The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-01-19

letter to Jan fell ON the ground.
.Ld that q mischievous little breeze,
out for holiday. seized IL and whirled
it away round the corner OF street,
finally dropping 1t in a water butt
which stood in backyard.
Week followed week and there came
no sign from Jan, nor did she ever see
him coming to the house with mes.
sages and letters. At first she though.
it was because Jan was busy preparing
for the orchid show, but when that was
long past and still she neither saw MOI
heard anything Of him, Sues heart be-
gan to ache at this apparent desertion
on the part of an old and tried friend.
"You are looking pale and Ill, Suze.'
said Mevrouw Ten Bruggenkate to her
one day. "You had better pack up your
things and go home for a week."
In vain Suze protested that she was
perfectly well. Her mistress was reso
lutte, and in the end the girl had to give
way and go.
well, child" said her mother. 8
short. stout woman, with generous
waist and hips; $50 thou hast been
getting i'll up yonder. All! in towns il
is no wonder that folk are never well
My poor head aches always with thu
noise whenever go to Rotterdam. IL
only for few days, But out here.
where it is quiet always and the air is
pure, thou wilt soon be well again."
Suze looked mournfully out on the
landscape, and thought it had never
looked so dreary. For away, as far as
the eye could reach, spread grazing
meadows; on the canal a barge was
slowly vending its way, and the red
caps of the men on board made the
only bit Of bright coloring in the land
scape. A herd of black and white cows.
of which old Plet Klops, Sues father
had charge. grazed in the foreground;
pollard willows grew everywhere, and
against the horizon the sails of wind.
mills whirled increasingly. The gir'
shrank and shivered little.
"Heaven send thou hast not the
ague." exclaimed Vrouw Klops. bust
ling to the cupboard and bringing out
an infallible remedy for the malady,
"Ah these cities! The iare indeed nur'
series of all evils. both Of mind and
body"
Old Piet Klops WAS away in Amster-
dam whittier he had gone to buy some
cows. Mynheer Cornelius, his master.
had large herds already, but he was
one of those men denounced in Scrip
ture, who are ever ready to increase
their stock OF possessions. Piet had
various errands in the city and did not
return until Suze had been at home
three days.
"Great news in Amsterdam" he said,
regarding his daughter narrowly rs he
sat over his bread and cheese. "Jan
Vreede is, they say, betrothed to Vrouw
Steene, the rich widow Of the grocer.
I had not thought that Jan was on the
lookout for money, but so it is. The
Heer took first prize for orchids at The
Hague. and Jan has now higher sal
ary, but II he marries Vrouw Steene.
he will likely give up his gardening and
take to the shop"
"Where art thou going, Suze?" for
she was vanishing through the open
door.
II forgot to feed the hens" the girl
answered in faint voice.
At this precise time Jan Vreede was
entering the shop of Vrouw Steene
with long list of articles which the
cook had desired him to order on his
way to the station. Jan looked graver
than when Suze had last seen him, and
his brown eyes had puzzled expires.
sion, as il he were trying TO solve some
problem which was too hard for him.
Vrouw Steene, buxom widow, with
lively black eyes and comely visage
was serving in her shop when he en-
tered, and her face lit up with a smile
as she saw him, for Jan was always
welcome caller, not only for his own
sake, but also because Mynheer Cor
nelius was a good customer and never
grumbled at her prices.
Dag. JAM" she said. and Jan, taking
off his hat, responded: Dag, Vrouw
Seene, and how goes the world with
you?'
well enough" answered the widow
with O sigh. but the business Is too
much for me. 1t needs stronger hand
and head than mine to keep it going as
1t should, Mynheer Vreede."
"Ah! ia" said Jan. absently. "See,
Anna has given me this list to bring
you, and will be glad If you will send
the things as soon as possible. / am
on my way to HARLEM. Any messages
or commissions, Vrouw Steene? You
have relatives there. believe"
Thanks" said the vrouw, looking at
him critically. II will trouble you with
small basket to leave with my aunt
Jansen; am always glad to send her
n few things. Are you going to call at
Mevrouw Ten Bruggenkate's house?"
"Ja, the Heer has sent her some cut
tings and I am to stay and see them
properly set"
"Ah. then you will have a long talk
with Suze. A nice maiden is Suze'
"Ja," said Jan. indifferently, "but