The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-11-08

of Mary Dean. The stage driver him
self condescended with q pompous
proprietary flourish Of his whip tc
point out to his passengers the humble
roof which sheltered her, and would
expatiate garrulously concerning her
loveliness. Her parents proudly ac'
cepted the fact that che was the belle
of several counties and added their
share to the universal admiration.
From q certain charming pose oi
her pretty head and slender, graceful
throat some one Of her more imagina.
tive admirers had suggested like.
ness to the exquisite Shasta lily, and
from that moment the appellation had
clung persistently to this fair name.
sake of SO fair flower.
On the December night of my story
a ball was in progress at the old stage
station which then stood on the very
site now occupied by the tavern.
From the windows and doors lights
shone out upon the sombre back
ground of pines. Strains of the
fiddle" mingled with sounds of gay
voices and restless feet. Above all,
keeping time with the music, rose the
shrill calls: Ford gents" "Swing
yer pardners, followed by the scrape,
scrape, scrape of the advancing aud
receding roughly-clad feet.
IL was motley crowd there as
sembled. Red shirts, blue shirts and
"b'iled shirts" were on plane of
equality.
The fun and excitement increased,
and the scraping of heavy boots grew
into scufile as each dancer made an
effort to eclipse his neighbor in the
"swing." The fiddler marked time
with head and feet, participating Wig
oronsly in the reigning enjoyment.
Mary Dean was, as usual, the chief
attraction. Tall, fair and graceful, she
was pre-eminent among her compan.
ions.
As, with an added flourish and a
shriller squeak of the fiddle, the dane.
ing ceased, Mary moved toward the
open window The food of light from
within the room illumined her slight
figure and delicate profile, accentua-
ting the likeness to the graceful lily
and creating picture to charm even
the most Indifferent. Not 80 to be
classed, however, were two young men
who, sheltered by the darkness, had
been watching the merry dancers.
They gazed steadfastly at this lovely
girl and then turned fierce eyes upon
each other. Evidently no neighborly
frtan1u htt, ,ata1 h.t
word was spoken, but volumes might
be read in the set lips and lowering
brows. As though impelled by one
sentiment they stepped simultaneously
toward the window where Mary leaned
pensively against the frame.
Some troubled thought stirred her
usually tranquil countenances as, with
a start, she perceived their approach
One of the young men was well
dressed, with "city" plainly discernible
in his style of clothing.
The other, though not careless in
attire, were the customary rough garb
OF the sturdy miners OF this region.
His manners were brusque and his
voice took on even u sterner accent
than usual.
Mary" he said abruptly, "words
are useless. You know our hearts,
and you have promised to decide be-
tween us tonight. We will bear
trifiiny no longer"
This wooing was like himself, bluff
and straightforward, but probably
not rs worthy in maiden's opinion
as more vehement protestations of de.
votion might be.
Mary, however, unmoved by this
stern demand, with serene eyes
looked upward to the sharp crags out
lined against the starset sky.
Then she ga2ed intently at the face
of each lover, but still her thoughts
were unspoken. Again her glance
sought the rigid cliffs. Then n slow
smile lighted her eyes and curved the
perfect lids, and, drawing glove from
a pocket, she held it toward the two
men.
"Yes, l will give my answer. Some.
where near the end OF the trail, at the
summit OF the peaks, you will find n
pair of gloves like this left them
there last week. He who will first
place one of them in my hand may
claim me.
Like IA thunderbolt fell this decision
upon each of the listeners. The feat
was triae to accomplish, but could it
be possible for love to dictate such
condition. II she cared for either,
could any girl be willing to leave her
fate subject to such doubtful order.
ing? Heavy hearts were theirs, but
love was powerful and winsome. Mary
Dean was the prize. Without word
or glance the two men vanished into
the night, and Mary turned with a
sigh. Was it significant of relief, re-
gret or gratified vanity?
In the morning, when the dancers
began TO think of starting homeward,
they discovered, to their dismay, that
dark clouds had gathered over the
Crags, about whose domes and shafts
the lightning played in fitful flashes.