Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-15
Ths Sturv Teller.
IN A CHINA PITCHER.

The last beams of the setting sun were
slanting through the light green foliage
which bordered a grassy country lane.
There was the scent of the sea in the breeze,
and the distant murmur of waves mingled
with the goodnight music of the birds.
The hay-make were still busy in the field
in spite of the lateness of the hour, for the
clouds promised rain for tomorrow, and
the airiest line of mist was WaVerlng along
the horizon.
A group of women whose elderly faces
were deeply shaded by sun-bonnets, were
chattering on the steps of a weather-beaten
old farmhouse, which stood at the entrance
of the lane, and handsome, sun-burned
Young sailor stood leaning over the gate a
few rods away 1s' go :>~'*-
"Phebe's gone back to the pastur' ter
drive home the cows. The men thought
the clouds looked like spell O. weather, so
they went back to the hay field after supper,
m seein as she didn't expect you back from
the Port ter night, she said she'd just as
lives 60 as not" said one OF the women
whose tongue was as slow as the pace OF the
slowest country Sunday.
"I'n 90 and meet her, guess" said the
young man, after moments hesitation.
II didn't expect to get home tonight, but
Larkin, the man went to see, was right on
the spot, so got through with my business
early"
He had only advanced few steps down
the path when light laugh resounded
from the shadows Of the lane. Then a
sober-minded procession of COWS emerged
into sight-sober-m minded though their horns
were enwreathed with white clematls IN
high holiday fashion, and the pretty girl
who stepped behind them, accompanied by
an evidently enamored swain, was decorat-
i with
1t was a pretty picture, like one from the
canvas of Watteau, filled with glowing
color, graceful rusticity, and suggestive
manner, but it was evidently by no means
pleasing to the eyes of the young sailor,
whose face darkened like thunder cloud,
and who stood at the gate, his head turned
toward the road, as if he meditated an inn
mediate flight in that direction.
"Why, Joe, is that you? l thought you
were going to stay at the Port all night, I"
called the girl as soon as she caught sight OF
him over the heads of some tall sun-tioWers.
"Evidently," he murmured angrily under
his breath. 81. ..
"Oh dear, how many breaks N disturb
ances there always is to cOurtin'," sighed
one e-of the women on the doorsteps. Nov
Joe is a goin' ter git kinky jest because the
schoomaster's caught up with Phebe some
where's on the way. IN when she sees he's
mad about it, she'll jest put on N talk putty
IN smile eZ eff she never meant ter quit sml-
lin in the world at that dretful perlite nuls-
ance, all ter make him madder yet"
81 don't know what you mean by callin'
Mr.. Whitaker nuisance, Almiry. He's q
goin ter be minister, n b'longS TO one OF
the fllst families in the country. His grand
father was old Mr.. Job Whitaker, preach
er that wuz thought more of than any one
that wuz ever settled in these parts He
married me an Isle in county conference
time, N Sally N lothian too, n was drettul
edifyin at a prayer-meetin' or a funeral, or
anywhere where he riz up ter give counsel" 7"
said another one of the circle, with con-
siderable warmth.
ooh Lor, yes, / remember ole Jotham
we'll enough, N no doubt this grandson o.
his, the schOolmaster, 5 we'll meanln'
young man, though he does pear to be
tryin' to git another feller's girl away from
him. N never did set no great store by
ministers, nor students from a theological
seminary, 'ceptin' in spiritual way. They
never look so we'll as other folks, neither,
kinder stiff N ungain' for all their meetin'
doses, with their faces drawed into sich a
pucker, IN their legs lookin' more as eff
they WuZ made of unseasoned timber. Jest
look at the difference between his legs AN
Joe's, now. He's made after real parson
cut, but Joe's straight as al arrer, IN hand
some shaped as pine tree"
In the meantime the cows had taken their
own way into the breezy old barn. Phebe's
mother, the Widder Sarmwel, as she was
called in the neighbOrhOOd, and her sister,
Almiry, who was an inmate of the house
of their milking stools, making their eN-
cuseS to the other women who were neigh
bors, and Joe, who had been introduced to
Mr.. Whitaker and had greeted that gentle
man with an unmistakable glare, uttered a
grutf goodnight, and without making the
least explanation, strobe away down the
road.
Phebe, forgetting the schoolmaster for a
moment, stood gazing after him in aStOnlSfl-
ment, quick, bright flush deepening the
delicate pink of her cheek, anda fiery spark
lighted either by pride or impatience, dart
ing from her eyes. Then turning to the
young man beside her with a little startled
motion of the head, she favored him with
her sweetest smile, and invited him into
the house, where she entertained him with
such unWonted graciousness that he felt
hope awakening in his breast, in spite OF
past rebuffS, and the amazing new ring
which she wore upon her first finger. This
ring taken in connection with the reports
concerning the young lady and Joe Trafton,
and his recent return from sea, seemed
grounds for the deepest suspicion, and the
first sight Of the glittering ornament had
struck him like blow when he overlook
her in the lane, whence he had gone to take
a pensive evening walk. Indeed, matters
had progressed so favOrably between them,
that before her mother and aunt came in
from milking, he had invited her to drive
over to Eaton Corner, to county conference
with him the next morning, and she had
accepted the invitation without hesitation.
"Where's Joe?" inquired her mother as
she entered the room.
''Oh, he went home," answered Phebe in
differently, proceedingimmediatelyt to make
some playful remark to Mr.. Whitaker, a.
if Joe were asubject unworthy of even pass
ing attention.:
nant glance at the schOOlmaster. "kindel
strange that lie should go home pears to
me-" with Il stress upon the word he which
caused the gentleman to vince perceptibly
and Phebe to color with Indignation.
Seldom in her whole life had Phebe been
so witty, 50 conversational, so merry and
bright as on that particular evening, but
seldom if ever Mad she been so wretched
While she laughed and chatted with the
was entirely with Joe, who was trying tC
forget his Indignation by listening to the
gossip ut the village store For though they
had been pIaymates when children, and
sweethearts ever since they had left of
high-necked aprons, they had only been be-
trOthed since the day before yesterday
when Joe placed beautiful pearl ring or
her finger, " hch he had brought from Ovel