The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-03-15

DuffiCU 1UO uUtcEcu1OUiDuN kIttlluE.
'The poor old man has just died, and
your aunt Is little better than dead.
He died OF shock, and she, poor
creature, is dying of grief for him
and that rUor girl OF hers that you've
been nursing. oh! is this the little
grandchild? Who knows but that it
may cheer the poor old woman up,
and save her life, after all?"
Alma was dumb and faint with the
shock OF this new grief. and her pale
lips never parted while the kind
though yolubie woman hustled around
her seeing her condition the wo-
man ceased to talk, aud brought her
glass OF water
Later wncn Alma was better, they
took the little Sally and went TO the
bedside OF the sick woman.
''Aunty dear, why did you not send
for mc?" sobbcd Alma. sense of
great loss and loneliness completely
overcoming her
For repN she received from the
dear eyes that IN all the years OF her
life had never before failed 10 re.
SJOnl 10 her, q staring. blank look
that saw her now and no appeal
would induce her t. notice the child
IN any way.
Gcotge Cole hardly recognized the
slight figure that met him at the
door Of her lonely home week later;
but she had no dihiculty In recogniz-
ing him, and for the first time since
She had watched the life pass out OF
the only mother she had ever known,
Il faint color cane IN her white cheek,
a little light Of hope came into he
/ eyes
II did not believe YOU would conc. -
she said simply and tainted qu etly
away.
'>hc has Just buried her aunt and
| uncle" explained the kind ncighbor,
who had remained with Alma in pity
/ for her extreme prostration OF mind
and body Coming a~ IL did when
/ she was all worn out watching with
| ana nursing that poor child'N mother,
/ the trial has been mo,c than she is
/ able to bear II 10 had not been for
/ that blessed baby there don't know
. UlidN NbNlu bdNf ia lItil''A
While the kindly woman talked
aud bustlCd around with bottles and
/ fan George Cole looked with anxious
c Is, aud formed very Nrm though
/ sudden resolution.
My dear" ne SAID, when NJ length
/ Alma sat up, trying To look and act
aS though she was very strong and
well, and making light OF the display
OF weakness with which she had
greeted her visitor "My dear. this
friend Will help YOU TO pack some
things. whatever you need in Il
trunk or something, and then you
will bundle yourself aud that little
snowflake there, 50 that the wind
can't blow YOU away, and come away
with me 70 the parsons house, a
mile or so below here. j have big
house full oievcrything for your COM
fort and the haby'S, and there ara--
let me see--no less than three stout
girls beside the housekeeper TO walt
80" "Hnr evorv w'sh 91d tailr "are
of ~. -
His " IS infinitely tender aud
loving. and his honest eyes pleaded
also. Alma, who had more thar
half loved him before lie ever be
trayed h : liking .Or her. had nC
thought of rejecting him now, that hC
had sought her so earnestly in hej
lonely and fricndleSs condition; Sc
with very little dcmur she arose ant
proce dcd to obey him.
The woman who was with her aS
sisted in the preparations, preserving
dumbloundcd silence, for whi II Sh,
doubtless made up later when sh'
found herself among friends who haC
not heard the news.
When the marriage was over, anC
, they were seated in tn train home
ward bound, Alma seemed to awakei
, To the realization of her new an'
strange position. Reviewing every
thing she could not feel quite at ease
though having no doubts a. TO he
own personal regard Tor the man sh
had married or OF his love for her
, Il cannot help feeling that mos
I. women would have felt that hayin
', taken the burden of child like TIL
/, upon themselves they had no right I
lurden any other with its mamie
nance. Are you sure you will ncvC
a repent It's, Walter" she asked.
!. My little girl, that mite shall L
- as a daughter or sister To me--Ius
=. which You prefer. auI shall bc onl
' too glad To hear her chatter about III
= great empty old house. That is,
- seems empty now, though there
- plenty in 1.-THE accumulation {
y many generations You 90 not lino
:, how have longcd To MI the plaC
=, with such sounds aS you and she wi
make there. 1t has been such
:, lonely place since my mother an
+" father died and lett me. And
y never saw the woman | could put
" my mothers place TIL | saw you.
have already told you that your lo'
and pits for the little one drew II
. still nearer to you; so do not fret al
W more about her, nor anything
y happy and love me-that is all ask