The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-09-05

= al under the chin,
wide open. mill gray eyes aud rudy
checks. Yet did harmless deceit
lodge there but for moment the
ewes laughed anil twink'cd, and all
but called aloud, "Hcro 1t is ; and
the next instant the secret was dis
lodged aud scurrying oil in plain sight
oi everybody, and nobody more sur.
prlscl than Mr.. Petit himself
Consequently, when Mr.. Petit
stepped into the kitchen upon GER.
tnin June evening, and hung his hat
upon the peg bchinl the door, Mrs.
Petit, suspending the kettle high in
mir from the operation OF pouring
boiling water upon the tea, said, III II
tone of conviction: "Ephraim, you've
got letter from john"
"Wcll, now. | want to know !" said
Mr.. Petit, throwing an appealing
glance around upon nm imaginary and
nlmiriug audience, "lf women don't
beat all | was saving that letter till
after supper
"Wc can Just ns well have it with
orr tea, said Mrs. Petit, pulling the
cosy over the teapot. and leading the
way to the supper table. "John must
have something particular to say. We
had letter from him this week"
The two snow crowned heads were
Bowed for moment in simple grace,
and then, rs Mrs. Petit pourel the
fragrant Tyson into the oldia,hioned
china cups. her husband procecde to
open the letter.
Not very much, after all. Two
square yellow tickets and one Of
those short notes that are always por-
tcntous:
.""tcsao. H., June 10Th, 1875.
lar 1".uer aud 1
two r0und-trip tickets .s, .t.-a-o, l"ni,l l
expect YOU to make use OF right away. Oar
boy l. to te chrstencd next weck and the
christening cant 60 on without you. Your
loving son. JonS pErrir.
T. s.-relesrlph me when You s,art
J. p.
Mrs. Petit dropped her hands into
her lap with look Of bank dismay
"Why, Ephraim, she protested, II
can't go.
"John wouldn't like it, said Mr..
Petit, softly, coniinins his gaze to
careful stirring of his tea. ITS oar
first grandchild, you know"
Involuntarily Mrs. Pettit's gaze
wandered through the open window TO
tiny hillock, which, with its mar
bile shaft showing dimly through the
twilight, told It's own tale OF Eleanor,
aged seven.
IL have never left her" she said,
with troubled eyes.
"She would wish it, said Ephraim,
gently. "John knows all, and he
wishes it. Sixteen years is long
time for grleviug, mother. She is u
grown woman III heaven by this
time.
Nothing more was said after this
The soft darkness of June night be-
gan to fall, The katydids called from
the grasses; IA huge June hug beat it.
self noisily against the window screen ;
the COW lowed from the meadow with
out.
at last Mrs. Petit pushed aside her
untasted food and SAID, with pitiful
tremor IN her old voice: "We'il go,
Ephraim. Its wicked of me to be
staying at home grlevinS, and neglect
ing the loved ones that need me. We
will write to John tonight and tell
him so. "
Thus it came to pass that n few days
later certain train pulling ont OF
Wilson's Ferry carried with il n quaint
old couple with whom we have 10 do.
The old gentleman wore his whisker,
after good old country style, and
looked over his sIlvcr-bOwed glasses
with the most benignNut eyes in the
world. As for the old lady, fellow
passengers glanced idly upon her, and
then turued To gaze again. Such Il
sweet old face, scanned with added
years and care, but beautiful withal
in it' frame Of clustering gray curls,
No one smiled Mt the old -.ashiOued
bonnet, tho long, slender wasted
black dress, or neatly folded shoulder
shawl. No one seemed to think o
the oddity of the black silk mltts with
their short fingers, although they haC
not been put on before since Eleanor
funeral. Every one seemed kindly
interested in the big brown baske
with n cover and two handles. Befor,
the journey ended it had opened wide
its hospitable cover to soothe will
ginger cakes and tarts the cries o
more than half dozen travel-worI
babes, and had won the earnest bless
ings of as many tired mothers.
Six hours OF rumble and noise an,
dust, glimpses of waving green field
and distant towns, heeting acquaint