The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-09-27

"Then I'd hire out as hand, said
Jack, rebelliously. "Tm good at
breaking horses"
Sand I'd make the butter and feed
the Chickens" said Astrea, joyfully.
"You are two silly children" said
Mrs. Eldon.
Yet all Of sudden something
seemed to bring back to her the lost
sweetness Of departed youth, and her
eyes we're momeutarily dimmed with
tears.
Mamma" pleaded Elaine, cit will
hurt Jack if you oppose this thing
and Astrea loves him so dearly"
"But there's Gwendoline Ballersby,
with that great East Indian fortune !"
sobbed Mrs. Eldon, torn by conflict.
ing emotions.
Whats fortune" cried Elaine,
"if love don't go with it"
"Well, said Mr.. Eldon, "then the
matter is settled. II Jack goes West,
we all go West together. For since
Jennifer IL Goldie's banking house has
failed, we're all equally penniless." :"
"Hurrah ~ said Jack, flinging up
his polo cap. "Then it don't make
any difference whether / marry an
heiress or not?"
"Please, my lady," said the solemn
footmsn, there's a gentleman be-
low; and when I asked him for his
card, he said he never had one in his
house-his principles was ag'in it,"
"Oh, shrieked Astrea. who had un.
conventionally peeped over the balus.
ter rail, ''it's grandfather 1t 3 grand
father, come back from the West !"
another pauper to maintain :"
sighed Mrs. Eldon.
Old Jethro Black came smiling into
the group, leaning on a gold headed
cane and wearing suit of black
clothes in which he seemed to feel ex.
cessively uncomfortable.
Yes" said he, "Tve come back
My brother, he's been took away at
last, and he's left me enough to keep
me in comfort the rest of my days. He
was savin' crcetur, Hezekiah was.
and there'll be n nice little sum for
Astrea. IL won't be necessary for
Astrea to take no situation now.
Don't squeeze me SO tight round the
neck, child; don't you s'pose a fel.
lows got to hev breathin' room?
You've been very good to Astrea. Wal.
lace Eldon, and What goin' to be
married to Jack? Why, twa'nt but
yesterday Jack was robbin Deacon
Peck's melon patch an gittin me
intn trnulla ,bag,,' G,,;.o nlnay's
young colts round the meddersl"
Were glad to see you, Mr.. Black,
said Jack, cordially wrin2ing his
hand. "Have you got II farm out
West for Astrea and me to run?"
The old man smiled.
'I shouldn't bit wonder, sal he.
Meanwhile there was buzz ofgossip
all through the Bar Harbor circles.
Out on the decks of whitc.winged
yachts, in the gay streets and on the
rocky slopes of Green Mountain,
people were asking one another:
"have you seen the Western million.
aire?"
"Have you neard how many gold
mines ho owns and what those new
city lots are selling Tor ff,..... ...
Everywhere people stop - - ga
hands . sn ~. Eidom and o5Sn, a.ue.ee
BIN on the great match his son was
about to make. - The very Biltervans
themselves condescended to inquire as
to the mine shares. Claude de Ravelle
bemoaned his ill.luck in that he had
not "made eyes" at fair Astrea Black.
And Mrs. Eldon declared that she
could not believe her ears.
Little Astrea an hciress! said
she. ''lt's like dream?'
Again old Jcthro smiled.
".Astrea is fortune in herself,
said he, "All the same, that's no
reason there shouldn't go fortune
with her, too. | kind % suspicioned
this when first Hezekiah sent for me.
But | want goin' to lei on. wanted
to see how she'd bo treate | here. An
I'm suited, down to the ground.
While Astrea's soft eyes sparkled.
money is all very well, v said she.
"But what | think most of is that
Jack loves me. e.'-Saturlay Night.