The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-01-09

tUa
Pheba; he asked you long ago to have him,
and all your ill-usage has not driven him
from you. DO take pity on him and give him
a little hope to live upon while you are gone"
81 should not mind doing that. il he would
not torment me when | come back. | am
sorry he has complained Of me to you--you
can tell him that il lie had not done SO |
should get you to tell him that he is worth
all the beaax in the village put together
good bye"
This was all the saucy girl would acknowl-
edge, but 1t was quite enough FOR James, and
in fact her uncle thoNght il sufficient encour-
agement for the lover TO perseyere.
Her grandmother was properly delighted
to see Pheba, aud to lind her so pretty and
wel-behaved TOO. She created quite a sem
satlon among her godmother's friends. Her
little head WAS nearly turned with the atten-
tons paid to her. But Notwithstanding all
this, and more than one very excellent offer
Of marriage, Pheba found herself signing for
her friends in the country, 50 she determn-
e,l to return with the first chance that Offer
| ed.
She was a great letter writer, aGi like all
young ladies. she kept journal; and at the
end OF every week this was dispatched to
her aunt by mail. 0fcourse, as James Rev
rolds was supposed TO be in great favor with
Pheba, he was generally told Of her letters
by her aunt. II vas some consolation, there
fore. to know that she had refused two good
offers, and his heart whispered that il might
possibly be on his account
At last Pheba came home. She was like
bird escaping from its cage; for the quiet
4 a - Il
was no irisking in aud out, no dancing, no
little snatches Of songs, end no walking out
just as the whim suited, was very annoying
| 10 Pheba. But no souner was she fairly at
h0ue again. and had seen all her friends,
than The little wretch began to torment James
once more. She let him perceive how very
glad she was TO see him--hOw could she help
il when the tears would run down her cheeks
Al she shook hands with himi James, in an
ecstacy of delight, made bold to ask her to
Iook in at his shop, the next day. as she pass
ed by. as he had something to show her.
The next day she did call, pretending
that she just stopped on her way from Mrs.
Fields, who wanted TO hear about her god
mother. James took her to the upper end Of
the shop, out Of the hearing OF The men and
boys, and removing large cover, showed
her with an earnest look and bIuShing face,
beautiful iniaid work table, all the labor OF
his own hands. She was just going to ex-
clam, "oh how beautiful" but she recollec-
| ted that he intended il for her, and she was
slIent-it was one Of the hardest struggles to
behave I'LL that she ever had in her life, but
/ her evil genius came TO her assistance.
| at is very pretty, Mr.. Reynolds" said
she, carelessIy, without examining tiff
rich Mrs. Stuart could see it, | have no doubt
she would purchase Il. ! must 80 now, good
morning"
lie turned as red as FIRE. "Miss Pheba
Lamb" said he, in return for calling him
Mr.. Reynolds, IL did not make this for sale,
but have changed my mind, add now the
work table-kicsing It as he left the spot
shall be sold--l am tired II life.
Pheba was lhunderstruck. lie put on his
hat; and fairly left her standing ~ the shop
ruotei to the spot.
Hut poor James got the better Of his gry
feelings. He fastened back, Tor he conld
not imagine how the naughty, provoking lit
tie creature was looking al this moment;
aud he could easily guess, TOO, that she
auuld make him suffer Tor ths outbreak
. Fat astonsbed as she vas there had been
} ttmr 60 recover. and when he GENE towards
her looking humble and penileat. she walked
quietly out Of the shop, only observing that
ae had forgotten 70 throw the cover over the
work k-table.
Well might people call her q provoking
little creature! Poor jane. called her q
| provoking litlle desll-and be sald il SO loud
lhat al lie apprentices heard il.
There were no more visits from James -
. Three, iour. six days, and he never came
near her! lie was completely dtshearteued.
Al winter be had been hafd at work making
furnture 70 furnish house FOR himself and
Phebs, as he would Batter himself that when
sAe returned. bis doubts would be II an end.
) i'leba knew ths ton, for her aunt had told
her Of IL BY letters, and had also spoken Of
tile beautiful work table. But the first thing
Phebl heard the next da, irpm her aunt, was
that James had offered The whole ol the fur
niture for sale. lie vas going to give up
his shop aud Try bis fortune elsewhere.
PheJa heard this 0nnosed, and her aunt
At last began 10 think that she really ala not
care inr James any longer, that some one in
Philadelphia had supplanted him! But she
Nas mistaken. for Pheba went Nd to her own
bedroom aud cried as if her heart would
break. When she had thus relieved herself
she went on TO weave little web that she
had bcgan--a foolish scheme 10 be sure, but
pheba was Pheba, aud there was no changing
her nature. Tie tenants had left her house,
! aud her uncle before rcating it to another
had put il 10 order. 50 that il was quite ready
Il any one offered. aud there was Pheba ali
{ the while intending to be tenant herself
She hnnnd thn family "a ea,.rssv far n was
10 be the greatest Of all surprises to James.
/ She walked cut 10 the wind little way TO
j ret rad OF the redness of her eyes, as she did
]. not want any one to see she had been crying.
: At little distance, Just going down lane.
!. she saw James waking with that "stiif poke
! of a GIRL" Mis-, simpson.