The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-08-15

cushlOns, the Dresden and silver. the
beautiful girls getting into their
princely furs, talking scandal like
dowagers, her sister Bab's face with
the scarlet on both cheeks, aud her
own, white and angry, in the glass, as
he marble Diana behind her
1t was while the last dinner guests
that night were still saying tender
nothings TO Bah, as she leaned against
the mantel and the low freight
played on the satin sheen of her white
gown till she looked as if taking life
itom n flame-tinted jewel, that slen
der shape slipped swiftly down the
steps aud passed along iu the shadow
of the houses like shadow herself
The girl had never been in the street
ut night before without attendance I;
every sound atlrighted her she shrank
even behind her veil from every pass
crby. As soon as she had turned the
corner she brought into palmer sight
parcel she carried, that she might
pass the more readily as maid. A
half hour rapid walk and she ran mp
some ssops to make sure OF number,
rang the oor.beil, said something ex.
planntory to the man who answered it,
passed ia aud followed him to the door
OF room up one flight of the broad
low stairway there
The room was ia confusion A
leather box and Il portmanteau lay
packed aud strapped by the door
There were empty and discolored
spaces on the walls whore pictures had
hung, brackets had held their busts
aud great casesaud cabinets had stood.
II was plain to see in its dismantled
state that it had lately been place of
luxury.
A man sat there, with his head
bowed upon his arms asthey lay along
the table, in an attitude of utter deiec-
tiOn. He did not look up when the
door opened and closed But the girl
crossed the room quickly, and stand
ing behind him stopped with her arm
laid across his shoulder He lifted his !
head, looking straight before him. 81
suppose il is II dream, he said, half to |
himself ''ii you are dream"
81 am not dream. Jack, she said, |
bending lower, her soft, cold cheek |
touchiug his "t am Felicia"
There was a silence in heaven for |
the space of half mn hour. For one |
moment there was silence and rapture |
here. And then the transfer men
came for tue luggage. "And this par. /
eel, too, said Felicia.
"Fclicia!' he exclaimed.
"This parcel, she repeated. "You
know | can not 90 back after coming !
here she said, when they were alone |
again. 81 have burnei my ships be
hind inc"
"Do you mean lt?' he exclaimed /
jpyou,,y. And then his tone fell. al !
thought oh, yes; certainly, | must |
take you home before my train
leaves
"You will take me home? Ny home !
is with you, Jack.
''Nou don't know what You say I"
he answered her. "Oh. no; cannot
accept the sacrifice :" the eager CLEAN
of his eyes belying his words.
r.,.Jack. she murmured, "the sacri-
Ino wac in my ocm:Gy here unasked"
''You knew | loved you, you knew
| loved you Aud then this crash
came-and there was nothing for me
to say---to you, who have lam in the
lilies and fed on the roses OF life. i
whose part was the husks
ayes, | knew it, or could not have
come. she replied, and she moved
away from him, going about the room,
aud pnusinL at the curtainless window
place, where the moonlight lay upon
her, pale and impassloned.
Don't make 1t 50 hard for me ="
ne exclaimed. "Au hour ago it was
the darkness of despair was going
to bury myself III that ranch with its
buuch of cattle, the one thing eft me,
ns II it wcr, II grave. Now | shall go
out into that new life radiant with
this happy knowledge and nv hope
And even II | should never prosper
enough 10 come for you, he said after
a moment, taking step toward her,
''.i you should weary in the long wait
ing aud give some other man the love
| have wDn--woll, | could bear 1t, per.
hhps, remembering AMI living again
IN this night Joy
"Some other man =! she exclaimed,
unclaspiug his arms and looking for
the hat Gul Jacket that hat been
thrown aside. II am going with you,
Jack. II you can live sumner and
winter in tent III Texas ! can, too.
] have the tit clothes IN that psrcel. |
have ny Jewels here. They w,re my
mother and are mine, aud | hive the
right to take them, and their price
will hinder my being u burden
"A burden Ca, Felicia, if Imight,
# ! dared"
you Will have to, said IeIicia,
calmly. Tho Church ol Blessing is
round the corner, AMI the re tor is
my friend Jack, you maio ne pro-
pose TO YOU. shouldn't thik you
would make me ask You to marry
me ."
Smuliug there in the Moonlight,