The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-05-06
INTERESTING STORY.
PHILIPS WIFE.


leaves, to make them at all presentable.
And in the gray, uneompromising medium
of the November dusk Hampden looked
dreary enough, with the dark chimney of
the new silk mill rising out of the hemlock
woods, the staring Queen Anne depot, the
church, which bore a strong family re-
semblance to child's wooden toy, and the
stone quarry to the left, which reminded
the thoughtful looker-on of gigantic forti-
fication in an unfinished state.
Humph I" said Mrs. Medley, as she look
ed around her. ga queer place.
Her niece Phebe was there to meet hen
with box wagon and white-nosed cd
horse.
Folks can't always choose where they're
to live," said Phebe, who was always in a
state of antagonism to Mrs. Medley, "and
Hampden is good enough for me-"
g How is Philip ?" asked Mrs. Medley.
Philip is well, said Phebe, as she help
ed the depot boy to hoist Aunt Nedley's
trunk into the wagon.
Philip Barrow was Mrs Nedley's fayorite
nephew. She had paid his bills ut school,
superintendent his fortunes, and finally
purchased q share for him in the new silk
mills.
He's all I've got," said Mrs. Medley
"except Phebe, and Phebe and l never did
hitch horses together. And l want him to
succeed in the world.n
But within few days new claimant had
arisen to Aunt Nedley's protection and ten.
der consideration.
TO be sure, she is no relation to me-
said Mrs. Medley But her mother was
my dearest friend, and I think will adopt
her for her sake
And it was scarcely an hour from the
time in which she learned that Silvia Gray
was an orphan that she wrote kind letter
to the girl, inviting her to come to the East
for visit.
:" If you like it, my denr, there need be
no occasion for your going back, y she wrote
" We are both nlone. Let us be compan-
ions one to another"
She had waited and waited, and no reply
had arrived and while she waited plan
had developed itself in her mind.
90 If she is her mothers daughter she
can't help being pretty" said Mrs. Medley.
Phil is handsome lad. She shall marry
Phil"
And this explains Mrs. Nedley's presence
1t Hampden.
!" 1 suppose you are still keeping house
for Philip?n said she to Phebe, as they
drove along in the chill twilight.
No." said Phebe, skilfully guiding the
old horse down a steep place in the road.
He boards, eh ?" said Mrs. Medley.
No, he doesn't board, answered Phebe;
his wife keeps house for him.
:. What?n said Mrs. Medley.
" He is married., /" announced Phebe, very
much in the tone in which she might have
said, It is cold evening"" or The train
is late"
"Philip married I" repeated the old lady
-" married Stop, Phebe don't drive a
step further Turn round at once. Take
me back to the station. I'll return to Con-
cord"
"Aint you going to see Philip ?" asked
Phebe.
Not if he's married." answered Mrs
Medley, in a choked voice.
!. I" He's got proper nice wife, pleaded
Phebe. You'll like her."
"No, 1 sha'n't," said Mrs Medley
Philip--married. Phebe, if you don't
turn around I'll get out and walk"
Mrs. Nedley's will was like adamant, and
Phebe Barrow was forced to succumb to it.
And so it happened that Phebe and the
white-nosed pony arrived, solitary and alone,
at the little cottage of the mill superintend-
ent half an hour later
Phil came out into the porch, carrying u
lamp in his hand. Mrs. Phil ran after him
with pink apron tied around her trim
waist and her brown fringe of hair blowing
back from her forehead.
Where's my aunt ?" said Phil, as Phebe
jumped out. Didn't she come"
{" She came" said Phebe, curtly but
she's gone back again"
"Gone back again?"
Yes. She didn't like it because you've
got married SO she's gone back by the SOC
train"
40, Phil ~ cried Mrs Barrow, Who was
a round, cherry-cheeked little woman, with
soft, hazel eyes, and mouth like rose
bud. "What shall we do? Why didn't
You consult her before you married me /"
Phil Barrow broke into great laugh.
Ny dear" said he, it wasn't her con.
sent wanted it was yours"
90, but, Phil, she has done so much fol-
you"
"She's good soul, but she's eccentric
said the mill superintendent. $50 in,
Phebe and Sc. your tea"
''rm sure can't eat a mouthful," saio
Mrs. Phil, despairinsly. And the biscuits
I mixed myself and the fried chicken !;
and the White Mountain cake--O Phil o
Phil !"
Don't fret, DEAR" said Phil my Aunt
Medley has missed very good supper; that
can tell her."
But I've blighted your future" said
Mrs. Barrow, tragically Selling the sugar.
tongs.
"Well go to Concord tomorrow and see
the old lady," soothed Phil. She must
surrender if she sees you, WHEY"
Phebe chuckled grimly.
"Thats all very well, said she, but
you forget that an old lady and young
man doesn't lock at girl with the same
eyes"
"Hold your tongue, Phebe," said the
mill superintendent. -" Wha 3 the use OF
always croaking ?"
And then Mrs. Phil began to laugh, and
Phebe, who, after grabbed fashion, was
fond of her pretty young sister-in-law,
laughed also and, after all, the dainty
little supper was eaten and enjoyed, even
though Aunt Nedley's face was steadfastly
turned toward Concord.
Her own freside had never seemed SO
solitary and dreary as it did upon that No
vember night. The maids, gossiping in
the kitchen, were called upon to rekindle
the dead fire. The tea, smoky and hall