The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-11-22

Osluy, halu DarDara. 'On, Il SnOulu
like to thank Messrs. Browne, Brown
son & Brownel Well, come in. Our
little cottage is full of boarders, but
my mother and / will contrive to
make room for you somewhere.
And the pale boarder slept that
night in a rose-scented room, with
strip of bright rag-carpet on the floor,
hand.painted china vases on the
wooden mantle, and cheap muslin cur
tains Mt the window, after supper of
blackcaps ard milk, delicious home
made bread, fresh honey and johnny
cake.
"Two dollars week for such fare
as this, to say nothing of my cunning
little corner room !" said Mr.. Browne
to himself. 81 never boarded 80
cheaply before in all my life"
At tho end of week he was more
than delighted. Mrs. Troop was the
kindest and most motherly of hos
tesses. Barbara was the impersonation
of sweet and gracious refinement.
The mountain was full of purple
glens, merry voiced cascades, winding
footpaths and breezy heights. Mr..
Browne enjoyed himself intensely. He
believed that he had come to the right
place.
"Don't you think" said Barbara to
her mother, "that he's very strong for
a consumptive?"
"It's that herb tea and the diet of
honey and new milk that is building
him up, said Mrs. Troop, triumphant
ly. 81 never knew it to fail yet in
lung diseases. But he's very pleasant,
Barby, isn't he?"
Every !" said Barbara, earnestly.
Mr.. Browne had not been month at
the little cottage on the mountain
when, overtaken by sudden shower,
he sought refuge in an old, unused
barn not far away from the house,
where thicket of blossoming elder
berries concealed the rude stone base
ment, and veteran yellow pine tree
flung its banner Of black green shade
over the mossy shingles of the roof.
Unused, except to stow sweet hay in
and in one corner little chamber had
been finished off long ago with "A brick
chimney and tiny paned lattice.
The door was half open, and MIR.
Browne could discern little cot bed,
draped with white, dimity covered
toilet stand, whose coarse, cheap bowl
and pitcher were enriched with purple
and crimson autumn leaves in hand
painting, and little needlework rug
which lay at the foot of the bed.
"Ah," said Mr.. Browne to that best
of contdants, himself, 'T comprehend
it all now! l have displaced Mad
emoisclle Barbara from the little cor
ner room in the cottage Upon my
word, feel like IL usurpei But how
goUd they are, this mother and daugh.
ter, whose only income is derived
from this precarious occupation of
taking bonrdersl How unselfsh, how
utterly self-sacrifcipgi T's-s--ere
sTli5t'-'b yet LETT N tbs worfi,
thank nes
When : or came, with its
yellow leave IS clusters of vivid
blue asters o. lggs Of the woods,
Mr.. Brown pre- ,t to return to the
city. NrTt
"You are sure yrGote strong enough
to resume workiE-,lid Mrs. Troop,
anXiously. ~, 90.
Mother, barbara, che isn't
at all like an invalid Either old Mr..
Fanshawe was mistaken, or Mr..
Browne has made an almost miracu-
lous discovery"
just at this instant Jane came to tell
Mrs Troop that neighbor jackson was
at the door waiting 10 borrow
drawing OF tea.
The gentle widow busted out Mr..
Browne turned to Barbara.
YES, said he, 81 am going to re-
turn to New York. But | shall leave
something behind me-"
"We shall be very happy to take
charge of anything for you" said
Barbara, who was sorting over red.
checked pears for preserving.
"Shall you? But you don't know
what it is, Barbara, suddenly lapsing
INTO extreme gravity. at is my
heart. ] am driven to confess that /
have lost it-and to you!"
"You are ioking!" cried Barbara,
N''pAi'Ap ohN iAbAi-NiiSlOocu W NC
dignGnt
81 never was more serious in my
lie, assoverated Mr.. Browne. II do
love you, dear Barbara, truly and
tenierly. Do you think you could
dare to trust your future to me? Poor
ms | seem, | could yet give you a
good home"
"Oh, | am not afraid OF that |" said
Barbara, with rising color aud droop.
ing eyelashes. 81 have been brought
up to be Independent, you know, aud
| believe ! could earn little money
by art work, if ever had the chance
It-if You really care for me-"
'My own darling"
"Ihen --yes, do love you!"
So Barbara was wooed and won.
"Oi course, the dear little mother
must live with us, said Mr.. Browne.
IL couldn't do without her !"
Mrs. Troop, who had once more