The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-04-19

that" indicating n minister on the
other side ofthe room. "iss my fathers
brother, Uncle Owen"
"What must / call you?' asked
Mark, when his pretty deliverer
brought him his tea aud sat down to
see him eat it,
"My name? Oh. il is Claude Row
lnnds-I am generally called Claudia !;
like il best and Mrs. Griffiths here
iss my aunt You see il iss the hiring
time, aud she iss so busy then that one
| OF uss, my sister or me, comes to help
her with the shop-it iss amusing,
too :"
Every. | should think, Claudia. An
uncommon name, Claudia, and not so
ill.soun1ing either! Oh, good gra-
cious, what's up?"
The girl laughed MS Mark rightcd
/ himself His chair had broken through
/ the floor.
1T is, too shocking. thiss house, to
ask You into. Indeed, am sorry for
you Mr..
darlington, Claudia-- dark Par
lington. And You mustn't say such
things. Lam well content"
They went 20 chapel together in the
evening Mr.. Darlington, Mrs Grif-
tiihs aud Claudia. Ii was Marks sug.
gestion, and it seemed to raise him in
the postmlstresN' 5 regard. After the
service, however, he had compensa-
tion, The rain had set in again. Mrs.
GrlIlthS locked the house door. The
three sat together until ten o'clock.
The po,tmi>ircss did not understand
English. Marx thanaed heaven for it.
But she kept her eyes on him, and
even when, ut Claudia's request, she
sanctioned the cigur Tor which her
guest was pinn2, she watched the
smoke oi il with an expression that
was not exactly comforting.
"Nuu must not mind aunt" whis.
pered Claudia Mt that moment, when
/ the elder lady had left the room and
the girl was kneeling to use the bel
! lows to the reluctant fire. Her pretty
head touchol Marx arm while she
worked it was such very small
room. "She iss stricter than uss
younger ones. Aud, besides, ! wass
two years with an English school, be-
cause my father he wass resolved his
children should know the English and
the Welsh / speak it badly yet. 4"
II don't know when I've heard Eng
lsh spoken so swcetly," said Mark |;
and lie meant il.
His second day in Aberenllyn did
but confirm his earlier impressions
about this Welsh girl. He saw her
now in her role Of busy worker, doing
everything that came in her way, and
doing 1t all with the most wiusome
/ cheeriulneSs.
rnc Suop was iuiI &C customers al
most from daybreak. IL was odd where
they came from. aud also how they got
their money But, AS the girl said,
they mostly had six month"; wages in
their pockets aud they meant to spend
them quickly. Every one wanted
ClGudia. 1t annoyed Mark very
much to see how she was at the die
posal o! little girls OF thirteen or four
teen who wished for ostrich feathers
and sulphur.colored bonuets foot
high, and sat down to make sure she
did not forget their desires. And il
annoyed him most of all to perceive
the cordial footing she was upon with
all the handsome young sealaring men
vino dallied So long in the shop on
the preteNt of letters, pipes or snuff.
He dined on tin salmon of an indif-
fereut brand; but Claudia served it,
and Mt his request shared 1t with him.
She was not blt troubled ut being
asked to dine with him, but there was
Just soupcon OF Difference in hei
manner, which made her all the more
charming
Then she again took up her bonnets
aud continued to run between the
sop and Mr.. Parlington's room till
even Marks obduratc nature yearned
in pity for her.
"Will You not come out with me? 2
he asked. She excused herself with a
smile. The bonnets and her aunt
were her plea; but Mark saw it in
her face that II sense of propriety also
deferred her Yet this same sense OF
propriety did not prevent her sitting
with him for hour after hour in the
evening, while she worked 10y the
light OF one candle, and Mark smoked
cigar after cigar, and studied her face.
Mrs, Grifiiths came periodically to
peep Mt them. She did not seem
pleased 10y her niece's conduct, but as
there was no relaxation in the bonnet
making she uttered no audible protest.
Somehow the talk took literary
turn. Claudia's father. who was &
tradesman in II town at some distance,
WAS also preacher. The roll of paper
in his hands on the wall was one of his
sermons. Claudia climbed the stairs
to fetch II manuscript copy OF the ser
mon the old gentleman had preached
: in Aberenllyn only the last Sunday
, Mark read II little OF it, praised it,
yigor (Which was undeniable), set il
} aside, and again turned his attention
} to the girls gray eyes, which had al
most morbid sparkle OF beauty il