The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-05

marry him, He'll make an awful good
husband, n he's az foud NV her as ken be. "
~ should think he was," gasped Phebe,
handling her egg-beater like weapon of
vengeance. ''Tain't me he likes, n all
the ncighbors know it. lie amt got no
property himself" rj,.. ..' n,-'' -.
thcDc Jane Savage, what air you talk
ing about2" exclaimed her mother, In Il
tone OF evaporation. ''If you, ,ain't kecr-
tul you'll lose him after all. There amt
n girl roand here but what would Jump to
git him-.girls better onn you be. too"
They're welcome to him, 'widcrcr's g
peak, N ALL" said Phebe. "iIc-"
Marianne and retreatcd to the sitting
room. The fire snapped cheerily. The
birds were singing outside, and we could
see from the window wo sat, the bold peak
of Katahdin, softencd into q velvet cloud
by distance, over the tops of the waving
trees Marianne busted herself with her
sketch book, while idly watched the an
tics OF. an impish kitten, and mcditatcd on
Phebe's troubles.
The elder was expected before teatimc.
and we did not desert our post by the win
dow until he made his appearance. He
travelled in what they callcu the "commo-
a jovlal young man from the eud of a stage
route, several miles below. lie was tail,
ungalnly man of forty or lhcreabouts. lie
wore shiny black bl bloadcloth and a tall hat,
resembling stage countryman in his Sun
day best. His hair was black, oily and
curling. His eyes were beautifully blue,
but looked both sleepy and sinister, and
when lie moved his hut we were amused to
notice the ''widowcr's peak" which Phebe
had mentioned so scornfully. The ex-
preston of his face was strangsAmixturc
or both Incidence and sharpness. He car
ried gay carpet-bag in his hand, and in
Variably swallowed before he spoke. He
addlcsscd Mrs Savage as "Sistcr Savage"
and rushed forward to greet her with a
smile which was sultry in Its sweetness.
Phebe, without paying the least attention
to the elder, was exchanging great deal
or mysterious banter with the jovial young
man under his very nose.
81 am afraid that young man is on the
downward road," sighed the elder, ylew-
ing their proceedings from the window,
alter he had reluctantly entered the house.
Mrs. Savage looked alarmed, and hast
ened to call Phcbe, who did not hasten to
make her appearance. The young man
was to remain ut the house all night, as the
roads were bad, and his horse was disabled
in some way, and not until he moved to-
ward the stable with his weary stccd did
she exhibit the slightest intention Of de-
priving herself of his society.
The elder strobe toward her with re-
proachful tenderness, and attempted to im-
print kiss upon her glowing check.
t"Qult |" said Phcbc, rcpulsing him, with
a n -n,t,sry l,,reh ..-.-.
"Phebe janet" calculated her. mother,
reprovingly, @H1
Lor, Sister Savage" said the elder,
with another sultry smile, ''girls will be
bashful, you know, and we mustn't blame
little Phebe. She'll get over it in time, I'll
warrant you. Wimmcn folks amt often
very backward as far rs l am concerned"
And he bcamcd all over with still COM
placency..
Mrs Savage turned one aaniring eye
from his visage and another threatening
one from that of her daughter, and pro-
cccded to perform an introduction between
us and the elder. His affability was cx-
trcme, and addressing us each as "sistcr,"
he commenced theological discussion,
while Mrs. Savage and Phcbe busted them
selves in preparing supper. But as ne had
wcaried Of 1t, and favored us with his
views On politics and temperance at great
length.
''Hmnt seen you down below ?" he
suddenly inquired, from tho midst of his
disQuisltion, searching Mariannc's face
with somewhat puzzled expression.
We were both considerably startled, for
as his speech was extremely free with the
name OF his Satanic majesty, the "down
below was naturally suggestive Of a very
region. 1t was Il great re-
lief to find out that he only meant Barnog
after all.
Phcbc and the strange young man, who
seemed by no means strange to her, ap-
pcarcd rather excited and were inclined to
laugh at the elder, during the solemn cxcr-
ciscs of supper. The elder regarded him
with severe disapproval, and remarked
chccrfnlly several times, that he knew one
or two young men who were going straight
to destruction.
Evening, however. found Phcbc dcmure.
the young man ccpy, the elder still in q
theological, but not SO severe a mood, and
casting lovcr-likc glanccs toward the maid
OF his choice. But Mrs. Savage looked
anxious, and was continually dropping a
stitch in her knitting. "My son John" and
the strange young man, who seemed to be
fast friends, retired early, pleading fatigue.
Then Phcbe, in spite of her mothers re-
monstrating glances, retired also. The
elder asked permission to smoke pipe. and
no objection beng expressed he puffcd
away, uttcring little exhortation between
the whiffs.
$50 Pncbc Is engaged to the elder 2" in.
quircd Marianne when the reverend gen
tlcman had taken his departure for the
night and we sat with Mrs Savage by the
tlrcsdc.
"Wby, yes, | kalkcrlatc they'll be mar
ricd. She's awful bigotcd though, N says
she won't have him. (Bigoted is the word
used for all sorts of Objectionable behavior
In the Aroostook.) "rhis young man that
druv the cldcriup KEEP school in cur dces-
trict an courtcd hcra spell winter fore last,
IN Pm afccrd he's turninshcr head agin
now" ~
GA marriage with him seems great deal
more SUITABLE" l vcntured feeling deep
sympathy for the poor damscl. "The cl-
der is so much older than Phebc" -