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

mentel.
Vincent Dillkley felt the perilous
sweetness OF this nearness falling over
him like spell. He moved angrily.
BE cold aud rough to her, indeed
Hoavensl How else was he to keep his
| own controli
Suddenly, as he bent forward to make
correction, he saw the little hand hold
ing the pencil stop unsteadiy. The next
instant Nina Wilton had turned her head
away. aud he was aware that she was
crying.
"Miss wiltonl" he exclaimed, started
out Of his own reserve.
The girl had started to her feet and
stood facing him with flashing eyes, In
a burst Of childish passion.
SHOW dare you treat me sol" she cried,
in trembling voice. "What are you
afraid of You act as though you were
afraid OF somethingl Haven't / always
been nice to you1 Haven't papa and
mamma always been friendly' We've all
liked you so much-you aud your sister.
And you take it upon yourself to treat
me as Thoughts though What have
| done to youl" she broke of, all her
girlish young beauty shaken by this
storm of words. ~ sent Miss Hersy
away to-day particularly that | might
ask you. And now suppose you think
don't know what you think because
you are good.looking and girls have
fallen in love with you, perhaps you
think the same thing Of mew She was
insulting him ruthlessly in her passion,
that confessed so infinitely more than she
herself was conscious Of. "But you need
have no such fear" she cried contempt
uously. Then, at the door, turning
once more, she added, with the sudden
pitiiulncss of scolded child, al liked
you so much, aud thought we would
be such good friendsl"
Vincent Dilkley had not spoken a
word. He had controlled himself thus
far. And now. somehow, he got out
into the street. Tnat evening when he
reached home, there was such look
upon his face that Barbara, with irrc.
pressible nervousness, said:
"Nincent, are you sure you are welll'
"Ycs," he replied. And for the first
time in his life he spoke to his sister
sharply.
A few days later at the breakfast table
Barbara said
Tine Wiltons got 20 their place last
night, it seems. That will make it more
convenient for you, Vincent, giving
Nina her lessons. You won't have to 90
into town. l suppose she will 20 on
taking the lessons just the same this
summer"
Vincent Dilkley pushed his chair back
and rose.
al don't think can qlite manage the
lime for those lessons, Bah. 1--we
made other arrangements. wrote to
Mrs. Wilton yesterday"
He came slowly round to his sisters
side aud laid his hand gently on his
shoulder.
'''m afraid, too, Bah, as-that source
of income will have to stop that-unless
can dnd something to take its place,
you will have to give up that little trip
Of years this summer. LAM Ee~y so.ry,n
he added. He said it as simply as
boy. But when Barbara looked into his
face it was worn aud gray and almos:
old.
"oh, Vincent" It was Z mothers
yearning crying. "Don't think of me !"
Not think of herr He had thou yht
Of her always. 1t was to obtiin for her
the comforts Of an income which, how.
ever meagle aud poor, was yat, at leas.
comparatively secure, that he gave these
lessons which his soul loathed, spending
his talent aud his vitality in a hated
drudgery of every day. II it had not
been for her, he would have lived the
artists free life and painted pictures aud
won fame perhaps, aud been at liberty
to WOO the girl he loved.
For no need to try and conceal the
secret longer, Barbara knew it and when
her brother had gone, burst into tears.
She was still sitting in the little homely
parlor, her busy hands for once idle,
when light step upon the porch reached
her ear.
1t was Nina Wilton.
The young gi!l came straight in, took
OIL her broad shade hat aud tossed it
upon chair.
Miss Barbara" she said, "your
brother won't give me any more drawing
lessons. Why won't hel"
Miss Dilkley was not astonished at the
visit or the question or the manner of
either. Nina was-Mina. Petted, idol.
lzed, as utterly ignorant of the world as
a flower raised in hothouse, as lawless
as she was beautiful, the only daughter
Of otherwise childless parents, Nina, at
eighteen, was no older than the little girl
she had been at eight.
81 am sure don't know, dear" STAN.
mcred poor Miss Barbara.
"That is not possible-you must
know, y insisted the girl merciessly. at
isvery unkind, " her delicate lip quiyered.
~ liked him so much"
In her childish, reckless unconscious
ness she was showing her love to Vim
cents sister as undisguisedly as she had
confessed it to himself.