The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-09-19

Snauo Oh Mrs. DONes q CulutE WluuoW
curtains, Audrey kissed that letter as
mothers kiss their babies. Then she
came back to the parlor.
''Smart, amt itP" asked Tom.
"WhatG" asked Audrey. ooh yes
the letter very NICE" And as she
spoke, she would have given twenty
dollars. or fifty, oil che had in the saw
ings bank money she had earned by
making pot cheeses for market all
this little hoard would Audrey Dew
have given Just to have that letter for
her very own.
A week afterward she went to see
Sally Slocum, and Sally exhibited her
photograph album. Here was Uncle
Silas and Mr.. and Mrs. johnson, all
in row, with their five children, and
Aunt Tabitha, and
"Oh," cried Audrey, 81 didn't know
he had had any taken"
went down to the store one day."
said Sally, "and there he was 'burnin'
n dozen. Didn't reckon how't they
favored him. he said. This here was
jest scorched; pounced down on it.
I'll hev that, anyway says l..
Lor' = says he. what dye want Of
that?' but l KEEP it. Think it like
him?"
"Wheh he's serious" said Audrey.
"1 said, That's your identical i'm
age when you're in church. And
what dye think ne saldp Reckon I'll
stay hum, then. Lor' IL is the beat
cnest how people want their cards to
/ look -
she had viewed without envy Sally's
new bonnet; she had never coveted
her link bracelets, but she broke the
eighth commandment when she
looked at Ned Norroway's photograph.
| am sorry to say that she did not
stop there.
Next day Sally went out to see her
Cousin Pringle, and about two in the
afternoon Audrey Dew stepped softly
upon the Slocums' front piazza,
slipped into the parlor window, aud
had the photograph album in her
pocket in minute. She dared not
take Ned's picture out by itself, her
guilty conscience would have filled
her with fears of instant detection ;
but the theft of the whole album
would never be laid at her door.
Most singular thing ! ever knew"
said old Mrs. Siocum, relating her ex-
pericnco to friends afterward. "Some
tramp or somebody slipped in and
hooked Sally's album. Sarched high
and low, and couldn't hear nothin'
ont; offered reward and all, and
Civ 1t up; but about two weeks arter,
here comes bundle for Sally, and
into it album, bigger and better by
two than her tother was, and on the
first page the picture of her Uncle ST.
las--ho S dead, ye know. All the rest
she ha'nt never heard nothin' on.
And who took it, and who sent it, i
dunno, nor nobody"
Nobody knew indeed, save one
guilty girl. Cousin Ellen and Aunt
Tabitha, and Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson
ald> their offsprings, had smouldered
into ashes between the covers Of the
t7~',- lond~auly Ned Norroway's face
existed, cut round and pendant in a
tiny frame and glass over Audrey
DGW lOOllsn niue ncurt.
Whats that you're a wearin' on a
CHAMP" asked Mrs. Dew of Audrey.
Grandpa Browns hair, ma" said
Audrey.
Watching and waiting wears one
thin. Audrey was not quite as pretty
as she had been, if bloom and bright
ness make all beauty, AS most folk
/ think they do, and she was conscious
! OF this, and aware also that her new
! best dress was of an unbecoming
color, when, Mt Christmastlde it was
known through tho village that Ned
/ had come down to spend the holidays.
They met at church, and the rest of
Christmas Day Ned spent with his old
employers family; while Audrey lost
her appetite for dinner, and wished
that she had never been born. There
was Nathan Prior, to be sure, doing
his best to please her, and her cousin
Jack, from Hampton, trying to cut
him out; but her heart was Just as
heavy as lead, and every smile was
forced, and every word wrung from
her lips.
The next day Ned called At the
announcement her heart futtered I;
then she ran to the glass. How ugly
she looked She went down to greet
him, full of this thought, and gave
HIM frigid and impassive hand, and
sat bolt upright on the remotest chair
you're not well, I'm afraid, Au-
drey," said Ned injudiciously.
"Ihank you, Mr.. Norroway; l feel
/ perfectly well" replied Audrey.
Ned bit his lip.
pleasant weather for the season, "
he said.
"Yes," said Audrey, "and such a
pleasant Christmas Dayl Nathan
Prior spent it with us, and Cousin
Jack. They are so full of fun, both of
them! l never enjoyed myself SC
much"
'Im glad to hear it," said Ned, and
then in came Mrs. Dew, and Audrey