The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-08-24

Y I ~ &mp sun smote
ItMN W&N' fiercely upon
-S[S y ! the not too
q" clean bricks
OF the pavement. She paused he-
fore one of row of dingy brick
houses, unlocked the door with her
latchkey and passed in and M three
flights of narrow stairs until she
reached the topmost story; here she
opened the door into new world from
that of the stairs and hallway, which
Were no fitting ladder to such para
disc as this--a paradise made by her
own little capable hands, aided hy
gratitude deep-lying in her loving
heart.
A churl would have forgotten his
humors in the pleasant surprise of
finding at the top of the dusty stairs
SO quiet and pleasant place Ms this
little home of four attic rooms. The
walls were papered with the lightest
and Gaycst of papers, because, do rs
one would, one could hardly make too
bright house ON the shady side of
this narrow street; for the same rea-
son the windows we're draped rather
than shaded with the whitest OF scrin.
tied back with bright ribbons, flowers
in boxes, and pots were in bloom on
the window sills; there was n canary
hanging over one of them in pretty
brass cage, and the pictures. though
only cheap German Autographs, We're
well chosen and neatly framed in
white enamel. The furniture was old
fashioned, and probably shabby, for
the easy chairs and ionnge were alike
e6'ered vlth tlowered chintz, ..Id the
boue.iiree-ply carpet was covered by
r'-- on one ~ Mb' rb,
enormous gray cat was peacefully en-
ioying her afternoon nap.
Annice passed into the kitchen,
quite rs bright and pretty in its way
as the more pretentiOus sitting room,
and as she stood by the table, covered
with neat oil cloth, on which she put
two or three parcels suggestive of gro
ceries, she made picture fair TO look
upon-a picture of innocent, graceful
girlhood. Not only was she one Of
the very prettiest girls that ever bios
somed IN q dingy street, but she had
the air which made people pronounce
her ''most interesting girl" her
very presence cxhaled the idea of pu-
rity and nobility which is so marked
IN some Young women and Is So
strangely fascinating.
For . moment she wGs lost in
thought as she stood to take breath
after her arduous climb, but the strik-
ing OF a nearby clock put her reyery
to ;ight.
Five o'clock" she said. with the
habit OF speaking aloud engeniered 10y
long hours OF solitude, "and uncle will
be here at six; ! shall have 10 hurry. +"
Hastily removing her hat and cape,
she busted herself in lighting kero-
sene cookstoye andmaking other prep
arations for the evening meal. She
worked methodically and daintily and
the supper that presently was set upon
the wtite draped table would have
satisfied one hard to please.
Annicc having put the finishing
touches to her arrangements, vanished
into her own room and emerged there
from looking perilously charming in u
dainty gown ofpgle pink cheese cloth,
which contrasted well With her rich
brown hair, and gave the needed sug-
gostiou OF color TO her tOo-dclicate
cheeks, just ss hand touched the
handle Of the door and it's owner en-
tered the room.
: tall, stEOng-faced man in humble
grrb--a working man, Industrious,
horny Of hand and tender Of heart,
such vas William Crump, the best,
the only friend that ARnice had
known.
he 1t was Who had taken the moth
erless child in his strong arms when
the mother lay dead, her heart broken
by the cruelty and desertion Of the
man she hal chosen for her husband.
Twenty years before the date of our
story, in q New England village, a
girl snd boy had grown mp together
plAymA,es, friends, lovers; then in an
evil day, ambition entered the heart
Of the girl, and she left the sAfe se-
clasion Of her country home ~ dwell
in that great Live Of workers, g big
city.
A worker hsrasli. bright, modest.
Intelligent. she had made friends.
many of than doubtless more polished
than her hoy lover in ths distant vii
lage. bat none more honest aud true
Of heart. Once or tvice she had writ