The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-07
the least afraid of not being able to suit


He could not keep from an amused
laugh as he read the saucy little letter,
then put it carefully back in his pocket.
'Phebe's nice enough girl, smart as a
cricket, and will make likely wife for
some lucky fellow, and if it wasn't l can
have ikelier one-the very prettiest
girl the sun shines on-Td take her al
her offer and marry her by sowin' time.
But Pm goin' to have May-my blue
eyed little May-and IN go to New
York tomorrow and get settled ans
wer one way or mother"
And Mr.. Morgan Fletcher's dreams
that night were crowded with visions Of
May Warren's exquisite face, and slen-
der sylph-like form and laughing voice.
The earliest train down took him to
the city the next morning. sharp,
crisp winter DAY, with plenty of snow in
the air, and biting northeast wind
blowing; gloomy, depressing sort Of a
morning, when travellers were not in the
best of humor. and needless people per
sisted in leaving depot cars ajar-nota-
bly, one tall angular woman, with white
nubia tied over her bonnet, that made
her face ghastly in contrast, and dressed
more with regard to comfort than ap-
pearance.
"Pll thank YOU to keep that door shut,
madame" Morgan said, at last, exasper-
ated by her repeated journeys from the
waiting-roo Of the ferry-house to the
pier outside, and the invariable neglect
of closing the door after her.
She turned sharply on him.
"You would. would you? Well, when
you want it shut, shut it yourself"
And she bestowed malicious laugh
on him that brought the angry blood to
his cheeks, and that made him lose his
temper completely.
"Of course, if you was born in barn,
all right, ma'am. Some folks know
enough to shut the doors, and some don't t
that's all u
"And some folks don't know how to
treat lady when they see her, neither"
she retorted, triumphantly. "Here, you
feller, get me carriage-will your
afore the boat comes in, and send the
baggage-rnaster here. want my trunks
put into the carriage along with me-"
She had suddenly pounced down upon
a young man in semi-uniform, who hap
pened to be an employe of the road, and
who good-naturedly undertook her Or
ders.
"Herc's my checks, you see-seventy-
two and ninety-nine; but you don't get
'em till get my baggagc---two good
sized trunks marked with M. w. W.
M. w. Warren-that's my name. And
they're to 60 to 147 West Blank street.
Step spry now"
And as she followed him outside leay-
ing the door with vicious smile at Nor
gan Fletcher, that worthy actually did
not notice it, as he stood staring after
her, with gasping feeling in his throat,
and an uncertain, unnatural sensation
all over him.
M. w. Walren-May Winfield War
rem! His May-so bonny, SO sweet, the
last time he had seen her, five years ago!
And to have deteriorated into this female
hot very old, to be sure-but-but 80
odd! And LAT West Blank street! The
verv residence to which he had directed
his letters SO long-the very house to
which he WIS bound now.
"A peculiar, weak sensation seized him
"a sick sort of disappointment, that
proved there was great deal of human.
nature in him, after all. Then feeling.
of thankfulness took possession of him..
thankfulness for his deliverance; and
then thought occurred to him of Phebei
Perry, buxom and round, saucy and
sweet. .....
"By Jehosaphatl I'd never have be-
lieved it! 1sit possibIe--is it possible
that few years can make such an awful
difference to a woman? And she might
a-been Mrs. Fletcher! I've had narrow
escape; but q miss is as good asa mile, y
and I'll take the next train back to the
farm, and get the cutter and the cross
team out, and see Tom Perry tonight.
about little Phebe."
While Miss Mary W. Warren, fresh
from her Pennsylvania home, was driven
in triumph to the residence of her uncle, /
on one fair May day, to pay a visit long
;peIoFe PROMISED, ana WneTe, despite her
eccentricities and little vulgarities, she
was kindly welcomed and entertained.
4
A month later, a day of ibalmy air, and
smiling skies, blue as a baby's eyes, and
Melville West, looking over the morning
Herald, at his Office desk, suddenly
turned pale and eagerly interested, and
then covered his grave, handsome face,
with his hands, while he sent up a penI
of thanksgiving and JOY; for, among the
notices, the only marriage announcement
in the Herald, Of that morning, was that
Of Morgan Fletcher, of Douglass Farm,
Sussex, N. j., and Phebe Jane Perry,
second daughter of Thomas Perry, Of
Squantum, Sussex. ss
.Apd, an hour afterward, with fair May
in his arms, he realized, at last, that his
happiness Was ceEne. AZ ..4 " ..p,,.,
While, six months later, away up in
the fertile regions of old Sussex, buxom
little Mrs. Fletcher read of May War
ren's marriage to Mr.. Melville West.
tIVo,. III lor.a Ma..o. - Il.