Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-10-17

the hand back.
| conId feel the color coming in
to my cheeks again as I heard him
speak, aud knew how anx'ously /
had looked out for his barge com
Ing DIP or down the river; and then
l began wandering what it all
meant, and soon knew.
Prudence, my lass he said
I've saved up ten pounds, all NJ '
own and our owner has just given
me command of a 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 counting four years, you
wouldn't come to me and be nv
wife 2
No. I said, '.no.' and shook n1 '
mead. / belong to father, and
could Eever leave him, never
But you'll have to some day,
Prudence he said, looking dread
fully downhearted and miserable.
No. | said, i shall never leave
him he wants me more and more
every day, and I must stay
Prudence, he said sharply,
'you amt playing with, me are
you?'
Playing with you?'
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 us
to ask you that. But, Prudence
deal, some day you may have to
leave him, and when you do, will
you please recoilect as John Grove
loves you better than augbt elso in
the wide world, and is waiting for
you to come? p
Yes, john I said simply.
You mean it, Prudence? p he
cried in delight as he caught my
hand:
sTes. John t don't know any
body else, and there's no one as
cares for mes
Hundreds on the river he said
sharp ply.
Then I don't care for them,
John, | said simply and if yon
like me, and | ever do--do-leave
oh, dear! ! what am / saying?'
/ sat down on a fender. aud COW
cred my face with thy coarse red
hands, ana began to cry, but he
took my hands down, and looked
long aud lovingly iu my face, with
his great, honest brown eyes and
hen be couldn't speak. but seem
ed to choke. AT last he f,asped
out
'Thanky, Prudence, thanky, Tn
gong away now to wait, for you'll
come to me some day, | know.
[ didn't answer him.
For the time may come my lass,
when you'll be all alone in the
world and when 1t 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 l knew it !; and sat there
In the calm afternoon and evening
| sometimes crying, sometimes feel
ing hopeful, and with a sense o
iov at my heart such as I never
had felt before.
And SO that evening deepened
into night, with the barge a quar-
ter OF mile astern of US, and nj
wind coming, only the tide to hell
US on our way.
1t must have been about tel
O'Clock at night, when was for.
I; ward seeing to the light hoisted "
F, to keep anything from running int
l US, when | beard father come stun
bling up from the cabin. and max
: as if to come forward TO me.
'Prue,' he cried, 'Prue!
e sYes, father. coming [ said, AN
then | uttered wild shrek, an
d ,ushed toward where the boa
d hung asterD by her painter, haule
Is her Up and climbed in, for no 500,
er had l answered :han [ heard
, cry, and heavy splash, and
:, knew father had gone overboarc
- ! was into the boa; in momel
20 and had the scull over the sterl
padding away in The dlrectit
y that the cry had come from bu
although | tancied In those horn
'r bl. minutes that | saw d hat
er stretched out of the wGter. askir
as it were for help, padded al
at sculled about till I was far fro
~ our barge and then sank dov
ly worn out, to utter moan of ho
ror, and sob, Oh, fatherl fathe
what shall | do p
Is that you Prudence? 2 said
voice.
Yes, John; yes 1 cried, loo
ii. ing out through the darkness, c
of which boat seemed to steal
as it was along side, when ,Jo
to stretched out his hand and to
We, mine.
le, 'Quick / L gasped, Save HI
nv John-father-gone overheard
of When you shrieked out, Pru
Y r