The Penn's Grove record., 1894-04-20

~ nent Oh the Paten
k3 Onfcc, at Washington-all alone
eating her modest little lunch of brea,
and butter aud baked pears, while
through the open wiudow, she could SCI
the children disporting themselves in the
March winds, and hear the music o
their merry shouts. If school had beer
in session, she would d~ccorously hay,
read the letter and replaced it in it,
envelope. As it was, she flung il
raptuyous to the ceiling with 4 cry O
Joy, caught it again and, springinS to
her feet, clapped her hands like q
child.
.'OI, thank goodness--thank good.
nessi' she exclaimel ecstatically. at
will all he right nowi Papa can 90 to
the South right away. VIII can have
his school outfit, and we can pay Squire
Augur all the back rent that has Deen
owing for a year! Oh, it was so gool
of Judge Mcllen to interest hiHrseIf in
my poor little %atfairsl I'm so glad that
| thought of writing to hin.l'
Miss Middleworth could hardly con
duct the district school to the eul Of its
afternoon session, SO j%oyiuIly disqmctcd
was her mind.
"Tcachcr's in love- said the biggest
girl in a whisper to the next biggest
girl.
Guess teachers got IN invite to
singing school" muttered the next big
gest girl, who was IN hopeless despair
over an interest sum on her slate.
How gladly Miss Frank Middieworth
locked the battered schoolhouse door ut
lasti How rapidly She walked home,
wardl She was almost veXed at meet.
ing Reginald Ausur at the cros5-roai,
by the old stone mill.
His face brghtened up at sight OF
her.
''Oh, FrankW said he. ~ was just
wishing to see You!'
The government clerk. elect" drew
herself up. Mr.. Angur need not have
been SO familiar with her, she thought
"Indcedl" she uttered somewhat frig-
idly.
Honest Reginald looked rather puz.
zled.
MY cousin, Mrs. Evelyn, wants a gov
e%rness," said she. 1.-THE family is small,
and sizes willing to pay five hundred
dollars a year. And. You know you have
always wanted to go the CITY,"
ayes, | know" said Miss Middle
worth, with chilling Indifference. ''BIt
l have changed my mind"
Reginald Ausur looked at her in amaze.
nent.
"Frani," he said, shave I offended
youf"
ooh, no. said she. "How should
you offend mel Butt am appointed
to an Office in Washington. l am to have
eleven hundred dollars a year."
"And leave us, Frank r. he exclaimed.
She bit Ler liz.
"one cannot always stay in the same
place like a crooked apple-tree or a lin
pet growing to the rock" said she.
"But, Frank, listen to mel" pleaded
Mr.. Augur. ~ am to commence the
practice of law on my own account next
month. My father will receive me into
equal partnership, and then"
~ am very happy to hear it" said
Miss Middleworth, absently.
"And them" persisted Reginald, az
shall be able to marry. And if"
"Yes1" Frank lifted her eyebrows,
~provokingly enough. 81 hope you will
get a very good wife. l am sure you
will both have my best wishes"
Young Augur's frank, boyish face fell.
81 had hoped" he began, a little
awkwardlY.
"SuIely, I cannot be at all interested
in your hopes, interrupted Miss Middle
worth. 'Let me pass, please. I'm int
great hurry to-day"
Reginald Augur stood aside, with a
sharp pang at his heart. He had loved
Frank Middlcworth ever since he could
remember. lie had always installed
her, as queen, in all the visionary castles
in the air which he had built within his
W brain. And here she had abdicat.
ed of her own free will and flung his
offering away.
Frank, herself, felt a little conscious
str. cken as she walked hurriedly on.
Reginald Augur had all the winning
manner aud sterling goodness of nature
which would naturally comGend them
selves to any feminine nsGrt. She had
always liked him-nay, she had once
almost believed that she loved him
but this new development had changed
The whole aspect Of her world.
~ am TO be . Government OH
cial. pow,' size said to her.
self. ~ am to have eleven hun
dred dollars a year. ar send papa to
Florida. Mamma shall have a glrl to
help her with the homework. Will Gnu
go to school, and l shall have a career
open to mel"
50 Frank went home, ordered n new
bonnet from the village milliper; hereto
fore she had always trimmed her own
hats-and purchased, on credit, a fur.
trimmed cloak which had long been the
object of her secret yearnings in the
show windows of Tape u BIckram.
And after sending in her resignation to
the school trustees, she went to Wash
'ngton to enter upon her new duties.
Its a long way for you to go, unes-
cor:ed, daughter" said the mild old
clergyman.
"oh, papa, things are quite changed
since you were young" said Frank, with
81 kiss, "a woman can go anywhere,
NOW, by herself. And only think: | nm
q Government official uow!'
Miss Middleworth arrived safely in
Washington, registered her name ~ u
quiet family hotel aud, dressed in her
nj black-siIk gown, with the new ha
ard the fur-trimmed cloak, went to The
Patent Office and sent in her card to Mr..