Daily globe., 1881-02-06

after school on the pretense OF having
discovered her whispering or laughing"
he said to himself. eft is mean, l
know, alfred mean, but there's no other
way"
Fortune turned her face toward him
that day, however. For some reason or
other, Phebe was in an absent-miDded
mood and blundered unaccountably IN
her grammar lesson. Having once
failed, she went from bad to worse,
and got into such a maze of bewilder
ment that all the other girls laughed at
her.
"You will stay while after school
tonight, Miss Phebe, and we'll see
about this lesson," said he, more sternly
than he had intended to speak, with a
ring Of triumph in his tone.
A murmur of disappointment ran
round the room, but one glance at the
determined face of the master was suffi-
cient to hush it. Phebe accepted the
punishment, with comparative coolness.
She colored deeply, of course, but she
neither hid her face in her hands, nor
wept, nor betrayed angry defiance.
But the master was in fever OF un-
easiness during the remainder of the ses-
sion. He half expected rebellion. He
His fears were groundless, however
when the bell rang for dismissal Phebe
remained quietly in her seat, her demure
eyes fixed upon her book. There had
been great deal of laughing and whis-
pering, great many failures in lessons
that day, but it was a remarkable fact
that no one but Phebe was subjected to
so dire a punishment therefor. Ventur-
ing to look up, she found herself alone
with the master, and burst into Hood
of terrified tears.
"Phebe," he said, in tender tone,
approaching her desk, "don't be mad
with me for keeping you here twasn't
on account of that miserable lesson, but
because you wouldn't give me any
chance to speak to you; you wouldn't
let me tell you how much [ set by you.
I want you to be my wife.
Phebe's weeping progressed with re-
newed yigor.
"Tell me, Phebe, are you SO mad that
you will never forgive me? Won't you
lift your head and give me just one
look?
There seemed to be no hope that this
request would be granted.
"Tell me, Phebe, is it because I've
got red hair that you won't have me? [
know it's pretty red, but then I've seen
city preacher with redder," in tone
which implied that he expected doubt
at such an astonishing statement.
Phebe shook her prostrate head en-
phatically. Her own hair approached
this despised tint.
"Then what is it you have against
me? Am / too poor? I haven't any
thing but my farm and it's stock, and
they amt quite paid for, I know, but I
mean to have more before long-that is,
if you'll have me if you won't, I don't
care what becomes of me-"
Phebe again shook her head very de-
cidedly.
"T6en I amt genteel enough, or
p'raps you like that curly-headed chap
| that works in the woods better" in a
faint tone, ghastly with foreboding.
Another still more decided negative.
"Well, then, what's to hinder you
| from having me, should like to know
Phebe, I'd rather have you be my wife
than to own all the big farms, all the
big lumber in Roostick county? Will
you marry me %
A renewed food of tears was heard
from the depths Of the well-soaked gram
mar at this point, but there was differ
| ent kind of motion to the head, a slow,
upward movement of the chin.
"Hurrah p shouted the master, lift
ing the girl to her feet, and coming in
contact with great deal of briny moist
ure as he touched his lips to her cheek.
"lt's all right now. amt going to the
insane asylum, I shan't commit suicide
after all and as for you, Phebe, I know
I can make you happy. When I first
came to the Forks, I thought there was
nothing in the world but property n
learning, but now see my mistake"
| And he shouted again, until the whole
neighborhood resounded with his jovial
| voice.