The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-10-13
A STRANGE DECEPTION
By ELIZA WALLACE DURBIN

and is approached only by that OF I
school-ma'am on Friday evening.
He had finished one task, and wa
allowing himself the recreation Of realiz
Ing how tired he was before beginning
another. AS his eyes wandered listless
ly over his desk, they fell upon a letter
lying there. With q sudden stir Of In
terest he picked it up
$50 she Is coming to New York" !" he
unused. II wonder what she Is like
Very likely plain and strong-featured
What an incongruity If so much beauty
of mind should lie under an unattractiv
exterior! Yet what does 1t matter any
way? It's lucky for us we CHANGED to
bring her out; that last story Of hers
wns extraordinary"
Just then the Office boy entered.
LADY to see you-Miss lansing" said
he. The editor sat up in his chair, all his
hstlessness gone.
Bring her in" he said quickly, and
watched the door with intense interest
In a moment there entered a creature
whose beauty struck John Laurence
dumb. He stared at her In wonder as
she came toward him, and not till she
hesitated In Embarrassment did he get
up and hold out his hand.
"How do you do, Miss LansingY' he
said, awkwardly. You have taken me
by surprise"
II did not intend to come 40 soon, "
she replied, in voice that waited him
to the green meadows and ripping wa
tiers Of her stories, "but wished to see
about attending some art school"
you do your Dillustratingr
EYES,"
you are greatly blessed. Miss Ian
sing"
Miss Lansing knew very web that he
was thinking Of her physical charms as
well as her mental gifts, but she be-
trayed no embarrassment There was On
instant's gleam OF white teeth and a
CLINT Of gold as she smiled slightly, then
her fsce became almost sad In its Sc
riousness.
There was little silence. then she
said timidly: II have brought you the
story Of which wrote you"
He took It, saying: ~ will examine 1t
as soon as possible. Shall I give you the
check for your last story?"
"Not to-day. I Idon't wnnt IT to-day"
she answered, hastily.
~Very well. Now sit down, and let
me show you some comments on your
work."
He brought lot of papers, and with
quiet enthusiasm called her attention
10 certain paragraphs; but she seemed
very Indifferent, and soon rose to go.
He went out with her.
"Have you friends in the cityr' he
asked when they reached the hall.
"No, know of no one have room
on Thirty-second street, near the I'm
perial hotel"
When he found she intended TO walk
he seized the opportunity Of accom-
panying her, and from his leisurely man
ner you would not have guessed that
every idle moment was increasing the
already crushing pressure Of work to
each square inch on his brain.
By the time they had reached her
place he had committed himself to the
pleasure Of showing her the city.
But when she had disappeared he
took cab and buried back to
the Office, where visions Of a raw
ishng combination Of dark blue
eyes, long, black lashes. soft wavy,
gold-brown hair, and fascinating
mouth fitted in and out with the sun
light as 1t flashed back and forth over
the spot where she had stood
John Laurence had lived his 80 years
in the realm Of sentiment; but had
never been inside the garden of Eden.
He had gone past and around 1t, and
knew it was there, without any de-
sire to enter, or even any curiosity as
to what was within; but now that fate
had given him ticket and passed him
inside, he did not stand long ut the
portal.
Miss Lansing had said she would not
stay longer than week, but six passed,
and she was still in the city. OF all those
millions Of people she knew only two
Laurence and his sister. The thought
pleased Laurence. He gloated over Il
with selfish delight. He was thinking Of
II one morning while finishing some
work, preparatory to taking his sister
and Miss Lansing out for the afternoon,
when the boy ushered in Miss Lansing
herself.
Hesprang upin surprise and pleasure,
but the gladness Of his face gave way to
when he saw that she was ex-
cited and troubled.
"Mr. Laurence" she began quickly,
"can you give me check for those
stories now? have Just received a tele.
srrnr.,F x,n.s