Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-08
TO thank ME: and the time gljded on. till

er and would not turn my head because
I could hear a boat being sculled along
toward us, and [ knew it was coming
from the great leeboard lying astern.
"He's coming to see father" said to
a hail came I was obliged to turn, and
there stood up in the little boat he was
sculling, with an oar over the stern, John
Grove, in his dark trowsers, blue Jersey
and scarlet cap, and as | saw his sun
| burnt face and brown arms and hands, 1
felt my heart beating fast, and knew he
| was not coming to see father but to see
| me.
1--WE had hardly ever spoken, but | had
known John Grove fol years now, and
we have nodded and waved to one another
often as we had passed up and down the
river.
"Heave us rope, my lass" he SAID, as
he came close in; and l did it dreaming
| ly, and as soon as had done so / began
TO pull it back. but it was too late; he
| had hitched it around the thwaIt of his
boat. and was up over the side before l
could STIR; and he stood looking down
upon me, while l felt sometimes hot and
sometimes cold, and as if 1 could not
speak.
''Do you want to see father?" said at
last.
mo, my lass" he said quietly, II want
to see you
"Me!!" 1 faltered, with my face burn
ing.
Yes, you, my lass" he said; and his
handsome brown face lit up, and he
looked so manly as he laid his hand on
my arm.
prudence, my gall he said, ''we're
both young yet, for I'm not SIX and TWEEN
tv, but thought it was time spoke to
| you.
spoke to me?" 1 said, with my face
burning still.
Yes, my lass, spoke to you, for we've
been counting now matter of four
years"
"Oh, john" 1 cried, bursting out
laughing and feeling more at my ease,
"why-why, we've hardly spoken to one
another
"That's NICE he replied, drawing a
long breath. "Call me John over again.
well then, john" cried hastily.
''That's right Prudence; bat as l was
going to say, not spoken to one another!
Well now, how could we, always taking
turns at the tiller as we were? But all
the same my lass, I've been always
accounting of you, night and day, these
four years, and looking out and longing
for the time to come when the Prudence
would glide in sight ard I could give
you hail and get wave Of the hand
back"
could feel the color coming into my
cheeks again as l heard him speak, and
knew then how anxiously I mad looked
out for his barge coming up or down the
river; and then began to wonder what It
all meant, and soon knew.
prudence, my lass" he said, Give
saved ten ponds, all my own, and our
owner has just given me command of a
new barge, with as pretty cabin in it as
you'd wish to see; and so, my lass, [
| thought I'd ask you ESQ be as now we've
been counting four years, you wouldn't
come to me and be my WIFE,
"Nor' 1 said, NO., ana shook my
head; II belong to father, and 1 could
never leave him-never."
"But you'll have to some day, Pru-
dencc," he said, looking down-hearted
and miserable.
NO. l said, IL shall never leave him !;
he wants me more and more every day;
and 1 must stay.
prudence" he said, sharply, you
amt playing with me, are you!"
playing with yous''
Yes; mean you amt going to take up
with any one else, and go aboard any
other barge-ne, no." he cried, II won't
be so mean as to ask you that. But, Pru-
dence, dear, some day you may have to
leave him; and when you do, will you re-
collect as John Grove loves you better
than aught else in the wide world and is
waiting for you to Gomez"
Eyes, John,' said simply.
"You mean it, PrudenceF, he cried in
delight as he caught my hand.
les, John; don't know anybody else
and there's no one as cares for me-"
Hundreds on the river, he said sharp
ly.
Then 1 don't care for them, john" I
said simply; "and If you like me, and |
ever do-leave-oh, deaTl what am l
saying?
sat down on fender and covered
my face with coarse red hands, and be-
gan to cry; but he took my hands down.
and looked long and lovingly In my face,
with his great honest brown eyes; and
then he couldn't speak, but seemed to
choke. At last he gasped out:
"Thanky Prudence, thanky. I'm 60
ing away now TO wait, for you'll come to
me some day, l know"
| didn't answer him.
For the time may tome, my lass,
when you'll be all alone in the world :;
and when it does come, there's the cabin
CT tie Betsey Ann, clean painted up, and
waiting for you. just as her master S
awaiting too"
He went quietly over the side and cast
off the rope, and was gone before l knew
it; and l sat there in the calm afternoon
and evening, sometimes crying, some
times feeling hopeful, and with sense
of JOY at my heart such as l never felt
| before.
| And so that evening deepeued into