The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-07-29

''There, said Nora, Is she turned
away from Teddy O'Hara, can sure
I've forgotten the name as clane as il
niver had heard it."
"Whose name was it, alanna ?" consol.
ingly demanded Colonel Ross's coach
man, whose soft nothings had put the
message completely out of Nora's s head.
"There was somethin' in it about the
'Rectory of a Country Parson,'" said
Nora, twisting herself into the letter
s, with the violent attempt at recol-
lection to which she forced herself.
"There amt no rectory hereabouts, 4"
said Teddy. ''Sure it amt built yet!
But the parson he's up on the hotel
steps. l seen him there rs 1 came
beyant. A tall young gentleman, with
high vest-for all the wurreld like
Father Rockwell-an' spectacles as
gintale as We place. Is it a message
you've got for him, Nora, mavour-
neen?"
"Im to borrow himl" said Nora,
fixing her dull, CLASSY glare ON Teddy
O'Hara's astonisbe ed face.
"To-borrow him?" repeated Teddy
"Yis, sure!' Nora answered, dog
gedly.
!. Teddy uttered whistle.
'It's the quarest loan as iver I
heard Of" said he. "An' if it's fair
question, who is it wants him?"
Miss Matty Rice's compliments, "
repeated Nora, with parrot-like
promptitude, "and she wants to bor-
row the parson."
Teddy exploded into n laugh.
"Surc, an if it was leap year." said
he, II should think it meant some
thing. I niver heard such message
in all me born days before. But l
must make haste, OF the mail will be
off"
Away trudged Teddy, while Nora
kept on to the hotel, all unconscious
OF the curious transformation that had
befallen her luckless message.
'Is the parson here?" demanded
she, shaking her umbrella, and stamp
ing the mud off her feet on the steps
of the mountain hotel, which was still
well-tilled with guests who had
fingered to see the splendors of the
October frosts among the woods.
The hotel clerk, who had Just come
out to glance at the barometer, stared
at her; the young ladies on the wide
veranda giggled; the stout old gentle
men, who were walking up and down
the boards to gain their daily two
miles of exercise, stopped short; and
a spectacled, grave-looking young
man, who was talking with lady
just beyond, glanced around, as if he
fancied that he were personally inter-
ested.
"Do you want the--clergyman?"
said the hotel clerk. doubtful, yet
polite.
"Is 1t a stone-mason or chimney
swape I'd be manin', dye Think" re-
torted Nora, beginning to imagine that
she was being made game of.
81 am the clergyman" said the
spectacled gentleman, stepping cour-
teously forward at this iuncture. "Is
there anything / can do for you?"
Miss Matte Rice's compliments"
said Nora, without in the least abat-
ing the shrilliness of her voice, "an'
she wants to borrow you"
81 beg your pardon" said Mr..
Fontaine, "but-I'm not quite sure
that I understand you, my good
woman"
I'm speakin' the English language,
sure, said Nora, somewhat atironted.
She wants to borrow yon."
''But what for?" said he, ignoring
the filters of the group which was
now fast gathering on the veranda.
'To amuse herself wild this rainy
day." said Nora. You're to come
back wild me, phase. Twas to bring
you. Miss Matty Rice's compliments,
and"
Really" said Mr.. Fontaine, "this
Is very strange"
''The Rices live in the little Swiss
cottage by the Haldino Falls" sug-
gested the hotel clerk. Gentleman
goes up and down to the city every
day. Keeps a little pony carriage,
with"
you're to come back wild me,
please" interrupted Nora. I" "'The
Rectory,' or the County Parson.'
Miss Matty Rices compliments, and
Mr.. Fontaine, hurriedly surveying
the situation in his minds eve, decid-
ed that it was better to obey this
strange behest.
And putting on his waterproof
wrap, and arming himself with light
silk umbrella, he accompanied Nora
McShane, to the great buzzing and
whispering of the group ON the ver-
anda.
Miss Rice was listlessly watching
Eveleen's embroidery, as the door
bounced open and Nora rushed in, ex-
claiming:
Here he is! I've brought himm
brought whom?" said Matty, in
surprise.