The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-05


was much excited. Suppose 1t was Sco-
vile, couldn't you do something for
them then, Robert!"
81 might" replied Mr.. Hardy briefly.
But can tell you l have more calls
for my money now than l can meet.
Take the church expenses, for example.
Why, we are called upon to give to
some cause or other every week, be-
sides our regular pledges for current
expenses. It's a constant drain. l
shall have to cut down on my pledge.
We can't be giving to everything all
the time and have anything ourselves"
Mr.. Hardy spoke with touch of in
dignation, and his wife glanced around
the almost palatial room and smiled.
Then her face grew a little stern and
almost forbdding as she remembered
that only last week her husband had
spent $3.50 for new electrical appa-
ratus to experiment with in his labora-
tory. And now he was talking hard
times and grudging the small sums he
gave to religious objects in connection
with his church and thinking he could
not afford to help the family Of man
who had once saved his life!
Again she turned to the piano and
played awhile. but she could not be
rested by the music as sometimes she
had been. When she finally rose and
walked over by the table near the end
of the lounge. Mr.. Hardy was asleep,
and she sat down by the table gazing
into the open fire drearily, look OF
sorrow and unrest on the face still
beautiful. but worn by years Of disap-
pointment and the loss Of that respect
and admiration she once held for the
man who had vowed at the altar to
make her happy. She had not lost her
love for him wholly. but she was fast
losing the best part Of it. the love
which has its daily source In an Unborn
respect When respect is gone, love Is
not long in following after.
She sat thus for half an hour and
was at last aroused by the two girls,
Clara and Bess. coming in. They were
laughing and talking together and had
evidently parted with some one at the
door. Mrs. Hardy went out into the
hallway.
Hush, girls, your father is asleep!
You know how he feels to be awakened
suddenly by noise. But he has been
waiting up for you"
"Then guess we'I so up stairs
without bidding him good night" said
Clara abruptly. II don't want to be
lectured about going over to the Cax-
TONS"
mo; want to see you both and have
little talk with you. Come in here"
Mrs. Hardy drew the two girls into the
front room and pulled the curtains to-
gether over the arch opening into the
room where Mr.. Hardy lay. "Now tell
me, girls, why did your father forbid
your going over to the Caxtons'? l did
not know until tonight. Has it some
thing to do with James"
Neither Of the girls said anything for
a minute. Then Bess, who was the
younger Of the two and famous for
startling the family with very sensa-
, tional remarks, replied, "James and
Clara are engaged, and they are going
to be married tomorrow"
Mrs. Hardy looked ut Clara, and the
, girl grew very red in the face. and
then, to the surprise Of her mother and
Bess, she burst out into n violent fit OF
crying. Mrs. Hardy gathered her into
Z her arms as in the olden times when
! she was a little child and soothed her
into quietness.
"Tell me all about it, dear. did not
n know you cared for James in that
1 way"
9 But I do" sobbed Clara. "And ia
. ther guessed something and forbade us
D going there any more But l didn't
@ think he would mind it If Bess and i
e went just this one night | couldn't
help it anyway. Mother. isn't it right
for people to love each other"
"'Tisn't proper to talk about such
things on Sunday" said Bess solemnly.
"Claraw said Mrs. Hardy. why.
you're only child yet! Is 1t true that
James is Why, he is only a boy"
"He is 81, and am 1s, and he's earn
ing $40 a month in the Office and is one
Of the best stenographers in the state.
We've talked it over, and wish we
could be married tomorrow, So" Clara
burst out with it all at once. while Bess
remarked quietly:
Eyes, they're real sensible. and l
think James is nice, but when marry
II want more than $40 month for can
dy alone. And, then, he isn't particu-
larly handsome"
"He is, too" cried Clara. "And he's
good and brave and splendid. and I'd
rather have him than a thousand such
lmen as Lancey Cummings. Mother. !
!dont want money. 1t hasn't made you
happy"
y "Hush, dearw Mrs. Hardy felt as II
It blow had smitten her in the face.
d She was silent then.
IS Clara put her arms around her moth
II er and whispered: "Forgive me. moth.
I er! didn't mean to hurt you. But
Z am 80 unhappy"
,r Unhappy! And yet the girl was Just
r. beginning to blossom out toward the