The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-03-25

1uVisucu upon ucI
wv a, ,i. that s ws,i' si could !
bankrupt at an unexpected crisis in
the financial world, the double shock
seemed more than she could bear.
Fer q time it paralyzed her energies,
but when at last the dread question,
What should she do? was put before
her in all its unvarnished plainness.
pride and her own strength Of will
came to her rescue, and sho answered,
brushing the tears from her bright
eyes and holding erect the regal head :
Anything rather than live depen.
dent upon others. / will work"
Then, when the weary days merged
into weeks and months, and she finally
sought and obtained a position as
governess in Mrs. Elwood's family,
and babe farewell to her old home,
where she had spent so many happy
hours to enter upon the threshold of
her new life, it seemed as though a
hand Of iron had grasped her heart and
clutched it in q wise. She lived two
lives-an outer life, in which her sweet
voice never wavered, and where she
wore a smile whose hollowness the
children, her little charges, could not
fathom and an inner life, which
sometimes grew to such agony that
almost it betrayed her; but the tears
rarely rose beyond the fountain-head.
And though at times the crown Of
thorns she daily wore pressed hard
upon the tired young brow, she car
ried it unfinchingly. At first, as the
days brought each their fresh burden
and every hour seemed to give birth
to some new and harder duty, a hope,
unbidden, shone ever through the
darkest clouds that Douglas Rallings
would release her ere her thralldom
became unbearable. In bygone days,
though no positive engagement bound
them, his words, his every act were
Enthusiastically the words and acts of a
lover. At her fathers death she had
heard nothing from him, but each day
some fragrant flowers had been sent
her, which she felt assured could come
only from him.
Then followed the announcement Of
her loss Of fortune, and from hat day
she had heard nothing Of the recreant
save the news which came to her
through others that he had sailed for
Europe. Not even this did she learn
until weeks had passed, and then she
babe farewell to the hope which had
served to buoy her through these many
trials, and wrapping herself in a man
tie of icy reserve, piled high the sod
upon q grave within her heart, nor
shed n tear to keep its memory
green. 1t is winter to her, within as
we'll as without, and as now and then,
~glancing from the window. she sees
the handsome sleighs, with their mer-
ry occupants, dash past. she wonders
could it be she who, one short year ago,
revealed like these, the gayest of the
gay?
"Miss Loring," a sweet, childish
voice cries, interrupting her reverie,
mamma says will you not join US in a
ride? There is a vacant seat in the
sleigh, and she should be very glad to
have you fill it,"
Certainly. dear I will be there in
a moment" and, rising to her feet,
she donned her outer wraps and hast
ened to meet Mrs. Elwood in the hall
below.
Before the door stood two sleighs,
one that belonged to her hostess, the
other q beautiful little cutter. with a
pair Of prancing steeds, held by a
groom in full livery, while in the
drawihg-room tat Its owner, waiting
for Miss Elwood, the daughter of the
house, who had this winter made her
debut in society.
Edith, unconscious OF any ones
presence, ran hastily into the room to
see if Mrs. Elwood awaited her, and
for q moment the blood surged up in
a glad tide, for there before the open
fireplace stood Douglas Ratings,
alone. He had come then at last /;
but her outstretched hand drops to
her side, her look of happy surprise
vanIshes. as she reads in his face only
utter amazement at her sudden appar-
ition. In a moment she realizes it il
not she whom he seeks.
"Pardon me, Mr.. Rallings. l
thought the drawing.room deserted,
or expected to find only Mrs. Elwood.
I imagined you were abroad"
~ returned only last week, and this
is a most welcome surprise. May l
not tell you how very glad ! am to
find you? Are you visiting Mrs. Ell.
wood?"
81 am residing here permanently.
as Mrs. Elwood's governess. Good
morning."
"Stay, Edith why are you so cold?
Let me be your friend-do something,
anything, to tighten your burden"
"Thank you. My own shoulders
are sufficiently broad to bear any bur.
den laid upon them. Once more,
good morning" and in another mo-
ment Edith stepped into the sleigh
beside Mrs. Elwood, aud was whirled
from his sight. As he turns a moment
I atar - u,aak Mic, EturnnI khava q. n