The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-04-09

W utTbu bN Iut NlHu,
her cheeks redeemed with the stormy
Brightness of tho March sunshine,
and n nest of little field mice in her
lap, whose mother had been killed by
the schoolboys under fallen log.
Sylphide--a creature OF reckless i'm
pulse-had driven away the little tv-
rants, who were about to torment the
helpless brood, and was now carrying
home the nest of velvet.soft orphans,
to care for them as best she could.
"They are only field mice, to be
sure, said Sylphide, "but they are SO
helpless and so cunning And if no
one else will succor them, will"
So, in tho dishabillo incident to
climbing half dozen fences, wading
across brook and making her way
through n thicket of tall bilberry
bushes, Miss Sylphide found herself
confronted with the young clergy
man, whose spotlessly neat attire and
air of quiet dignity were an unspoken
satire on her own torn dress and brier
scratched hands.
"Can help'you over the stile, Miss
Egertou,' said Mr.. Highland, cour.
teously.
"No, you can't" said Sylphide,
secretly hoping that if she kept sit
ting there he would not discover that
the nounce was half ripped Off her
dress, and that she had lost one shoe
in the mud.
He smiled little at her brusque
reply.
at is after sunset" he said. "The
wind grows chill. "ne'
Il r. Wv ~" ks,Sfted SSeyyii1
"You don't expect to sit here all the
EVENING""
perhaps 1 shall - said Sylphide,
darting defiance at him from under
her level, golden brows. 81 don't
know of anyone who has right to die.
tate to me upon the subject"
Mr.. Highland stood looking at her
with folded arms and imperturbablc
gravity.
"You have been on a long walk"
said he.
yes" acknowledged Sylphido,
picking at the fringe of n little scar.
let India scarf that she wore.
"And yet" he went on, "you tell
me that you cannot find time to at
tend the daily afternoon service?"
Sylphide flushed to the very roots
of her hair.
81 don't want to be lectured," said
che.
"And | am the last person who has
any right to lecture you, Miss Eyer
ton" said Mr.. Highland. Gan | ask
OF you is to stop and think. Indeed,
l cannot comprehend how it is that the
devotional sweetness of your sisters
can have SO little effect upon you"
"Oh, knowl" said Sylphide, be.
ginning TO lose her temper, as she al
ways did when the perfections OF
Josepha and Lesbia were sung in her
ears. my sisters are angels, and !
am castaway."
miss Sylphide-"
But she put both hands to her ears.
81 told you l would not be lee
tured," said she. "Please to remem.
Der that you have brought this on
yourselfl"
Mr.. Highland colored little, lifted
his hat with punctilious courtesy and
passed on.
Why was it, he asked himself, stern
ly, that this lawless little romp, with
the deep blue eyes and the cloud OF
golden hair, had such power to tor.
ment him with her reckless moods and
wild caprices? le had done his best
to civilize her. He would abandon
the task here, and let her go her own
fantastic way.
And not until he was cut of sight
did Sylphide burst into passion o.
tears. She would have cut out hei
tongue sooner than tell Mr.. Highland
that she had meant to come to churcl
that afternoon, but that the episod,
of the feld-mice had entirely driver
everything else out of her head.
"He always sees me at my worst,
she sobbed. swell. why need l care
Let him fancy NE a savage if he likes
What is it to me?"
When she reached home-stil! will
the nest of tield-mice tenderly elapsed
to her bosom-Lesbia, her tall, hand
some sister, met her on the threshold
Goodness gracious, Sylphw sh,
cried. "What q fright you have mad
of yourselfl"
"I am always fright" said Sylp
hide, with ironical calmness-" "accord
ing to you, at least"
"Mr. Highland was SO grieved a
your missing tho afternoon service,
said soft voiced Josepha, who had re-