The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-10-04

"1 W " frcckles, re d
hair, aud wore
clothes great deal too small for him.
His name was Ephraim, but everyone
called him ''Stumpy,' - for be was short
aud rather stout-eyeryone except
Carrie Mowbray, that is Carrie never
used his nickname. She said she
didn't consider it kind.
He'd like TO be tall, dare say.
So would great many other people,
she said to her cousin Belle Towers,
one day on the porch.
"But he is hideous, actually hide
Gus, said Belle.
"Oh, no; you eXaggerate. If he
didn't have freckles he would hardly
he called even plain and the freckles
will wear off i'll time"
II doubt it; and then his hair so
red and he is awkward, too.
"Hell outgrow his awkwardness,
and he cant help having red hair.
I've heard you say you'd like to have
dark eyes-but you ii never have them.
We're obliged to be contented with
natures decrees usually; and you
cant deny that Ephraim looks honest
He is amiable, too, and very obliging."
TO hear you talk, Carrie, one would
imagln. a paragon. | suppose
you found out all these virtues when
you were talking to MIN on the beach
yesterday"
III was simply asking him about the
tides.
"You could have asked some one
else. You'll make him familiar if you
talk to him, Carrie. I've seen that
sort of thing happen before. | only
hope he'll never have the assurance to
speak to me-"
sob, he has enough good sense to
see where he is wanted. He never
thrusts himself forward i'll the least
I've noticed that.
"Wcll, don't encourage him to talk
TO YOU. People of that class are very
apt to presume upon any attention,
however trivial, and Belle stroled
down the steps IN the direction of the
beach, feeling that Carrie had Justly
deserved the rebuke she had given
her.
nnkind or ungeueious; but, like many
other girls, she had an exaggerated
idea of her own importance and the
Aristocracy of wealth. Ephraim found
it pretty hard to be at the beck and
call of everybody at the Beach House,
and he had to grind his teeth some
times to keep from answering back
when his orders came in pcrcmptory
tones from some young fellow NJ
older than himself
'But | mean to see it through, " he
said to his sister, as he sat talking to
her one evening N the doorway ol
their cottage after the labors OF the
day were over. "You know | have
always said that fellow was n coward
who'd give thing up just because il
proved hard. BY next simmer | car
tini something else to do, and all In
going through now won't matter"
"Im we'll proud Of you, Ephraim,
said his sister, as she looked Mt hin
with tender eyes. you're 50 brave
Ephraim laughed.
Don't be proud until you've go
something to be proud about" b,
said.
Ephraim made it point 10 take
plunge in the sea every morning OF
his way to the hotel. He was n fin
swimmer, and thoroughly enjoyed hi
ten minutes in the water. 1t seemed
10 tone him up for all day. He ha,
always had the sea to himself at tina
hour, for he was an early riser frou
necessity as we'll ms inclination, bu
.nu the morning after his talk wit
Barbara, he had just entered the water
and was only IA few yards from shore
when he heard shout, and, turnin
around, saw half dozen OF the boy
from the hotel on the beach.
Here, you fellow" called out Pei
ciyal Peyton, young man who boas
ed of his blue blood. "Come out {
that"
His tone, more than the command
irritated Ephraim. He turned abor
again and struck out for deep waite
without making any reply.
"You insolent young hound. don
you hear me?" called Peyton, IL
angry blood mounting to his fac
'Come ont of that. The fellows wal
10 co in.