Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-05-23
PRUDENCE Graf
From Cassel's Magazine.

10dl U1Y oaIA thSAN
wasn't better barge on the river than
the Prudence, and il 1 was called the
same he was sure there would never Re
a better girl. ,,,
I can't tell you how my child life
slipped away, living with mother anQ
father on board that barge, IN little oil
of cabin with tiny stove; all know
is that L was very happy, and that l
never hardly went ashore, and when 1
did was frightened and wanted to get
back; and at lastI seemed to have
grown all at once into great girl, and
father and | were alone. 49," fz
Father was changed man after that,
and as couple of years slipped by, the
work on the barge fell more and more
into my hands, and i used to smile to
myself as / saw how big ami red and.
strong they had grown. For father
grew quite dull day by day, and used
TO have stone bottle filled With water
whenever he went ashore, and then
sit with it in the cabin all alone till L
called him to come to help with the
sail.
[ don't think poor father meant itu
kindly, but he seemed to grow more
and more broken and helpless every
day; and this frightened me, and made
me work to keep the barge clean and
ship shape, lest the owners should
come on board and see things slovenly,
and find fault with father and dismiss
him, and that knew would break his
heart. So worked on, and in dull
heavy way, father used to thank me;
and the time glided on, until one day,
as we were lying off Southend, with
the sea CLASSY, and not wind enough to
fill tie sails, L felt my cheeks begin TO
burn as leaned back against the tiller,
and would not turn my head, because
[ could hear Il boat being sculled along
toward us, and Lknew il was coming
from the great leeboard barge lying
astern.
He's coming to see father said to
myself, at last, in choking voice, and
as a hail came I was obliged to turn
and there stood up in the little boat he
was scuIling, with an oar over the
stern, John Grove, in his dark trousers,
blue Jersey and scarlet cap; and as
SAW mis- sun-burned face and brown
arms and hands, felt my heart beat.
ing fast, and knew he was not coming
to see father but, to see me.
We had hardly ever spoken, but ]
had known John Grove for years now,
and we had nodded and waved hands
to one another often and often as we
had passed up and down the river.
.Heave Us a rope, my lass,n he said
as he came close in; and did it dreaml-
Iy, and as soon as had done so be-
gan to pull iu back, but itwas too late:
he had f1ftehed it round the tilwart OF
his boat, and was up and over the side
before | could stir; and then he stood
looking down upon ne, while felt
hot and sometimes cold, and as if
could not speak. ~ i' =
DO you want to see father? 1 said
a, ~:S; ~ 81. !, ss g [ss hs quietly, Y
Me? ! faiteFed with my face burn
sYes, you; you; my lass,' he said, as his
handsome brown face lit up, and be
looked so manly az he laid his hand on
my arm.
Prudence, my gal, . he'said, 'we're
both young yet, FOR I'm, not tsix and
twenty, but thought it was time
's,poke to me?' 1 said, with my face
burning still. : s.4
Yes, my lass, spoke to you, for we've
been courting now a matter Of four
years."
'Oh Johnp 1 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 long
breath. s'Over again. rff7 9afy
over again? What?' said.
Gail nae JotiA!' hereplied. Ai1
well, then, john Ieried hastily.
That's right, Prudence; but as was
going to say not tspoKen td1ne an
other! Well, now could we, taking
our turnsuat theO tiIler, as we-Awere?
But all the same, my lass, I've been
always courtiBg OF you, night and day,
these foor years, and looking out and
longing fortheffu,e when the Prudence
would come In sight and could give
you hail and get d, wave of the hand
back .saIls45 xL1 a
/ could feel the color coming into my