The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-01-28

blushed. Then she threw on her bon.
net, and walked on hnrriedly.
''She was a girl from the neighbor-
ing farm. l fell in love with her, aud
we met in the wood, unknown to any
DE. Then my father heard. He for.
pade me to see her, and told me If |
disobeyed him he would turn me from
the house.
81 met Flora the same night, and
persuaded her, on that glorious moon
light night, to be my wife. We came
south together, aud 1 married her. |
was success ul in obtaining n clerk.
ship, and after my work ut the Office
was done, my wife would sit in tine
little chair by my side, while / sat
writing at my desk. For | had the
git OF writing bits of stories. and
often when the night had drawn on,
AMI work was put away, Flora and l
would sit talking of the future, o. the
day when | should bel famous author,
and the Grudgerv OF the Office should
be a thing OF the past.
"But our happiness was too great
TO last. Tho roses on my darlin8's
face began to fade, and though she
tried to smile away my fears, l felt
sure she was going to be i'll.
"lhen one night when ! came from
, the Office l found her i'll in bed. In
despair | sat down to write a story,
which, if accepted. would enable me
to get her away into the country, or
to the seaside. l worked ut it all
night and finished it. Then u week
later l received n letter at the Office
from the editor, telling me that my
story had been accepted, enclosing u
check. and asking for more stories.
"Fiora had been growing worse
each day, but now, l thought, she
should soon be better. l cashed the
check and hou2ht some luxurles for
her, aud, passing q Hover shop, l went
in and Obtained u spray Of lilies. They
were her favorite flowers.
"Ihen | hurried away home. l
could hardly walk fast enough, but at
last l reached my little house and en-
tered. l ran upstairs, and threw open
her bedroom door.
"'Flora,' l or ed. Success at last,
my darling. You shall go away for a
few days now
"She did not answer me, SHE must
be asleep thought, aud noiselessly l
walked across the room.
az stood over the bed, looking at
my sweetbeart's lovely face. 1t was so
calm, so beautiful, 80 pure. There
was IA sweet smile on her lips, and
her hair was hanging down, framing
her face in gold. My thoughts wan.
dered back to that day in June, and
the words Of that song came back to
me.
81 knelt at the side of the bed, and,
placing the spray Of lilies in my
Flora's little hand, waited in silence,
watching AMI praying spraying that
she should soon be restored to health
agalu.
"She awoke with o little start.
"'I am so glad you have come.
Robin she said, as | kissed her. Il
have had such u glorious dream. ]
was dreaming thot You had written a
book, and that the world was ringing
with your name
81 Interrupt ed her.
"'Perhaps that day IS not far OFF,
love. See, my story has been accepted,
and tho editor begs that l will send
him some Others
"She did not speak, but the proud
look in her eyes told me what her
thoughts we're. Then she saw tho
lilies, and she kissed me for them"
Robin covered his face with his
hands, AMI a sob shook his frame. He
rose from his chair and walked round
the room. Then he stopped, and with
his face averted he finished his story.
"In less than o week she was dead.
She died in my arms. l thought she
was better, but 1t was not to be. She
was too cool TO live. We were too
happy Tor this world. Heaven would
have had no meaning could we have
lived together longer. Aud when her
last breath had gone, I laid her back
gently on ths bed, and covered her
face from my sight. | went on my
knees, aud cursed-cursed my fate
and everything else.
"Now, perhaps, you understand my
fall. why work. / thought, 'wnen !
have nobody to work for?' Ny liter,
AIRY work was neglected. / lost my
situation at the Office. l have sum-
deeper and deeper, until now" ht
paused awhile, "now 1 an Rambling
Robin"
Theu he came across and stood by
the fire.
"But the innocent prattle Of that
little child of yours has brought IN,
TO my senses. As there is a Goa abov,
| will make the world ring with mi
name. Even if l cannot work for my
dead Flora, ! can WORK Tor her mem
ory's sake. Aud 80 / will. l start to
night on the second part OF my life
In two years l will let you know th'
rNsuIt. In TWO years 10. night 1 vii
come and See YOU. Goodby."
pressed him to stop the night, blu
he would not, L Dersuaded. him. how