The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-10-16
"a. aol ss.slas % .ss i..As,. s0tt .ss

he came close Ia; aud ! did u drcamiiy,
aud as soon As hsd done 80 began TO
pull IA back, but !, was too late; be bad
hliehsd il around the tbwArt Of bis boat
aud was up aud over the aide before l
could stir; aud then be stood looking
down upon me, while ! felt sometimes
bot sud sometimes cold, and As II ! could
not speak.
Do you want to see faiber5 sAid at
lAst
No, my lass, be said, quietly, want to
see you.
Me- ialtered, with my face burning.
Yes, you. my lass, he said; and bis
andsoms brown face lit up, and he look
ed so manly As be laid bis hand on my
arm.
Prudence, my gal, be said, we're both
young yet, for I'm not siK-and'twenty,
but thougbl Il was time spoke 10 you.
Spoke to me said with my face burn
ing STILL
Yes, my lass, spoke 10 you, for we've
been courting now a matter OF four years.
Oh, John, cried, bursting out langh-
Ing and feeling more at my ease, why,
we've hardly spoken to one another.
That's nice, be said, drawing q long
breath. Over Againr
Over sgalul Whstl said.
Call me John, be replied
Well then, John, cried hastily.
That's right, Prudence; but as ! was
going TO say, not spoken to one another
Well, how could we, always taking our
turns at tho tiIler as we wereY But all
the same, my lass, I've always been
courtiug OF you, might and day, these four
years, aud looking out and longing for
the time when the Prudence would come
10 sight and could give you hail and
get a wave of the hand back.
could feel The color coming into my
cheeks again as heard him speak, and
knew how anxiously had looked out for
his barge coming up aud down the river (;
and then began wondering what II all
meant, aud soon knew.
Prudence, my lass, be said, I've saved
ten dollars all my own, aud our owner
has iasl given me the command Of new
barge, with as pretty cabin In as you'd
wish TO sec; aud so, my lass, | thought
I'd ask you II so be as now we've been
courling four years, you wouldn't come
TO me aud be my wife.
No! said, no, and shook my head.
belong to father, and could never leave
him-neyer.
But you'll have to some day, Prudence,
he said, looking dresdfully downhearted
aud miserable.
No, | said, | shall never leave him; be
wants me more and more every day, and
must stay.
Prudence, be said sharply, you ain''
playing with me are your
Playing with your
Yes; mean you Amt going to take
up with any one else, and 20 aboard any
other barge-no, no, be cried, j won't bC
so mean as to ask you that. But, Pru
dence, dear, some day you may have tC
} 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 10 come?
Yes, John, | said simply.
. You mean it, Prndence3 he cried in de
light as he caught my hand.
Yes, John; don't know any body else
. aud there's no one as cares for me.
Hundreds on the river, be said sharply
: Then don't care for them, John,
f. said simply; aud II you like me, aud
ever do--Ieave--oh, dear what am
sAyiugl
] sat down on fender and covered M
face with my coarse red hands, and begui
to cry; but he took my hands down, an
I, looked long and lovingly in my face wit
his great honest brown eyes; and then b
couldn't speak, but ,eemcd to choke. A
last be gasped out:
Thanky, Prudence, tbanky. I'm goin
> away now to waii, isr you'ii come to m
: some day, know.
didu't answer him.
For the time may come, my lass, whe
! You'll be all alone Ia the world; an
when IL does come, isere's The cabin
u the Betsy Ann, clean painted up, All
= waiting for you just as ber masters wal
. Ing too.
!" He went quietly over the side aud ca'
" off the rope, and was gone before ] kne
s. II; sud sat there in the calm allernoo
y and evening, sometimes crying, som
. times feeling hopeful, and With sense
- Joy at my heart such as ! never felt b
!" lore.
O. AM 20 that evening deepened 10
% night, with the barge quarter OF mi
astern of us, aud no wind coming, ou
y the Tide to help US on our way.
- II must have been about ten O'Clock
~ night, when was forward seeing to q
= light hoisted up TO keep snything fro
u running into us, when ! heard fsth
., come stumbling up from the cabin, 81
"a make ~ II to come forward TO me.
Z, Prue, be cried, Pruel
~ Yes, father, coming, said aud ibeI
! uttered Wild shriek and rnsbed towar
he where the boat hung ssiefn by her painl
+. hauled her up aud climbed 10; for
sooner bad answered than heard 3 c
ia and heavy splash, and | knew fstt
: a had gone overheard.
nd was Ia the boat In moment, 8
80. bad The seull over the stern, paddil
away ia the direction that the cry
......a fros,. /. hot fhangb I fsnefed In N,