OF his, Don't set
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