The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-01-04


She sat down among the sweet-fern
bushes and tufts of long grass to quiet
herself and think, and being cool-head-
ed, reasonable girl composed herself to
the idea that something had DELAYED her
lover, and she must have patience; but
as the minutes went on long and slow
enough, the thunder pealing louder and
louder the lightning darting swift lances
from heaven to earth, and a sharp rush of
rain rafting on the stiff oak leaves above
her, Phebe determined to 90 home; not
without certain indignation in her heart
at the carelessness of the man who ought
to have been not only ready but waiting
to receive her, but also reserve of iudg-
ment, for she had great trust in Tom
Drenched to the skin, and chilled the
cold wind that rose with the storm, she
retraced her steps, and dragging a short
ladder from the cow-shed, contriyed to
get back on the roof, wet and slippery as
it was; but to her lismay and wonder the
window OF her room was not only shut but
tightly fastened, and the paper shade let
down before it. Her father, waking with
the noise Of the heavy thunder, bethought
himself oi the lambs in the paddock, not
being certain that Phebe had remembered
TO fold them. He got up and hobbled to
the stairs, calling her loudly, but with no
reply In vain his wife urged him to lie
down while she called Phebe; he wanted
to acod her awake, and with pains and
@roans he drew himself up the stairs. only
to find her bed untouched and her window
open. At once the state Of things flashed
upon him; he did not swear, but setting
his lips at their most vicious angle, shut
and fastened the window, and let down
the shade, tancying Phebe had gone out
to meet her lover, and would try to re-
! turn.
I've fixed the Jade, was his first utter
ance, a5 he re-entered his own room
She's gone md slipped out o. the wnder
for to meet that darned Potter feler Sec
ct she'll git in agn. a good victim
lown'll sarve her right
'Dh, Reubcnn demonstrated his wife
You shet up. She's got to ketch it, |
tell ye, he growled back; and his wife,
eonsoled by the belief that her darling
was by that time in kindly hands, lay
down again and slept, to be reused an
hour after by u loud knocking at the back
| door,
What ye want?' demanded the old
man, who had not slept but waited for
this result.
Its me, father, said Phebe's resoluto
voice. Let me in; I'm out in the rain
Mrs. t'yler sprang from her bed, but
Reuben caught her arm and pulled her
back,
You lie STILL ! tell ye,' he growled
and then went on, in louder KEY, Folks
don't come into my door by night onless
they've gone out ont
Let me in, father; it's me-Phebe i'm
wet through
The poor mother made one more effort
to rise, but was held with vice-like grasp,
as her lord and master retorted-
No wet folks wanted here You could
ha' staid in eff you'd ha wanted to keep
dry
Phebe's spirit rose up at the taunt Had
she been let in, even to receive the ex-
pected indignation and scolding, there
would have been no second exploit Of the
kind, for she was thoroughly disgusted
with herself, and partially with her lover,
but when steel strikes steel, it is only to
elicit sparks. Her 'Fyler grit tool, pos
session of her. Picking up her soaked
bundle, she set out for the Potter farm,
which lay two long miles away, on hill
/ side, and was approached by Il wood road
rs we'll as the highway. But the wood
road was the shortest and most lonely.
She was sure to meet no one in that gras-
sy track So she struck into it at once.
a weary walk it proved. The storm
went on with unabated fury Rain poured
liercely down. Her rough way was full
of stones, OF fallen boughs, and crossed
| by ncw-made brooks from the mountain
springs, suddenly filled and Overlooking.
But with stubborn courage Phebe kept
on, though more than once she fell lit
length among the dripping weeds and
grasses, and was sorely bruised by stones
and Jared by the fall
But it was a resolved and rosy face that
presented itself when the kitchen door OF
the farmhouse on Potter Hill opened to a
firm. sharp knock There were friendly
lights in the windows, and Mrs puttcr's
kind OLD counteuance beameh with pity
and surprise rs she behpld Phebe on the
| doorstep.
'Mercys sakes alive, Fhebe. You be
halt drowned, child. Come in, come in,
quick! Where's Tom and Jule%
Well said Phcbe, with a little laugh,
That's just what FL like TO know
You don't mean to say they hain,t
fetched ye? Why, how under the cano-
py did ye get here?'
SO Phebe told her tale Of woe while
| her wet clothes were taken on by the old
lady (who was watching for the party,
and had sent the help ana the Younger
part of the family to bed hours agol and
was told, in her turn, how Tom and his
sister had set off at half past eight, and
how they had been expected back ever
nd ever so long SO that rhebe was sup
posed to have come with them when she
appeared.
III bet u cent that colts run away.
Tom would take the colt. He thought
the old hoSS was kinder feeble nd slow
eoin'. But I'd ruther he took him-slow
nd sure, ye know
Here was food for anxiety; but it did
not last long, ior wheels ratified up from
the highway side Of the house, an angry
Whoa. whoa, | tell YEP was heard out
side, and in a moment Tom strobe in half
carrying his sister, wet with ain and cry
ing.
Take care o julie, mother; she's about
dead. There amt a cents worth o. crit in
her
A low laugh stopped him very sudden
| ly. lie turned round, and there, by the
little blaze in the chimney, which had
been lit to warm her q cup Of tea, sat
Phebe, rosy. smiling, and prettier than
ever, in Julia's pink calico gown and u
white shawl Of his mothers
Tom Tom! you'll get her all damp
agann screamed Mrs. Potter; fro m which
may be inferred what Tom was about
However, Phebe seemed to be used to
dampness Perhaps the nights experience
had hardened her, for she made no effort
to withdraw from this present secondhand
shower, while Tom explained how the
colt had been frightened, just as they
drove by the post-ot1ice, at a giant crack
er, and dashed off down the road at full
speed. This would not have mattered if
a sudden jolt had not broken one side Of
the thills short off, whereupon the colt
kicked and plunged till he broke the other,
and with sudden dash pulled Tom all
but out of the wagon, tore the reins out Of