The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-09

his handsome brown face lit up, and he !
looked so manly as he laid his hand on |
my arm.
Prudence, my gal," he said; "we're
both young yet, for I'm not six-and-
twenty, but Thought it was time spoke
to you"
"Spoke to meT' / said, with my face
burning still.
g Yes, my lass, spoke to you, for
we've been counting now a matter of
four years."
"Oh, John," I cried, bursting out
"why, we've never hardly spoken to one
another"
That's NICE" he said, drawing long
breath. cover again"
cover again2 Whatp' said.
"Call me John," he replied.
"Well then, john" l cried hastily.
"That's right, Prudence; but, as l
was going to say, not spoken to one
another! Well, how could we, always
taking our turns at the tiller as we we're?
But all the same, my lass, I've been al
ways courting of you, night and day,
these four years, and looking out and
longing for the time when the Prudence
would come in sight ard l could give
you hail and get wave of the hand
back"
could feel the color coming into my
cheeks again as heard him speak, and
knew how anxiously l had looked out
for his barge coming up or down the
river; and then began wondering what
it all meant. and soon knew.
Prudence, my lass" he said, "Pve
saved up 910, all my own, and our
owner has just given me the command
of new barge, with as pretty cabin in
as you'd wish to see; and SO, my lass,
thought I'd ask you if so be as now
we've been courting four years, you
wouldn't come to me and be my wife,"
"No," | said, "nn," and shook my
head. 81 belong to father, and l could
never leave him-never."
But you'll have to some day, Pru-
dence, he said, looking dreadfully down.
hearted and miserable.
"No," / said, 81 shall never leave
him; he wants me more and more every
day, and l must stay"
Prudence" he said sharply, 'you
amt playing with me, are your
Playing with your
Yes; L mean you amt going to take
up with any one else, and 60 aboard any
other barge-no, no." he cried, won't
be so mean as to ask you that. But,
Prudence, dear, some day you may have
to leave him. and when you do, will you
please recollect as John Grove loves you
better than aught else in the wide world
and is waiting for you to GOMEZ"
Yes, john" said simply.
You mean it, Prudencep' he cried
in delight, as he caught my hand.
Yes, John; / don't know anybody
elsa, and there's no one as cares for me- )
Hundreds on the river" he sale
sharply.
"Then / don't care for them, John,
/ said simply; and if you like me, anc
/ ever do-do-leave-oh, dear! what
am l sayingT
1 sat down on fender and covered
my face with my coarse, red hands, ant
down, and looked long and lovingly il
my face, with his greai, honest brown
eyes; and then he couldn't speak, bu
seemed to choke. At last he gaspee
out:
"Thanky, Prudence, thanky Tn
going away now to wait. for you'll com,
W me SOHle udy, L KNOW.
l didn't answer him.
For the time may come, my las
, when you ii be all alone in the world
and when it does come, there's the cabil
of the Betsy Ann, clean painted up, ant
! waiting for you, just as her master
4 awaiting too."
He went quietly over the side an,
cast off the rope, and was gone before
knew it; and 1 sat there in the cain
: afternoon and evening, sometimes cry
: ing, sometimes feeling hopeful, and wit
. a sense of joy at my heart such as
$ never had felt before.
= And so that evening deepened int
night, with the barge a quarter of
4 mile astern of us, and no wind coming
e only the tide to help us on our way.
1t must have been about ten o'cloc
at night, when l was forward seeing I
u the light hoisted up to keep anythin
a from running into us, when 1 hear
u father come stumbling up from tt
.. cabin, and make as if to come forwar
'e to me.
s. Prue," he cried, "Pruep'
v Yes, father, coming" 1 said; an
le then uttered a wild shrek, and rushe
g towards where the boat hung astern /
y her painter, hauled her up and climbe
:, in; for no sooner had I answered than
81 heard cry and heavy splash, and
knew father had gone overheard.
NJ l was into the boat in a moment, al
=. had the scull over the stern, paddli1
u away in the direction that the cry hs
u, come from; but, though fancied
III those horried minutes that saw hal
Ve stretched out of the water, asking as
nc were for help, l padded and scuIl,
about till was far from our barge, al
" then sank down WORKOUT, to utter
u moan of horror, and sob, "Oh, fathe
az father! what shall doT'
- Is that you Prudence?" said voic
IL Yes, John, yes" cried, looking o
i through the darkness, out of which
70 boat seemed to steal till it was alongsic
40 when John stretched out his hand Al
er- took mine.
c1 "QuickpI gasped, "save him, John
~ ~ father gone overboardW
~, When you shrieked out, Pruef'
~ " Yes, yes" / walled; ooh, save hil
it- save himp
ne ne "My poor lass" he said, that
~ good quarter of an hour ago, and t
MS tides running strong. I've been pa
ke ding about ever since, trying to Fl
W. you, for went up to the barge and y
were gone"
IN u, "But father" 1 walled, "father
no save himp'
y; MY poor little lass" he said tender
me "Td jump into the river now if you
iP me, but what can do, you know, p
o1 dence, what can doT
NJ 1 did not answer, for did know tt
Gu he must have been swept far away
% % fore then; and was beginning to f
,,s ay that | was alone-quite alone in
me world.
ng 1t was quite six months after {
nu ny, dreadful night that one evening Jo
elS came ashore from his barge to the c
M lMeu tage, where l was staying with
hoC mother and had been ever since he /
"a brought me there, without seeing him
ao lnu speak to only to wave my hand to b
| he Id hr, l.