The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-06-17

felt that this was good advice, and
waited; but the monotonous lone, two,
three" Of her small piano pupils seemed
to pound upon her brain.
But her mother did not return, and
the next day Penelope set ort for Or
inoco. There was no train until after.
noon. On her way to the station she
stopped at the postOffice to mail her
letter to Sam Mute. She had vague
feeling that it was Precipitation Of
fate, this sacrifice which was SO hard.
Without it her mother would not be
returned to her. Before she could slip
the letter into the box the postmistress
handed her one, addressed in the
loose, wavering hand that had been
her mothers since her illness, and she
went directly out with it.
Penelope sat down upon the grass
by the wayside and opened it, her
heart leaping at the dear, familiar
words.
MY DEAR DAUGHTER: I want you to send
me my best bonnet, right of. And you
might send. too, your little lace cap that
you think Is 80 becoming to me. They
want me to stay to the county conference.
and as there are things about It that seem
kind Of providential, as you might say, 1
don't know but shall. And Lizzie is real
stylish, you know. I'm wearing one OF her
hats. and they say It isn't mdte too young
for me.
l forgot that you don't know how camo
here, but suppose you must have kind OF
guessed by this time. / went across the
field to the railroad track, thinking to pick
few blaokberries. My head few round,
but kept right on, for never was one to
give up easy. I went to climb over the
empty passenger that are most always
there In the daytime, and / sat down to
rest; and guess must have fallen asleep,
for first thing knew there was jerk, and
the train was moving.
thought at first that was only dizzy,
and the noise II made was in my head but
when the stone walls begen to slip along
backward knew what had'happened.
l got up to go inside, but the door was
locked, and nobody saw or heard me till
the conductor came along and unlocked
the door. / told him must be put of, but
he said they couldn't, for they were behind
time. He was saucy, anyhow; when l said
/ couldn't go to Orinoco which was the
frat stopping -place-he said, as cool as
could be, Madam. what will you dO2 And
when l said should die before got there,
he said, as polite as basket Of chips, In
that case, madam, will SEQ that your re-
mains are sent to your friends"
He gave me a comfortable seat-I'll say
that for him-and there l sat in Selina's
old haying hat. with the tears triokling
down my cheeks and him and two brake
men staring at me. When / got of at
Orinoco was trembling In every limb, for
/ hadn't any money. Icouldn't bear to ask
any questions. after the blood-curdling way
that that conductor answered me. But l
declare, l don't know but 1t kept me up to
be so mad as he made me!
While / was standing on the platform OF
the Orinoco station. wondering what I
should do. who should come driving up but
Sam and Lizzie Mute! You know I've had
kind of feeling against Nutes, but didn't
think of 1t then. l never was so glad to
see any folks in all my born days, and l
said so right out. They took me right
home with them, and here am.
1t seems queer that / should have been
carried of SO to the county conference,
that never expected to go to again. The
Rev. Orsino Cheney is stopping here at
Deacon Nute's to attend the conference.
Your Aunt Selma will know who he Is He
used to kind Of keep company with me
when / was a girl. They say he has come
home FOR wife, and Lizzie keeps teasing
me: but, Of course, that is ridiculous. Not
but what should feel equal to laboring In
the Lords vineyard wherever He was
pleased to call me, after what stood yes
terday.
That makes me think that don't know
as you've treated Sam Nuto just right.
Maybe you've thought too much Of that old
difficulty between the two families. Folks
ought not to treasure up such things. II
should have to leave you-and the most
things do happen in this world
4 should like to think that l left you with
such protector rs Sam Mute would be.
YoUR LOVING MOTHER.
p. S.-Before you send the bonnet you
night get two little sprigs Of those blue
lowers that You thought were so becoming
20 me and let the mlliner pin them in.
Penelope laughed little and cried
, little, sitting by herself on the grass
beside the road Then she tore the
ong, hateful letter to Sam all into lit
lie bits and tossed them into the air;
md the winds of heaven swooped
lown upon them and bore them afar.
Vnrth', Nnn,nopinp