The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-01-19

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! times"
The woman at the hearth listens with
a quivefing chin.
! ''Tm no, saying word against him,
mother"
"Don't you, Eddie"
al amt, mother"
"Because I-Eddic. he had his faults.
but he was rale good hearted when he
was himself" The son set his lips.
"Aud since he went off I've often
studied that maybe wasn't as paticnt
as ! ought 20 been. | wake up nights
| and get to studying over US being conf
terblc-you with a good place in the
store and Lizzie going to marry we'll
when maybe he's out roof to his head I
1t has been three years since no left
reckon he's aged heap"
There was high wind rioting out.
side, mutterine contempt upon the low
roofs of the village aud committing in
sharper notes with the stripped tee tops.
II had an almost human accent, varyinr
from wild cry TO the confused muir
muring Of a feverish tongue The sounds
OF it have a strange significance to the
woman's words. Eds face took som.
brc cast
His fathers figure REQUIRED to him,
clothed for the once in some thin shroud
Of sentiment. Practically reviewed, it
was the figure Of a man who, in desert
Ing his family, had conferred on it a
deep and lasting god. A tail man, as
his son remembered him, with q rollick.
ing air in his long gray mustachcs,
disreputablc uncertainty in the texture of
his slouched hat, aud varying thick.
ness in his voice.
His sou recalled the nigh. Of the old
mans departure. There hal been
stormy scene. Unable TO wiring tribute
from his wile's empty purse. the master
Of the house had stronI Ily expressed
iack OF satisfaction in his family tics.
He had swung himself over the thrcs-
hold, declaring an intention ot leaving
forever family SO unworthy fathers
devotion. The family itself believed
the calm which foi,oVc his going would
be rs fc-,iug a, 'he oior OF rye which
hung upon his menace But as DAYS
heightened lui up stumbling FOO.
sounded after night upon the door step,
it began 90 seem as # the old mtn's
threat bad DO, been merely 4 tactical dc.
vice.
Tho human growths he h1i trlmpcl on
began 20 .itt themic!ycs, daring 10
lre.hen ia th, sunshine. BG. thcy never
put in.) oyc-saaYethc satisfaction which
them.
maybe il IA been different to what
l was more steru-like AMI pushing
yoIr father wouldn'. ever hev give way
to drink, breatGcd Mrs. Hicks, staring
into the fire.
"No one could have been any kinder
than you was, mother
IL was rale short to him the night he
went, Ej. You said some things, too.
that-..oh, dgarl ain't resiguatcd to !
think maybe he's cold and hungry
In Observation-Disclosures sJlAr.- s,,rtrrn
sense Of gloom.
1t was not a pleasant fancy. lie hated
to think even . strangers dog might be
abroad on night when black skies
housed a bowling wind aud barren trees
wrUng their empty hands to the strcs.
Of lJ.
lu spite Of himself he seemcl to see a
leaning old shape buIe.el by that raw
weep, It's cray beard moclcl by bleak
gusts. The cheer OF the rag.clrnc.ei
t.,olcn wa, like % hr. !ht stretch upon
NlicI \ series Of darS pictures came aud
went, pictures always D, the same aged
u-urc, beat wit. q pugiel OF shlmeul
wears. Il stretched oIJ feeble hands, /
begging bread OF % hacl-lacsI flr1r in a |
city way. II cruuehei lor shelter in |
some uos1m3 door. II looked from |
prison bars, 1t slept in hedges, always F.
wiki the peculiar pg,ao. upon II OF s.ns
long pas. and bitterly atoaej.
LzEies soft laugh rang ou. ln the /
-sl. There was whispering. She
WAS bidding 4er lover good night.
Eli SAT VITA hIs head N his hands. |
Ills mother stared into the lire with .
gray face.
"Wilrs going to eat Sundays dinner
with u.s. cried Lizzie, bursting into .
the room. "Why--why, what's the
matter with you two''
1--WE just happened to ret talking
about father. ! visa knew where he |
IS, explained Ell, striking away the
,omDre panorama from his disliking |
eyes.
But somehow the voiceless actor in
these dramas Of woe had peculiar
nsisience. He was not TO be blnished. |
Measuring muslins IN the store next
lay Ed Hicks was constantly sensible /
Oi miserable presence, which went
through the pIteous enactment Of the
night before.
Perhaps he's dead surmised the
young man. Dead -hudded under
the clods cf pauper's grave" The
idea, carrying a weight Of compunction,
Tinged neS glory round old Hicks
brow. ~ wish to the Lord | hadn't
spoke 20 him like 1 did the night he
left, " mused his son.
On Saturday night Lizzie had gone to
some neighbo;hood festival with her