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

into his sulky and drove Oft.
An hour afterward Reuben Fyler insist
ed on being sent home. A neighbor from
Pasco, who had come down after grain
with long wagon, heard of the acci
dent, and happened in.
I'm bound to git home. John Barnes,
said the old man. I've got ter; I've go
bizness. Well, / might as well tell ye
that darned Potter feller's a-snakin', 'nt
a-sneakin' round arter Phebe, md eff In
laid up here, he'll be hangin' round ther
as sure as guns. Fust know they'll u
nd git married. I'll see him hanged fust
I'm goin' hum tonight. | can keep he
under my thumb ef I'm there; but v
know how it's; when the cats away
HIM. said John Barnes-a man SLOW
OF speech, but perceptive. Well, e
you're bound to go, you can have m,
| waggin, md I'll drive your'n up
But change hosses; | can't drive NJ
hoss but Jerry
You drive' exclaimed John, in un
teigned astonishment.
NV arms amt broke, | tell We, md
amt a-goin' to pay nobody for what cal
do myself you can jest swear to that
And John Barnes retreated to holt
council with the barroom loungers. Bu
remonstrance was in vain. About fiv'
o'clock the long wagon was brought up
the seat showed quite back to the end
and an extempore bed made OF tlou
bags, hay, and the old buffalo-robes OF
the floor of the rickety vehicle the olt
man was carried carefully down, packed
in as well as the case allowed, his splintet
and bandaged leg tied to the side to keeI
it steady, his head propped up with hi;
oyercoat rolled into a bundle, and an oli
carriage carpet thrown over him and
tucked in Then another retrashin'
fluid was administered, and the reins be
ING put into his hands. with a sharp CHR
rup to old Jerry he started off at quick
trot, and before John Barnes could get
into his wagon and follow, Fyler was
round the corner, out Of sight, speeded
by the cheers and laughter of the spacta.
tors, aud eulogized by the landlord, as he
bit off the end Of Il fresh cigar, as the
darnedest piece of Fyler grit or any other
grit ever seer
In the meantime Phebe at home went
about her daily work in a kind of sullen
peace; peaceful, because her father was
out of the way for one day at least; sui
len. because she fOresaW no end of trouble
coming to her, but never for one moment
had an idea of giving up Tom Potter, OF
of any way to achieve her freedom except
by enduring obstinacy. Many another
girl, quick witted or well read in novels
would have enjoyed the situation with a
certain zest, and already invented plenty
,f h,,t nI,n ho1
educated in modern style, and tact OIL
cunning was Tot native to her; she could
endure or resist to the death, but she could
not elude or beguile, and her father knew
it. Her mother was helpless to aid her
but. with the courage mothers have, she
set herself out of the question, and having
thought deeply all the morning over the
knitting-w which was all she could dc
now, she surprised Phebe in the midst OF
her potato-paring by suddenly saying
'Phebe, | see what you're a-thinkin' of,
and | want to say my say now, atore any
body comes in. I've heerd enough O. Tom
Potter to know he's a reel like y young
teller; he's stiddy, md he's professor be-
sides, md he's got good trade; there
amt no reason on airth why you should
MT keep company with him, eff you like
HIM It's clear senseless to hev your life
spoiled because your folks md his folks
quarreled, away back, about water
right
Phebe dropped the potatoes, and gave
her mother a speechless hug that brought
the tears into those pale blue eyes.
Softly, dear | don't mean to set ye
ag'inst your pa. noways; but don't think
man nor woman has {; right to say their
gal sha'n't marry man that amt bad nol
shittless. jest cause they don't fancy him
md don't want to leave ye here when
60, to live my lite over agin'
Oh mother exclaimed Phebe, almost
dropping the pan again, 4 think it woulC
be awful mean of me to leave you here
alone y
''Twouldn't be no worse, Phebe.
should miss ye, no doubt ont; | shoulo
miss We considerable, but then | shouldn't
worry over your hard times here as | do
some, all the time
Poor saint she fought her battle there
by the fireside, and nobody saw it but the
cloud of Witnesses who had hung oyel
many martyrdom that was not illustrat
ed by fire or sword
Phebe choked little, and her cleal
eyes solteIed; she was only girl. ant
she did not fully understand what hel
mother had suffered and renounced fol
her, but she loved her with all her warn
heart.
4 can't help ye none. Phebe. Mrs. Fyle
went on, with patient smile, but car
comfort We, mebbe, and as fur as my con
sent goes, you hev it, eff you want to marry
Tom but oh Phebe. be sure, sure a
death, you do want to: don't marry him
to get away from home. I'd ruther see yt
drowned in Long Pond
Phebe's cheek colored deeply and hel
bright eyes fell, for her mothers homel)
words We're solemn in their meaning anC
tone.
Il am sure, molher,' She said, softly
and went away to fetch more wood lol
the fire; and neither Of the women SPOKE
again of the matter, Int Phebe's brow
cleared OF its trouble, and her mother la,
back in her chair and prayed in her heart
Poor woman! she had mighty need Of sucl
a refuge.
So night came on. and after long delay
they ate their supper, presuming that the
head of the house was delayed by busi
ness, little thinking how he. strapped in
to John Barness wagon, was pursuing hi
homeward road in the gathering darkness
and solitude; for though John caught W
with him soon, after mile or two some
empty sacks tell out of the Barnes wagon
and no sooner did John miss them thai
he coolly turned back and left old Reubel
to find his way alone. But the old MAJ
did not care; he had courage for any
thing; SO he drove along as cheerily a:
ever, though his dim sight was darkeneo
further by the darkening air, the over
hanging trees. and the limit set to his Wis
sion by the horses head, which from hi
position was all he cou4d see before him
About nine o'clock benighted travele
driving toward Baxter from Pasco way
with his wife, discerned dimly .an ap
preaching horse and wagon, apparently
without driver. He reined his own hors
ami covered buggy into the ditch to Civ
room, but the road was narrow. and th
other horse kept in the middle.
Turn out turn outn shouted the anxi
GUS man. Are you asleep or drunk9 Turl
out, tell your
Il Il