The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-01-26

some. Miss Barbara herself, ia her
youth, had been well nigh beauty.
And even now she had fair, noblv
womanly presence, upon which years OF
physical suffering had set peculiar
stamp of Remuneration, even Of spiritual
sxaltation.
"Ninccnt,' she said, and with the
delicacy of a reticent woman and one
who respects the reticence of others, a
sensitive color mounted to her pale
checks, "is--is anything the matteri'
Vincent Dilkley started from abstrac.
ton. He changed color also, though
very slowly, under the loving scrutiny of
those clear blue eyes.
mo, Barbara, nothing" he said, a
little hastily, but here was wealth OF
affection in the glance that rested on her
Tor q moment.
Then he waSgone aud Miss Dill:ley
stood .here an instant, looking alter him,
her idoke heg hoy, yet the, strong staff of
her always ailinSs q. He had denied
that ought was amiss with him. Well,
that was his right. But Miss Barbaia's
heart was heavy as she walked back to
the little cottage.
"of course, he knows the Wiltons are
coming out in few days" she mused
"They are getting the house in order.
The cottage was smothered in clam
bering roses at this time of year. 1t was
a pretty place "for wretch of poor
man" Vincent had sometimes said, with
bitter laugh.
"Why were you not vouchsafed a man
for brother, Bah, who could make his
mark in the world and give you all you
should hayel instead of a good for.
nothing dreamer, poor drawing master,
an impotent manufacturer Of unsalsbe
pictures, who will be a pauper and keep
you one 10 his dying day."
Then noticing the pain on Barbara :
sweet face he would stop abruptly and
laugh.
"Never mind me, Bah. You see I'm
good d'for. .nothing-as | say"
But it was unlike Vincent to be bitter
it was only recently-only recently
that he had changed.
And meantime Vincent Dilkley was
p!odding through the various stages OF
his days drudgery in the heat and dust
OF the city. The schools were about TO
close and the drain upon his attention
and time, patience and nerves was heav.
ler now than ever.
1t was toward the middle OF the after.
noon when he ascended the steps OF a
large house on the upper part of Madi.
son avenue. It had temporarily q par
sislly dismantled appearance, as though
IN anticipation OF an early vacancy.
Lowered awnings tempered the light.
There was a cool fragrance Of flowers in
the rooms which Dilkley entered, some
what dazzied by the glare outside.
A girl had been standing near one Of
The windows. She wore a soft, pale
blue dress drawn in by satin ribbon
that bound her round young waist.
Her golden hair made nimbus about her
aeld.
"You are late, she said, half appeal
ngly. She had put out slim, high.
bred little hand, but Vincent Dilkley
bad not seemed to see il.
81 was detained" be said briefly.
He began settling her drawing board
and pencils.
'Are you quite ready TO begin, NJ
Wilton" he asked ceremoniously. /
bad glanced about the room.
"Ah, Miss Hersy is not chaperonin
ne to-day" iaid the young girl petu.
lsntly. She sat down aud took up her
pencils with the wakelulness Of a child.
The drawing Lesson began IN silence.
To the Invisible third looking on It
would have made in itself pretty pic
,ure. The giFl with her delicate dress
and her still mole delicate fairness; the
DARK nan stSnding over her with that
rehsed look on his face; the beautiful
room with itE rare pictures, It's great
bowls Of rosss, It's solt, rich dGrkened
eoolnsss. The sounds from the street
eAss IN vaguely throush h the open win.