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

Reuben
We'll, l he'd to put it back, md fix VI
the little gate. One hinge was Off ont
md twas kinder canted round so's't the
lamb got out, md was too simple to ge
back
Oh, Phebe. Well it was that no oatl
compelled the speaking of the whole truth
of who unhinged the gate, or who hao
the lamb safe BY long string, having
previously captured it in the paddock tol
purposes Of decoy. or how. indeed, a let
ter came to be in that calico pocket, max
ing an alarming crackle whenever she
moved, terribly loud to her. but silent to
the sleepy old man in his bed.
Phebe went about very thoughtful the
next day. The letter contained an astound
ing proposition. IL was an artful letter
too, for it began with a recital Of all the
difficulties that made the way Of true love
proverbially rugged. and convinced hel
OF what she had unconsciously admitted
before, that she could never marry her
lover in the world with her fathers con-
sent and the pleasant observances of ordi-
nary life. Then it went on to plead in
tender and manly fashion the writer's own
7Rection; his ability to give her a pleasant
and happy home, fol he had last bought
ont the Pasco blacksmith shop, the owner
thereof having moved to Hartford, where
Tom had spent the week settling up the
matter, and the smlthy was Il good buai-
ness, being the only one in q wide radius
And it wound up with a proposal that ~
soon as her father got so much better
that her mother could care for IA NJ alone,
Phebe should slip out some fine night on
to the she'd roof, thence to the top of the
house, and 50 to the ground. and meet
Tom and his sister, who WoulC be with
him, at Peter Green's wood, ha f a mile
away, and just At the edge OF the tylcr
farm Phebe was to consider the matter
filly, and talk it over with her mother,
and when she made up her mind, to put a
she niked daily, under 4 stone, where
also She would find an answer, and prob
ably other epistles thereafter
phebe was not u Girl to take such 4
proposal lightly. She did indeed consider
it long and in earnest. Day by day as her
father grew better, with u rapldity as
tonishing in so old man-lor Reuben
Fyler's adventures are literally true-he
became more and more ill-tempered and
eXasperating. The pain of the knitting
bones, the -weariness, the constant fret
over farm work that was either neglected
Of hired ou., worked en- his naturally
growing temper, and made life unpeas-
ant to all around him as we'll as himself
Phebe's mind was made up more by her
father than even her own atfcction for
Tom, OF her mothers gentle encourage
ment. The old man vented his temper on
Phebe in the matter Of Tom Potter more
and more frequently; he reviled the Pot
ter tribe, root and branch, in radical and
persistent way that would have done credit
to an ancient lsraelite cursing Canaan; he
even taunted Fhebe with tavoring such y
chicken-hearted lover, scared with one
slam of a door in his face; and phebe' 5
inherited grit was taxed strongly to keep
her tongue quiet lest she should betray her
own secret; yet angry as she was, there
was q CLINT OF tun underlying her anger.
to think how thoroughly Tom had coun-
termined her father, which set the deep,
lovely dimples in cheek and chin alight
and sparkled in each steady eye, almost
belying the angry brow and set lips.
So it came about that she yielded to the
inner pressure and the outer persuasion.
Her father was able now to get about a
little ou crutches, and sit at the window
overlooking the cow-shed; yet it was
there, right under his suspicious eyes, that
Phebe took the time, while she was milk
ing and her mother feeding q new-weaned
calf, to unfold her plans.
'Mother.' she began, with eyes fixed on
her pail. 4 can't stand it any longer; my
minds made up I'm going to Tom, if
you keep in the same mind you was
yes, dear think it is the best for both
of us. But don't tell me any more about
it thar you can help. Tell me what you
want me to do for you, but
Yes. | know answered Phebe Il don't
want you to do anything, mother only
you'll know if you miss me-
Yes; and | want to tell YOU phebe
Several years back I've kinder taken
comfort a-iiXin for this time I've he'd
chance now md then to sew little. nd
I've made We set @ things when you was
Off to school odd times, nd washed 'em
up, md put EN- up chamber for ye in the
old press drawer. Then I've laid up some
IL
q little milk there, md twenty gold dollars
grandmother give me before she died. |
guess there's nigh about fifty by this time
and the black silk dress Aunt Sary Sc ut
me from ! ork arter her Sam spent that
year here, nevers been cut. You better
take that TO Taunton to -morrer to be
made
Oh. molherN
We'll. dear, you're all I've got Why
shouldn't | Oh, that pesky call'' and
Just in time to divert sentiment into Il
safer channel, the calf threw UP its head,
knocked the good woman backward into
the dirt, and with tail high in air, and its
four feet apparently going four ways at
once, began one of these wild cantors
about the yard which calves indulge in.
Phebe had to laugh. a. her mother in
dignant but unhurt, rose up from the
ground, and old tyler at the kitchen Win
dow 9rinned with amusement So Phebe
transported her modest iittingout little
by little to Julia Potter. who was her
only contidante in the matter, and could
not even see phebe, but punctnally went
for the bundles, when Tom was notified
that they would he left in the further
barn, which opened on another road, tor
better convenience in haying The black
silk dress also was consigned to her care,
with Phebe's new bonnet, sent by express
from Taunton along with the dress.
The day set for Phebe's departure was
the 81 Of July, since the racket and wake
tulness which pervades even country
towns on this anniversary would make
Toms late drive less noticeable. The
day was hot and snltry, and ominons
flashes Of tempest began to play about
the far horizon, whence all day long
great 'thunder-caps had rolled their still
and solemn heights of rounded pearl and
shadow upward through the stainless blue
Of heaven. Phebe gave her mother a
stringent hug and kiss on the stairs as
she went up, little knowing how that mo-
theirs heart sank in her breast, or how
dim We're the sad eyes that dared not let
a tear fall to relieve them. BY nine
o'clock the house was still, except for
low mutterings of the storm and distant
wheels hurrying through the night, which
made Phebe's heart beat wildly. She
made small bundle Of needful things,
wrapped it in little shawl. put on her