The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-09-14

ne looked so manly as he lald his
hand on my arm. prudence, we're
both young yet, for I'm not six and
twenty, butt thought it was time
spoke to you:s
Spoke to me2" l said, with my
face burning still.
sYes, my lass, spoke to you; for
we've been courting now matter Of
four years"
"oh, Johnm / cried, bursting out
laughing and feeling more at my
ease; "why we've. hardly spoken to
one another"
That's true, Prudence; but, as !
was going to say, not spoke to one
anotherl Well, how could we, al
ways taking our turns at the tiller as
we were2 But all ths,same, my lass,
I've been always q counting Of you,
night. and day, these four years, and
looking for the time when the Pru.
dence would come in sight and l
could give you a hail and get a wave
Of the hand back"
i could feel the color coming into
my cheeks again as l heard him
speak, and knew how anxiously l
had looked oa: for his barge coming
up or down the river; and then be-
gan wondering what it all meant,
and soon knew.
prudence, my lass" he said, give
saved 10 pounds, all my-'own, and
our owner has just given me the COM
mand Of new barge with as pretty
a cabin in it as you'd wish to see;
and SO, my lass, thought I'd ask
you if so be as now we've been court
ing four years, you wouldn't come TO
me and be my wife?"
"No!" l said. "No," and shook my
head. II belong to father, and l
could never leave him-never!"
"But you'll have to some day, Pru-
dence," he said, looking down-heart-
ed and miserable.
NO." said. ~ shall never leave
him; he wants me more and more ey-
cry day; and l must stay"
prudence" he said, sharply, "you
amt playing with me, are you2"
playing with you?"
ayes; mean you amt going to
take up with any one else, and go
aboard any other barge-no, no." he
cried, 81 won't be SO mean as to ask
you that. But, Prudence, dear, some
aa aaS j ikis EEiease hin5and,
when you do, will you please recol-
lect that John Grove loves you better
than aught else in the wide world,
and is waiting for you to Gomez"
"Yes, john" l said, simply.
"You mean it, Prudence" he cried
in delight as he caught my hand.
"Yes, John; l don't know anybody
else, and there's no one as cares for
me-"
Hundreds on the river" he said
sharply.
"Then l don't care for them, john"
l said, simply; "and if you like ME,
and l ever do-leave-oh, dear! what
am | saying2"
| sat down on a fender and covered
my face with my coarse red hands,
and began to cry; but he took my
hands down, and looked long and
lovingly into my face, with great,
honest brown eyes; and then he
couldn't speak, but seemed to choke.
AT last he gasped out:
"Thankey, Prudence, thankey. I'm
going away now to wait, for you'll
come to me some day, l know"
l didn't answer him.
"For the time may come, my lass,
when you'll be all alone in the world;
and when it does come, there's the
cabin of the Betsy Ann, clean paint
ed up and waiting for you. just as
her masters awaiting, too."
He went quietly over the side and
cast of the rope, and was gone before
l knew it; and | sat there in the
calm afternoon and evening, some-
times feeling hopeful, and with a
sense Of joy at my heart such as /
never felt before.
And SO that evening deepened in
to night, the barge quarter of a
mile astern ofus, and no wind COM
ing, only the tide to help us on our
way.
1t must have been about II o'clock