The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-18
vas not coming to see father, but to see


began to pull it back, but it was too
late; he had hitched it round the thwart
of his boat, and was up and over the
stood oking down upon me, while /
felt sometimes hot and sometimes cold,
and as if | could not speak
Do you want to see fatber?" | said
at last
mo, my lass" he said quietly, az
want to see you"
"MeW 1 faltered, with my face burn
ing.
Yes, you, my lass" he said; and
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 l spoke
to you"
"Spoke to me?' 1 said, with my face
burning still.
Yes, my lass, spoke to you, for
we've been counting now a matter of
four years."
ooh, john" | cried, bursting out
laughing and feeling more at my ease,
why, we've never hardly spoken to one
another"
"That's NICE" he said, drawing a long
breath. cover again"
cover again? WhatP' said.
Call me JOHN" he replied
DWELL then, john" l cried hastily.
"Thats right, Prudence; but, as
was going to say, not spoken to one
another! Well, how could we, always
taking our turns at the tiler as we we're?
But all the same, my lass, Eve been al
ways counting of you, night and day,
these four years, and looking out and
longing for the time when the Prudence
would come in sight ard | 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 i had looked out
for his barge coming up or down the
river; and then l began wondering what
it all meant, and soon knew.
Prudence, my lass" he said, "Pve
saved up fl0, all my own, and our
owner has just given me the command
of a new barge, with as pretty cabin ia
as you'd wish to see; and so, my lass, /
thought I'd ask you if SO be as now
we've been counting four years. you
wouldn't come to me and be my wife"
"No," said, "no," and shook my
head. al 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." l said, 81 shall never leave
him; he wants me more and more every
day, and must stay"
Prudence" he said sharply, "you
amt playing with me, are your
Playing with your
Yes; | mean you amt going to take
up with any one else, and go 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 whiting for you to Gomez"
Yes, john" | said simply.
You mean it, Prudence?' he cried
in delight, as he caught my hand
Yes, John; l don't know anybody
else, and there's no one as cares for me-"
Hundreds on the river" he said
sharply.
"Then l don't care for them, john"
| said simply; and if you like me, and
| ever do-do-leave-oh, dear what
am sayng?"
| sat down on fender and covered
my face with my coarse, red hands, and
began to cry; but he took my hands
down, and looked long and lovingly in
fooa NTH &c
eyes; and then he couldn't speak, but
seemed to choke. At last he gasped
out:
"Thanky, Prudence, thanky. Pm
going away now to wait, for you'll come
to me some day. l know"
| didn't answer him.
"For the time may come, my lass
when you II be all alone in the world
and when it does come, there's the cabin
of the Betsy Ann, clean painted up and
waiting for you, just as her masters
awaiting too"
He went quietly over the side and
cast off the rope, and was gone before |
knew it; and l sat there in the calm
afternoon and evening, sometimes cry
ing, sometimes feeling hopeful, and with
sense of joy at my heart such as l
never had felt before.
And SO that evening deepened into
night, with the barge quarter of
mile astern of US, and no wind coming,
only the tide to help us on our way.
1t must have been about ten o'clock
at night, when was forward seeing to
the light hoisted up to keep anything
from running into us, when / heard
father come stumbling up from the
cabin, and make as if to come forward
to me.
Prue," he cried, "Prue!"
Yes, father, coming" l said and
then ] uttere wild shrek, and rushed
towards where the boat hung astern by
her painter, hauled her up and climbed
in; for no sooner had l answered than |
heard cry and heavy splash, and l
knew father had gone overheard.
was into the boat in moment, and
had the scull over the stern, padding
away 10 the direction that the cry had
come from; but, though l fancled in
those horried minutes that saw hand
stretched out of the water, asking as it
were for help, / padded and sculled
about till / was far from our barge, and
then sank down WORKOUT, to utter a
moan of horror, and sob, "Oh, father
father what shall do?"
" Is that you Prudence ?" said voice.
4" Yes, John, yes" cried, looking out
through the darkness, out of which