The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-10-24

Leila, full Of sympathy, ''but I'll tell
you how you can manage, Alice. Gle
ora Field will do the exercises for you
IL you give her some OF those cream
chocolates you bought to-day. and
you and will play lovely trick on
old Barleycorn."
The cloud vanishes from Alice For
tescue's forehead; the lips became
a perfect Cupid's bow of coral once
more.
well write her note, whispered
Leila; "we'll make her think that her
lover wants to see her again. Fancy
old Barleycorn vending her way to
the Chapel Pond by moonlight, to
meet somebody who isn't there
Fancy her disappointment And, oh,
Alice, only think what capital story
il will make for the girls |"
Aud the two malicious young con-
spirators giggled together in an costa
sy of glee.
1t was cruel plot, but Alice and
Leila we're very young, and had never
known the envenomed psngs of hope
deferred. That was their only ex-
cuse.
Miss Barley had finished her share
of the daily treadmill of lessons, day
or so afterward, and had gone out to
get breath of fresh air in the dreary
poplar walk at the north end OF the
house, when rough.looking little
boy, with frost-nippea fingers and
toes, and great black eyes, like those
of gypsy, sidled up TO her and
slipped folded bit Of paper into her
hand.
az was told to give IL to you, miss"
said he, and vanished like a human
squirrel into the strawberries.
Ruth Barley looked after him in
some surprise, and then she opened
the note. In it we're printed, in rude
imitation of Roman letters, the
words:
"Tn the old place beside the Chapel
Pond at . tonight. John Bates has
returned"
Miss Barley grew very pale; then
the blood rushed IN a scalding torrent
through every vein i'll her body.
John Bates Was she dreaming? Or
was the thread OF that sweet old love
story to be taken up again at the old
place, just where it had broken off
seven long years ago2
Ruth's heart beat, her breath came
quickly, and a sense of wild exultation
| filled her soul. For it never once oc.
Cured to her that all this might be
only n hoax.
Chapel Pond was deep, glittering
sheet of water lying in the heart of
the woods about quarter of a mile
away, and deriving its name from the
step rocks which walled il in on three
sides, which were supposed to bear
some resemblance to the gothic pill
lars of chapel. On the fourth side
the woods fringod the shore, and close
by was secluded dell where the vio.
lets blossomed earliest in the spring
time, aud great clusters of maidenhair
fern grew in rich profusion.
How happy Ruth Barley had been
then 10 the 2 VI daJo, { J9pre hcs lover
went away how wretched sfterward
She pressed the crumpled bit of
paper TO her lips again and again.
"Oh, she murmured to herself, al
am the happiest woman in the world
What right have to expect n second
blossoming time in my life? And yet
it has come"
Half the girls at Applenook Semin-
arv had been let into the secret of this
excellent Joke and were watching
Miss Barley from one vantage point or
another, rs she threw black Shetland
shawl over her head and slipped out
of the house just when the hands of
the old clock in the hall were near a
quarter to 9.
1t was still mid evening, with the
moon at the full; one could almost
hear the gurgling of the little brook
outside.
Some laughed as tho door closed
softly behind the little governess, who
fondly supposed herself to he un-
noticed; some whispered, one or two
looked grave.
Only tho other teachers gossiping
around there, and Nine. Appleton her
SELF writing letters in her sanctum,
remained in ignorance OF what was go.
ing on.
Little Louise Belville started to her
feet.
Girls" she cried, "it's too bad
It's cruel-thats what it is! 1t shall
not go on! I'll run after her, and tell
her the whole thing is deceit!"
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
as she was springing to open the door.
"lt's too late," said she. ''You
couldn't overtake her now. And it is
such splendid joke! Just wait until
you SEQ the expression of her face
when she comes back. We shall be
avenged for all of Barleycorn's
viciousness nowl"
Slowly the t'me.tarnished minute.
hand Of the venerable clock travelled
around the dial. Nine o'clock came,
half-past nineteen, Still no Miss
Barley returned,