The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-26

vJTG don't be g 0 :
better put on your jacket; it's gettin'
real kinder chilly"
"Oh, / don't believe I need anything
extra; I shan't be cold," Belinda re-
monstrated.
"Yes. you will, too" Mrs. Bascom
said decidedly. "You go right up
stairs and get your sack"
And Belinda turned and went obed.
iently back to her room.
'1t's dreadfully silly to have to put
il on, she muttered, nodding to her.
self in the glass. 'Seems rs though
was old enough to know" and she
sighed, noting the shadow of coming
lines in her forehead and the sharper
curve of her cheek. But she drew
on the little jacket over her tight fit
ting black silk basque and smoothod
1t down carefully over the bright blue
bow at her throat.
Then she went downstairs again,
but paused moment on the lowest
step. II wonder if l had better put
on my rub0ers," she meditated. II
don't believe / need them," with a
sudden guilty look at the closed sit.
ting-room door. But she opened it as
she passed and said, "Good.bye,
Sarah," very quickly, half fearing
that if che waited hty sensitive con.
science iiGying er to 9, we
the neglected rubbeis.
Sarah, at the window, watched her
go down the street.
'She's just as happy as ever" she
said to herself. ats a good deal
better | didn't let John Baker hang
around here. She's one of those soft.
hearted creatures that'd marry any
man that asked her, i do believe. But
she wasn't goin' to marry John Baker
ii could help it. I've had expert.
ence with men and l know them
through and through"
Mrs. Bascom's married life had
been brief and unhappy.
"Why, they say that John Baker
smokes, and he don't attend no church
regular, so far's | can make out.
That's just like Siles, exactly"
Silas was Mrs. Bascom's deceased
husband.
"She'll be mighty thankful some
day that / saved her from IA life Of
misery" and Mrs. Bascom sighed
feelingly. Its been more'n year
now, and she seems to be cettin' over
1t nicely, though 1 must say I'm
thankful he don't live in this town. q"
And Mrs. Bascom's eyes returned to
the village street down which Be.
linda had disappeared.
81 wonder where Belinda was goin'.
To call on Margaret Brown, s'pose.
It's strange Berlinda should take to
Margaret SO, SUCH lively young thing
though, rs far's that goes, she amt
much younger than Belinda" she add
ed, hastily, with sisterly pride; "but
shes so up and comm. It's lucky
she only visits here week or 50, she
might make Belinda just like her.
Miss Ware told me yesterday she
rides u bicycle" And Mrs. Bascom s
thoughts stopped In frightened con-
temptation of such arrant boldness.
Meantime Belinda had gone, as her
sister predicted, to call on Margaret,
who was visiting fond, old.fashioned
relatives for few weeks in this Sc
questered little village. Her friend
WAS III the back yard with the bicycle,
and caught sight OF Belindt walking
primly up the path to the front
door.
"Heigho!" !" she cried, merrily; and
Belinda came around the corner of
the house and sat on the steps while
Margaret rubbed up her wheel.
There was great contrast between
the two girls not wholly due to the
mere difference in their ages. Mar.
garet Brown had come to womanhood
with many and absorbing interests in
her busy, healthful career, while BE.
linda seemed TO have little to make
her life full and beautiful, and she un.
consciously felt this the more now
that new possibility had faded from
her horizon with the banished John
Baker. There was, consequently, q
resigned submission in Belinda's sweet
face very different from tho fine, alert
strength in Margaret's, and a certain
indecision in the droop OF her shoul-
ders quite unlike Margaret's queenly
carriage. There might easily have
been five instead of two years between
them.
"Oh, ! have had the most delight.
r. xidep Margaret DRIED, rubbing