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


won't it,"
Yes" briefly but vers gently.
There was long silence.
Young girls don't generally like
10 take such task on themselves.
IL the old folks were not so feeble 1t
would be different. You've got about
the same as three babies to take care
of now, Miss Alma
Alma seemed TO think no rcDly was
necessary. and there was another
long silence.
They were now very near the sta.
tion. Mr. cole seemed all at once 10
become very nervous and ddgetty
If want to ask YOU question,
Miss Alma" he said, as the distaut
engine whistle was heard. | think
you need some one TO help YOU take
care OF ali these; may | help yOu?"
Alma turned her conscious face
away
"Iou could not-how?" she said,
then lelt provoked ut herself that
She had not spoken differently.
a mean. Of course viii you marry
me-" hc replied very quietly III
have thought OF asking you hefur
but had not quite decided whether
IL would hc OF any use. That Il not
lcc.dcd yet; only YOU can decide IL,
but | am sure OF myself only good
woman would take upon herself what
YOU are dong: none could be swectcr
Or more loyablc. Take me. too, and
Will help you while you help me. y
The engine shrickeG at the last
'roSsing halt a mile away, and Alma
began hurricdly to prepare TO leave
the sleigh
You know could not 1T what
you wish" she sa d. 10 you think
50 meauly OF me rs to believe that
would take poor old uncle aud aunt
and this baby into your home for you
To take care OF? That Is the amount
/ Dr what YOU ask me to do"
"Nn long as it suits me, nav, so
/ long IL nothing else willsuit me, why
,houli YOU object? That is-if YOU
/ love me well enough hc urged
earnestly
ut does not seem right; you have
/ only known me short time. i
The station was reached: there was
no time t. lose. Mr. Cole spraug out
ana lifted Alma, baby and all, upon
the platform; then he called "A boy IN
hold the horses while ne purchased
her ii 'ket aud saw her safely seated
in one OF the cars
Think this matter over for Il
week. and then | will run up to your
l., nj - m said
as he left her
She watched the beautiful horses
bound away with her mind more
deeply disturbed than ever in all her
innocent, simple girlhood it had been
before.
II wonder if he thinks | had-had
thought OF him before? | hope not.
But | thought if / took little sally
that would end everything OF thar
kind for me. ! thought no one would
ever ask me wv he was good,
though. Rr' 'elty there
is plenty a., OF l""v'
poor old uncle and aUnty, neltne
, could | think Of burdening him as h,
asks me 10 do There, have thought
1t all overall that is necessary.
, shall not need week.
This was the burden Of Alma's re
| llcctiOuS during her two hour, rid,
| on the train, and she really supposed
she had disposed of the matter.
, She looked out anXiously aS sh
stepped OF the train, 10 see II Their
: might not be some ucighbOr's wagui
- there, that She might have Il ride
I The home of her uncle was a mil
/ aud half up into the woods, an,
: their nearest neighbOr was auythnj
: hut near; she would have been gla,
y of a little help up the bleak roa
;. that lay before her.
c Never mind, Sally; we can 30 il,
4 she whispered, and the little one
h arms tightencd their clasp arOun
her neck, and Alma heard Il dee
| sigh 0l trust nj satisfaction
q During the time she had spent CA
l.. ing for the sick mother she had ct
II tirely won the heart of the child
}. slowly laboriously, Alma climbe
the snowy, half broken road, he
4 mind all the time busy with thought
:. OF the manifold cares which belonge
y to her young life; sorely puzzled, il
n deed, over one Of the problems SUI
y United to her, yet resolved To abid
II by her own solution, arrived at
II short time before.
As the landmarks began to gro
h more and more familiar her though
:, turned upon the old couple she love
a so well, who, though needing her
d much, had Willingly spared her
.e their daughter, who, in her paintl
= illness, had needed her siill mo-
If than they OF how much she W
needed there Alma had had no co
.c ceptiou till she reached the farm AZ
}" spent a day with the sick, misera1
IL woman. her delicate child, and q
m wretch who called himself their hu
II band and father
1. Now that was all past and settle
and the neglect Of the old people
" unavoidable must he made up for
A