The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-06-16

but shs broke down Aatly with: 80.
that-sH" Here her eye wandered
again TO the hat ''So-thst-a-"s she
repeated. absently.
"So-that-a-" mimicked Tom, a
which laughed weakly and heiplessly.
Nell gave him-both Of US, in fact-a fu.
rious glance. and returned TO her
charge.
All this time Mr.. Everett had be-
haved admirably. He must have OBJ
served our hysterical nervousness, but
] presume he attributed 1t to tho dire
confusion and disorder Of our surround.
ings.
When he finally arose to take his de-
parture. Nell put her 'kerchief to hes
lips with shameless pretense at cough
ing-she, who had the strongest lungs
in the family-and said rapidly: For
heavens sake, Kate. pick up his hat
and wipe the chocolate of refore no
sees IT," Then louder: "l'm so sorry
we did not know you were coming. so
we could have made your visit pleas
unter."
by jingo," said Tom, making dash
for the cubby hole. "That reminds me
I'd better be getting his coat before ne
investigates and finds II between the
potatoes and the coal oil can! Myl" he
calculated, shifting exaggeratedly, us
he returned with 1t, 1T smells of coal
DILL"
by the way" said Mr.. Everett, turn
ing to me kindly, "here's letter for
you from my brother, which should
have given you before. shall tell him
how greatly l enjoyed my call" And
as he bowed himself out there dawned
upon his face o slow smile of such in-
tense and uncomfortable amusement
that II made me feel as II an icy hand
was clutching my heart. We all stood
transfxed until we heard the door close
behind him. Then
His brother!" exclaimed Nell, in n
low, terrible tone. "Wretched girl!
Who Is his brother?"
II don't know" faltered. almost in
tears, tearing open the letter.
"Ten to one" said Tom, strutting
around with his thumbs in his button.
holes. tits proposal Of marriage.
"Or II 500 check for that last story"
Iaid Nell, laughing nervously.
They came behind me and looked over
my shoulder, all reading together. 1t
was not proposal Of marriage, but IL
was a check-an effectual one-to our
spirits.
MY Dear Miss Orne: We nave long de.
sired to make your acquaintance. and as
one of us must go to your town on business
I shall let my brother have that pleas
| ure. denying myself because I am SO deaf
as l have told you-that you would find
| conversation with me embarrassing My
brother Is so fortunate as to enjoy perfect
hearing. l am sure you will like him, al
though I believe have never mentioned
him to you. He Is associate editor Of the
Review. l am
Yours very sincerely,
HUGH A. EVERETT"
For q moment that seemed a year
there was deadly silence. Then began
to sob childishly, and Nell regret to
be compelled to tell it-Nell went into
regular Mysteries Of mirth. and laughed
and cried alternately. Nor did she en-
tirely recover for weeks. but would 20
into convulsions OF merriment at the
mere mention OF that evening. Tom
neither laughed nor cried. He just sat
down on the edge of the organ stool and
twisted his faint presentiment of mus
tache and swung his long legs to and
fro, and reflected. When his thoughts
had had time to travel down tC the bag
of potatoes and the coal oil can, i'm
agine he concluded that he couh re-
feet more clearly II alone, for he arose
silently and stole into the store, nor
did SO much as. a murmur emerge from
him during the remainder OF the even
ing. 1t was the first and last time in
my life that ever saw Tom squelched.
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post.