The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-05-13
thought hmdy worthy Of c6nsidera.

4
placently awaited q reply.
"pm very sorry" stammered Nancy,
whom the proposal had taken entirely
by surprise. "If you mean me, Mr..
Sprunt, it's quite impossible"
"What, impossible !" almost shouted
that gentleman, starting mp in sucl
undisguised astonishment that Nancy
with difficulty repressed smile. "You
cant mean impossible, surely? Fol
nv sake, take time and consider The
shops o good going concern. l could
keep You like lady. A silk gown
and a gold watch and chain would be
nothing to me. And I've Il snug bi,
of morey laid by"
"That makes no difference" inter.
rupted Nancy, little frown pucker-
ing her forehead.
To say that her elderly wooer wa;
dumbfounded, is putting it mildly. II
money made no difference. what or
earth would? He was almost ut his
wits end. seeing his chance OF five
hundred pounds visibly receding, when
a bright idea struck him. The senti.
mental card was the one to play on q
woman.
Accordingly, with q rueful look, he
rose as if to depart
"Well, / can say no more. I've Of
fered you my all, and it doesn't please
you. Many's the time, Nancy, my
dear, I've thought of you here so
solltary-like. Maybe, after this, you II
think about me sometimes sitting lone.
some."
"Oh, hush !" cried Nancy, smitten
with real compunction for the pain she
was Inhicting. "If it was anything
else. Mr.. Sprunt-."
"Ay, that's it," with heavy sigh,
taking step to the door. 'If you
knew how I've saved up, and planned
and counted on this, you'd be sorry
for me. You see disappointment
tells more on man come to my time
of life. I'm not 80 young as l once
was"
The smile with which he concluded
was more touching to Nancy than
tears. A wave of infinite pity swept
over her.
Sprunt paused half way to the door,
detecting signs of indecision.
81 see you're not able to bring your
mind to it, he said, humbly. 81 might
have known you couldn't. You'll not
let this make any difference between
us it will kill me, if you did. Good
bye, my dear-God bless you! You'll
never want friend rs long as old John
Sprunt's living. Good bye"
"Stop moment" said Nancy hur-
riedly. She was fairly overcome by
such disinterested affection. 'If you
care SO much"
"Care" broke in Sprunt. with gen
uine fervor; lyon don't know how
much care" (which was quite true).
ooh, Nancy! Just change your mind
and say yes. ,"
Nancy said Eyes"
While this settling and sealing OF
his mistress's destiny was taking place,
it may be profitable to enquire, "What
was Spook after?"
During the most interesting part OF
the colloquy he was intent on an ez-
animation of the visitors overcoat-
foreign articles (that is, those not in
digeIous to Cherry-tree Cottage) pos
sessing rare fascination for him.
Spook had terrible nose for dis.
covering secrets. The nearer he ap.
preached one of the pockets the keener
grew the smiling; the reason being
that therein lay the fateful letter,
which had acquired very pronounced
smell of tho ham it had been in close
proximity to all day.
Now, Spook had one weaAness-and
that was for ham. Ham in any shape
or form was to him irresistible. For
ham he would have stopped at no
crime, how much less at mere pocket
picking
After considerable manmuvering, he
dexterously inserted into the pocket a
paw, and, without more ado, contrived
to fish out the letter.
As it fell on the floor, sudden
movement of Sprunts made Spook
think he was detected, and he precipi-
lately fled, leaving his booty lying
half-hidden under the table, to be dis
covered in due time.
If anyone had told Nancy the next
morning, when she began washing her
doorstep, that she would leave it half
done, she would have laughed the
crazy prediction to scorn.
But so it was decreed.
She had given the preliminary wash
with water, when shadow fell athwart
the step.
Nancy looked up in surprise. and
met the steadfast gaze of tall,
bronzed and bearded stranger.
Uttering an inarticulate cry of hal
incredulous Joy, she sprang to her feel
and took a step forward.
The next instant the stranger.
strong arms were round her, and hi,
lips were pressed to hers in long
passionate kiss.
1t was Tom-Tom come back from
the grave as it were.
Who could describe the feelings o
the long severed pair? Nanoy's glow