Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-09-07


the high wall.
"It's my poor grandmother, Phoebe
replied, family. ''She's coming out to
speak to thee. She says she must see
thee about this herself"
"See me herself? Nay, I'll none see
her What for should see her, to her
tongue to listen to? Tell her she's
wrong about me-that I mean to wed
thee, but that I cannot possibly do it
just yet, for I am not prepared for such
a thing"
"Why not, honey?' asked poor
Phoebe, though she had already heard
all that he had to say.
81 must have something laid by first.
must have boat that's all my own
you keep saying I have one, but you
don't take into account how many folks
have share in her. / must have more
time to turn myself around about in. and
see what I can do for the best. She
wants me to put off going home and wed
thee now, but I have been here month
longer than I ought to have been already
[ can't stop here now. Tell her I can't
manage that nohow, but I'll come back
here with the boat next year and then, if
only we have luck with the fishing,
things will be different.
ooh, honey, don't let us wait: Just
think what lies before me, and let us
chance it.
"Chance it. and ruin everything ?"
said he.
A great lump rose in Phebe's throat
all hope was gone-all prospects of
escaping disgrace faded away into pos
sibility of something being, perhaps,
done next year, or some time, when the
fishing season happened to be more
thang usually prosperous.
The grandmother came nearer and
nearer; OFF darted David Trevethoe.
"Stop, honey! oh, do stop!' cried
Phoebe, imploringly.
"Not Il" cried he, and disappeared.
"Phebe-Phebe, BARN " cried the
grandmother, in a voice full of anguish.
Even then, in the very midst of her
own grief and torment, Phoebe could not
but feel for the distress and pain of
the poor afflicted old woman, whose
legs had refused to bear her further, and
who was now standing within very few
steps of the garden gate. She put her
arm round her and helped her carefully
back into the house.
"He has had his one chance and he
has not taken it! cried Elsie Macdou-
gal, angrily, when she was informed
what David's decision was, and all the
way as they went Phoebe heard her SOL
emn and angry voice uttering bitter la
mentations and reproaches; but not to
save her life could she have said one
word in answer, until at last, with in
finite difficulty, she got her in and placed
her once more on her own chair, safe in
side her own walls.
'Say nought more to me tonight"
cried Phoebe then. CTS fairly brussen-
heartfelt" and she threw herself down
in the corner by the fire and covered
her face with her apron.
"I'll not say more to thee, my poor
BARN" said the grandmother, with re-
turning love and pity.
''He says he'll wed me afterwards,
when more time is by-past," pleaded
Phoebe.
"There'll not be much more time for
him !" muttered the old woman; and
whether Phoebe heard what she said or
not, she neither seemed to know nor
care. They went to bed together;
neither of them knew whether the other
slept or not, for not another word was
spoken between them, and no token of
sympathy exchanged.
Early next day the old woman said:
"Phebe, I lay thee on thy obedience
not to cross our doorstep till that man
has left this place! Promise at once
r,romiso SOLEMN
Phoebe promised solemnly-she dared
not do otherwise, and the old woman re-
lied on her given word. This was Tues
day, and on Thursday David Trevethoe's
boat, together with one OF two other
Penzance boats which had stayed to the
very end of the st. Aiden's season, were
to sail, and would be seen in that har-
Dor not more until the next years fish
ing brought them again northward.
The day passed in silence. Occasion
ally Phoebe dropped into a seat, and
looked as if she were going to sit and
think over her sorrows; but whenever
she did this, her grandmother said,
"Ph9be, mum hal wark gone on with, ;"
and Phoebe did go on with the work, un-
til at last night came, and it was well
come rel1eI 10 creep INTO ner bed In the
darkness and be able to fret as she liked.
Wednesday passed in the same way,
but the old woman's face was hard set.
and somewhat terrible from the stern
resolution it displayed. Again Phoebe
had to work, and if she stopped mo-
ment, her grandmother said severely,
"Girl, just please to mind what thou's
doing" and during these days she
neither allowed her to leave the house,
nor to speak to any one who happened
to come in. Few were they who did
come in, and to these the old woman
said promptly and sternly, "Honey, we
have no time to spend in talking the day;
our Phoebe and me are both particular
through and on this hint they went
their way, for Elsie Macdougal was not
one to be trihed with.
Thursday was the day on which Davie
Trevethoe was to sail, and down below in
the harbor there was the usual little stir
inseparable from a departure of this
kind. Once or twice, unhappy Phoebe
looked furtively out of the window, hop