The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-28

Louise.
will do the honors of the music room,
where we hoped we might have your
voice to assist. Una plays beautifully"
Una" asked Rhena.
"Yes, Miss Nasplane. 1t comes nat
ural for me to call her Una Of course.
We were girls together and besides"
added Louise, with short laugh.
"sincc her recent engagement to my
brother Stuart it seems more natural
THAI ever. Well, I'm sorry you cannot
come. We would have enjoyed hearing
you sing"
You are kind to think Of me, and
am grateful for It," replied Rhena. The
closest observer could not have detect
ed any special emotion in her voice and
manner. She imp essed even Louise
with that lie about Stuart warm on her
lips. as possessed, even In those dingy
surroundings and in the army garb, Of
grace and refinement that very few
persons could equal. Louise felt like
making some commonplace remark
about the hardship Of Rhena's life
work, but something in Rhenas man
ncr forbade 1t. and she went out of the
room with a conventional Good even
ing. Miss Dwight. So sorry 10 think
you cannot favor US"
out ON the street Louise murmured
to herself. Il was pretty sure she
would refuse TO come. and don't think
she is the person to lead Stuart on aft
or that little bit of previous informa-
ton about Una She smiled and set
her face for home, walking briSnly
through the now fast failing SNOW.
To any one familiar with the charac-
ter of Louise Duncan her call on Rhc-
na Dwight and her falSehood as TO
Stuart'S engagement were perfectly
easy to understand. 1t measured the
extent of Louisc's petty. narrow ideas
of life and all its meaning. She had
observed enough Of Stuart's manner
of late to feel sure that his feeling for
Rhcna had become more than senti-
mcnt, and 1t was the last thing in the
world that she wanted. II she could
prevent any attachment with Il Saliva
/ ton Army leader. she would do it in
any way short Of being found out in
| lccrt hCncr her l'r To Rhcna. How
would she ever lupW? 10 be sure
| nhcna was - Cynrr,,H'ul WCman in
,hr was cr o.iciy. and s'j2 might have
AoJu "a E,Y Gi.urh il ~" had Nnown
! Louitu. ~ Ne sister g. stuart had
/ lrt, n i...,., -.Jn Of kial hvIrtclncss
| with TIE fvMpr Surirty leader, and
HMrna .vit. rs she sad. grateful for
the 3!%"ruf S.2vc.ily which would
recognize hv.' present position in Cham
pion rs en;,,..ng her to Il place still in
polite society.
Rhcna dill not light her lamp after
Louise went out. She sat by the win.
dow, looking out on the falling snow
When the time came to go out for the
meeting, which was held regularly In
the hall instead Of the street now that
the nights had become stormy, SHE
shivered with the cold. Her lips NOV
ed in an audible prayer that some on
going by the passage heard. 20 Laml
of God that takest away the sins OF
the world, pardon me and help me"
There were very few out that evening
A great storm grew with the night
and In the morning all Champion, will
Its setting Of pine covered hills, wa!
deep in the snow that swept past Rhe
mas windows In drifted pillows higl
up against the old storage room door.
That afternoon Stuart came dowr
through the drifts to meet with An
drew and Eric. as the three had agreed
to talk over the matter Of relief for th'
miners and also to arrange for some
thing more permanent than plan o
local relief for the immediate distress
of Champion. Eric managed to &c
through the snow and insisted that tn,
struggle did him good. Andrew wei