Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-05-23

meant, end soon Knew. Hstf4
'Prndencs. my Lass he said, 'rye
saved up go. al my own, and our
owner has just given me the command
OF a new barge, with as pretty cabin
in it as you'd wish to see; and so, my
lass, l thought I'd ask you II so be as
we've been courting four years, you
wouldn't mind coming to me
and be my wife,
No, said, mo, and shook my head.
Il belong to father, and could never
leave him-never.'
But you'll have to, some day, Pru-
dence,' he said, looking dreadful down
hearted and miserable.
No. said, Il 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 you? a
Playing with your
Yes; mean you amt going to take
up with any one else, and 60 on board
any other barge-no, MOP he cried, Il
won't be so mean as to ask you that.
But, Prudence; dear, some day you
may have TO leave him, and wbeDyOu
do, will you please recollect, as John
Grove loves you, better than aueht else
in the wide world, and is waiting for
you to Gomez e-\
Yes, john said simply.
You meant il, Prudence" he cried
In delight, as he caught my hands.
Yes, John, / don't know anybody
else, and there's no one as cares fol
Ime.'
Hundreds on the river he said
SHARPLY.
Then don't care for them,' John,
I said simply; and il you like me and
ever do-do-lesve-oh, dear! what an
I saying?' ~ ...f..
1 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 into my face, with his great
honest brown eyes; and then be
lcould't speak, but seemed to choke
At last he gasped out.
'Thanky Prudence, thsnky. Pm go
ling. away now to wait, fer you'll come
i, to me, some day, know
1 l didn't answer him.
The time may come, my lass when
you'll be alone in the world; and wher
it does come, there's the cabin of the
Betsy Ann, clean painted up, anC
waiting for you, just as her masters
waiting too.'
|, He went quietly over the side, and
least of the rope, and was gone before
. III knew it; and / sat there in the calm
afternoon and evening, sometime
crying, sometimes feeling hopeful anc
with sense of joy at my heart such al
I never had felt before,
And so that evening deepened int
night, with the barge quarter OF
mile astern of Us, on our way.
1t must have been about 10 O'Clock
at night, when / was forward seeing
to the light, hoisted up to keep any
l thing from running into US, when
heard father come stumbling up from
r the cabin, and make as if to come for
ward to me.
e 'Prue!' he cried, 'Pruev
yes, father, coming I said; ant
y then uttered wild shrek, and rush
ed toward where the boat hung asterl
by her painter, hauled her up AM
lelimbed in; for no sooner had answer
= ed than 1 heard cry and heav.
splash, and knew father had gon
overheard.
e was into the boat in a moment AM
q had the skull over the stern, paddlin
Q AWAY in the direction that the cry ha'
o e1come from; bnt, though 1 fancied Il
these horrible minutesthat / saw ham
3 tstretched out efthewater, asking as
/ were, for help, padded and skullet
I labout till was far from our barge, ,ant
' then sank down worn out, to utter
| moan of horror, and sob, .Oh father
| fatheri what shall do?' =
II sIs that you, Prudence?' said voice
e Yes, John, yes,' l cried; loOking.ou
j through the darkness, out Of which
boat seemed to steal till it was along
!, Iside, when John stretched out hi
e hand and took mine. 1900.
e 'Quick!fI gasped, saved him, John
of-father-gone OvefbOard!'
sWhen youshrieked out, Prue?
r esYes, yes walled, save him! saw
q hirnu - - - s-s-i.' -
r my poor little LASS he said that
q good quarter of an hour ago, and tn
[ tides running strong. I've been pad
Q ding about ever since, trying to fin
iafyou, for I went up to the barge and 20
/. were gone.'
e But father walled, father, saw
v himp
e My poor little less,' he said, tender
ly, 'I'Iljump into the water now if 20
d bid me, but. what can l do?'
:, l did not answer, for did know
s that he must have been swept far ava
Isl before then; and / was beginning {
II feel that was alone-quite alone i
a; this world. - ~
?, 1t was quite six months after tina
h dreadfal night that one evening Joh
% came ashore from his barge to the co
% Ltage, where was staying with b
r, mother and had been ever since he ha
e brought me there without seeing mir
q to speak to, only to wave my hand {
. him as he sailed by. That evening b
2 came and looked wistfully at me an
said but little, at last his time was u
20 and he rose TO go. - Or
d walked down TO his boat with hin
q and on the way he told me that he ha
Ie got leave to alter the name ofhis barg,
Ie and it was called the Prudence lteo;an
), then, without word about the pas
l he was saying good bye, when l pu
n my hands in his and said quietly
t. John. dear, / haven't forgot m
g PROMISE
And you are alone now, Prudenct
/ my 1ass;' he cried eagerly.
:, No, John, no. said softly, as tn
Is tears ran down my cheeks, Il neve
e shall be while you liye.' - j -
Never, my lass, ,gnever.' he. cried
d 'and you'll be my little wife?'
l. Yes, John, yes, 1 promised you.'
T. when l come back from this voy
!; age.'
JflJsYes, John, when youS will, I sait
e and with a long hand pressure W
d parted, and went back to wait fu
Ii tanoher month, and -thenI was hi
/ happy little Wife - ~ - "a 8 =
And these seemed no change, for
d was once more on the river or out 8
I lsea, a,leanipg upon the tiller and gain
j straight before me, with the 1lls wal
ling as they wheeled and dipped an
l. skinned or settled upon the water
while the soft wind gently stirred th
is print hood that was lightly tied owe
Il r,rf71o6 -hoirS ha .r-<