The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-06-21

spoke TO me THIS very night, and ne
has loved me all along, and he has
never cared for Alma Gray. oh, am
so happy But poor Alma, when she
comes to know"
Perhaps Alma won't care, Lou.
You mustn't think that Phil has the
power of making everybody so miser-
able rs he could you" said Maria, with
her sweet smile.
And so she listened to the raptuous
condolences of Lou Baxter, seeming to
enter into the JOY of her fresh young
heart, though there was faint MEM
DRY OF pain at her own.
Down long hill flew the heavily
freighted wagon. Three powerful
horses male up the team, and Joe Car.
ter's twin brother, Jerry, was driving.
He was said to be famous lad to
handle horses. and by the rate they
| were going some of the older members
OF the party judged that he was yield
ing to the youthful propensity for
Showing of.
The moon was "in the full" and
had not yet risen high enough above
the horizon 70 afford much light upon
the road. There were few houses and
many trees; and at the foot of the
long hill the driver made the most of
the momentum gained in the descent
to help the team over the beginning
OF the up grade which began at that
point.
The feat was successful, but il
caused the settees to give o bounce
and slide toward the rear end of the
wagon. while chorus of feminine
screams and masculine shouts OF
warning 10 the reckless driver inter-
rupted the chat and laughter which
had been going on.
There was moment of desperate
I clinging TO seats and wagon rails,
/ shouting to the driver to stop, in the
midst OF which confusion Lou Baxter
I found the sweet delight of strong
| hand to hold her from falling out,
with Pills magnetic voice telling her
not to be whispering the as.
surance unnecessarily close to her ear.
IL took some moments for the driver
to bring the horses down to walk,
however, aud when they got the set
tees back into place, and the occu-
pants had released from scoldiug into
chatter and laughter again, Lou found
herself in the forward end OF the
wagon, with Phil mumbling his happy
nothings ut her side.
"And-joyous migrate that she was
not thought of Maria Gale entered
her mind until the team drew up with
flourish in front of Wigson's.
BY this time the moon was high
/ enough to shed transforming light
upon them. Joe Carter, with the shy,
boyish liking fora young woman many
years older than himself, looked around
for Maria, bent upon showing her how
easily ne could lit her out.
But the wagon was quickly emptied,
and Joe blankly looked to find how
Maria had given him the slip.
"Where's Mrye?' he demanded of
Lou.
"Naria Gale'' che epeated,
aroused from ue. own pleasant
thoughts. 'l'm sure don, know.
She must have jumped out abd gone
| into the house ahead of us. You know
she was at the rear end of the wagon.
And-that makes me think. 1 don't
believe she suspected that he was
with us. 1t was so dark she couldn't
have seen him, and know she wasn't
/ told OF his intention to CO."
Joe shrugged his shoulders and
/ scowled.
81 s'ppose you mean Jimmy Fryer"
he asked.
"Ol course. And he sat right OPP
posite to MS when she got ill., But he
was SO mutiled up and SO glum that I'm
sure"
"Don't know Whist that signifies, -
snapped Joe.
And he abruptly turned his back
upon this young lady, who, with all
her own experience, had no thought
Tor the fierce flame OF jealousy which
her suggestion reused IN his boyish
heart.
He began his search for Maria Gale
then in earnest
But not for her alone did he in
quire-for 1t was quickly discovered
that James Frye, the "old bachelor
OF the party, was also missing.
Great was the CONSERVATION when
there could be no longer any doubt as
to the truth.
1t was Lou Baxter who first put it
into words.
"They must have been jolted ont OF
the wagon when we all came SO near
being upset !" she cried
Joe Carter, without saying so, had
reached this conclusion some time be-
fore, and while the others were talk.
ing of going back to see if the missing
ones were injured, he was striding
alone down the moonlit road, with his
young heart aglow with the resolution
to show Maria Gale that he had been
the first to discover her mishap, and
the promptest to come to her relief.
GAS for jim Frye" ho muttored, as
he strode along, she is too much OF a
I .s.a -.