The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-09-09

we are poor"
80, I'm sure we will" said Lydia
quickly. But Maude spoke up plainly
and said:
'1 always did want to visit q plain
old country home, just for the novelty
of it,"
Cali right" said Aunt Rebecca.
"Betty, you show the young. ladies up
stairs. Have the trunk taken up too.
Take off your things and come down
and we will have supper"
They were shown large chamber
with high-posted bedstead, low,
wooden-seated chairs, a pine wash
stand, and cheap bowl and pitcher
"What big, bare place!" exclaimed
Maude.
"But it's nice and clean," protested
Lydia.
'Lyde, we've been completely sold"
mo, Mauds, she never said she was
rich. Mamma merely took it from
common report"
81 wouldn't have come mad known
this"
81 would, Just for the fun of it.
Come, if you are ready let's go down,
I'm hungry"
$50 am l."
The supper was plain, and served
upon the commonest dishes, with steel
knives and forks, that didn't look as
well, but served just rs well as the
silverware the girls were used to at
home. But they had plenty to eat,
and it was well cooked. Being tired,
they retired early that night. They
had not been asleep long, however,
when they were awakened by loud
groans from below. The girls got up
quickly and went downstairs to find
their aunt ill from sudden attack of
rheumatism, to which she was sub
ject.
Noah had gone for the doctor, and
the girls watched the sick woman for
several hours. But the next day she
was able to sit up.
'I'm victim to these spells" said
she. "Im not afraid when anyone is
here with me-"
That's what she wanted us for, 4"
whispered Maude to Lydia.
81 can't go out to-day" said she;
"but Noah will take you for n drive
and show you the country
When they came home Aunt Re-
becca had visitor She presented
him as her nearest neighbor, Mr..
Walker Lydia and Maude beheld n
handsome face with piercing, dark
eyes and black hair.
"He owns splendid place next to
mine said their aunt, after the young
man had departed.
81 would like to know where that
splendid place is" said Maude when
the girls were alone.
"It must be that old rick racked
thing over in that thicket of weeds"
remarked Lydia laughingly.
"Well, I'll not set my cap for him,
if he is handsome.
"Neither will l." returned Lydia.
But during their stay of two OF
three weeks at the old farmhouse, they
found Mr.. Walker very pleasant es.
cort, and began to like him very
much. One evening Aunt Rebecca
said to them:
"I've kept you here running about,
for cross old woman, as long Us
ought. But / don't like to be quite
alone. If one of you girls-one only
will stay here and live with me, I'll
give you what clothes you need, and
half of what l have when l die. You
know how 1 live, and know what tc
expect. 1 will give you to the time
you get ready to go home to decide in. ,
Il wouldn't like to stay" said
Maude quickly. 81 could not bear {
country life. 1 should be miserable.
every well. You shall go home
whenever you choose. And how
about you, Lydia?"
"Well, Aunt Rebecca, I, too, dc
not like the country. But 1 do no
think you ought to be left alone whel
you are sick so often. If YOU wan
me, why-why, I'll stay awhile"
"Thank you, my darling" said tn
aunt.
"But," continued Lydia, 'I dom
want you to leave me anything. / sta,
because I like you, and think l al
needed"
"That's good girl" said Rebecca
and Maude looked daggers at Lydia
"Now go and help Maude pack he
things, since she has decided to go. "
When they were alone upstairs
Maude said:
30, Lydia, how could You hid
yourself here from the world all sum
mer?"
s:5aut 7 copldn.t refuse, Mands; Oh