Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-10
Gales aud Skftfhfs.
WHar BECAME OF HEB

/
There was a great commotion in Fox.
vile when old Parson Fox died. II was
not only because he was the pioneer OF the
place, having come there when the woods
were one primevaI mass of green, snd
himself having erected the old stone par
sonage around which the thriving village
had grown up with almost incredible ra-
pidity. 1t was not that he had preacht d
the gospel to them for four-and-forty
years; ii was not that his footsteps had
been instant on every threshold where
sickness came or sorrow brooded.
All this had been received as matter
of course, and forgotten as soon as the
necessities were past. BUTT was because
Foxville curiosity was on the qui yiye
about Joanna, his grandchild. the sole re-
manning blossom on the guarded old fami-
lv tree, who was lett quite unprovided
| for.
II declare to goodness" said Mrs En-
mons, 81 don't know what is to become of
that girl"
'.She hain't no faculty." said Sabina
Sexton, the village dressmaker, land
never had"
Books possessed no charm TO her y
sighed Miss Dodge. who taught the Fox
vile district school. .'She always cried
over her parsing and rhetoric. and never
could make her understand cube root"
There's no denyin' that the old minis
ter was as near saint as we often see in
tnis world" said Mrs. Luke Lockedge pi-
ouslv. But he hadn't ought to let
Joanna run loose in the woods and fields
the way he did. Why. | don't suppose
she ever made a shirt or fried a batch of
| fritters in all her life"
'Is it true" said Miss Dodge, peering
inquisitively up under her spectacle glass
es, "that she is engaged to your Simon,
Mrs, Lockedge ?"
Mrs. Lockedge closed her mouth. shook
her head and knitted away until her
needles shone like forked lightning.
"Smon's like all other young men,
Miss Dodge, said she, "took by pretty
face and pair o. bright eyes. And they
set on the some bench at school. And as
long as we s'posed Parson Fox had left
property why there wasn't no objection.
But there wasn't nothing, not even life
| insurance, So I've talked to Simon and
made him hear reason. There can't no.
body live on air !"
but that's rather hard on Joanna, amt
| ?" said Mrs. Emmons, with sympa-
thetic wheeZe.
treason is reason" Mrs. Lockedge an
swered. My Simon will have property,
and the girl he marries must have suthin
to match it,
So that Joanna Fox, sitting listlessly in
her black dress by the window, where
the scent of June honeysuckles foated
| sweetly in. and trying to realize that she
was alone in the world, had divers and
sundry visitors that day. The first was
Simon Lockedge, looking as if his errand
were somehow connected with grand lar
ceny.
Joanna started up, her wan face bright
ening. She was only sixteen-a brown
hair, brown-eyed girl, with a solemn red
with black velvet.
"Oh, Simon" she cried, 81 knew you
would come when you heard"
Simon Lockedge wriggled uneasily into
seat, instead of advancing to clasp her
little outstretched hand.
"Yes," said he, "Of course its very
sad, Joanna, and Pm awfully sorry for
you. But
Joanna stood still, her face hardening
into cold, white mask. her hands falling
to her side.
Yes" said she. You were saying"
"It's mother!" guilty. confessed ST.
mon. IA fellow can't 90 against his own
mother, you knew. She says it's nonsense,
our engagement, and we shouldn't have
ANYTHING to live on. And So" with a final
! twist, wed better consider it all over.
| That's the sense of the matter--now amt
| it, JoannaP"
She did not answer.
I'm awfully sorry" suffered Simon.
II always set deal of store by you.
Joanna"
Ibid you?" she said bitterly. Zone
would scarcely have thought it."
And you know, joanna" he added.
awkwardly, mindful of his mothers drill,
when poverty comes in at the door, love
flies out at the window"
Joanna smiled scornfully.
at seems,'' said she, THAT love does
not wait for that"
And she turned and walked like young
queen into the adjoining apartment; while
Simon, sinking out of the door like de-
tected burglar, muttered to himself:
ATS the hardest job O. work that ever
did in my life. Sitting stumps is moth.
ing to it. But mother says it must be
done-and mother rules the roost in oul
house"
Next came Mrs. Emmons.
Joanna" said she. I'm deeply grieved
at this ere afiiiction that's befell you"
Thank you. Mrs. Emmons," said the
[ girl, mechanically.
i've come to ask you about your
plans added the plump widow. BE
cause if you have no other intentions, III
be glad to have you help me with the
homework I'm goin' to have house
full o summer boarders, and there'll be
a deal more work than me and Elvirv car
manage. OF course you won't expect nc
pay, but good home is what you need
most. and"
Miss Woodin agreed with Joanna. Mis-:
Woodin believed most firmly in whatever
Joanna believed. In her loving ewes the
successful young writer was always right
Stop minute ~ said Joanna. Am
to understand that you expect me to as
sumo the position and duties OF servant
without a servants wages?"
You'll be a member of the family,
SAX H. u