The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-07-11

t and tell her the news. She found that gooC
: lady pouring out Joe's tea; and rushing in
g she broke into merry laugh, and cried
"Motherl Phyllis is a ready made farm
er's wife, and not bit of an actress aftel
all !"
Whatever other effect this declaration
t had, it quite took away Joe's appetite; a
state of things which under other circum-
stances would Lave aroused maternal anx
iety; but now his mother was too much In
terested in this wonderful intelligence to
notice it. And before they could question
Ruth further, she was off again, and in
another minute had Phyllis among them,
to tell her story for herself.
: Candor compels us to admit that this
discovery of their charming guest being a
possible candidate for matrimony in their
domestic circle gave the good mother a
slight twinge of jealousy on ,Joe's behalf.
For what mother can look in the face for
the first time the possibility that even a
part of her only sons affection towards
herself may be diverted into another chan
mel? But she was too sensible woman to
brood over such thoughts; for after all, if
Joe did get such an idea into his head,
where would he find a sweeter and. better
little wife than Phyllis? Her heart melt
ed towards the desolate girl, who had never
/ known a mothers love and care; and she
kissed the young face, where the roses were
again blooming, with such tenderness as
called up the tears once more into the or
phan's eyes. But they did not remain
there long, for she had to satisfy Mrs Mar
tindale's curiosity concerning the art and
mystery of butter making as practised in
Salop; and Ruth was too full of rejoicing at
her discovery to leave room for any but
merry hearts in her company. And here
was such glorious chance for doing a bit
of that matchmaking which all women,
and particularly women who are newly
matched themselves, so dearly love. So
Ruth firmly made up her mind that she
would have Phyllis for her sister; and Joe
on his part determined that it should not
be his fault if she had not
And Phyllis? Well, Phyllis had not
been asked for her opinion ON that delicate
subject as yet, and so it would hardly be
fair in us to divulge her feelings. Mrs.
Martindale in her mind fully resolved that
there should be no more playacting for Miss
Phyllis May Ruth was going to leave
her, and she should take Ruths place in
the household IF Joe took it into his
head to marry her, well and good; but if
not, there would soon be plenty of eligible
suitors for her hand, and anything was
better than to let her go back among ''them
playactor folk"
CHAPTER V.
It must not be supposed that Phyllis had
been deserted by her actor-friends all this
time. On the contrary, Mr.. Nelson had
managed to pay one or two hurried visits
to Knowecroft during the first weeks OF
her illness, and on one occasion he brought
his wife, to give the latter an opportunity
of seeing that Phyllis was really comforta-
BILE and happy. Possibly Mrs. Nelson was
shrewd enough to surmise what was likely
to be the outcome of the charming strang
er's stay at Knowecroft; at anyrate, neither
she nor her husband showed any signs of
any wish to shorten her stay there, although
Phyllis was not left without every assur-
ance that the worthy couple were looking
forward with pleasure to her return.
AS day by day went past, each one bring
ing nearer the time when she must leave
Knowecroft and all the kind friends there,
Phyllis's heart had grown very heavy, 1t
had been such peaceful, happy time
even while she was an invalid, she had felt
it so-after bufeting with the world for
nearly two years alone, meeting with harsh
words from some indifference from many,
and kindness from few; and as last re-
source, having to adopt for a livelihood a
calling for which she had little liking
that Knowecroft had seemed to her per-
feet haven of rest. 1t was not as stranger
that the little household there seemed to
look upon her; nay, it was mere as daugh-
ter and a sister, and her heart yearned so
towards all this love, which she must leave
behind her It appeared so much harder
to face the world now, than it did before
she came; but she knew that it must be
done, and she felt that the sooner her de-
parture was taken now, the better it would
be, both for herself and her hospitable
friends She could not be blind to the fact
that Joes regard for her was of a warmer
nature than that of brother; and without
daring to analyze her own feelings towards
him, she dreaded declaration on his part,
as being sure to cause unhappiness to his
mother, for whose goodness she was so
deeply grateful that she shrank from eaus-
ing her amoment's pain. And that it must
be matter for pain to her, that her son
should wish to marry a penniless stranger,
Phyllis felt sure; all the mope 50 that the
stranger had been, even for so short time,
isplayaeter. So she came to the resolu-
ton to write to Mr.. Nelson at once. telling
him that she was at last well enough to
resume her histrionic duties, and then to
intimate to Mrs Martindale that she must
now really leave them,
But when she came to talk to her about
it, she found that good lady had very diff
ferent views on the subject "Gan to leave
us p? said she. "Nay, Phyllis, my dear
lass, thoo mustn't talk that way. Ruth's
gan, an I'm to be left by myself, an I've
been thinkin' hoo neyee it wad be it thoo
wad nohbut bide wid us awthegithe. l ken
th0o might max mar money VIII 1hohi
playactors, but bless the bairn thoo wad
be far better wild us. Thy oan mother
wadnt be kinder till the than I'll be, if
thoo'll only STOP
"Oh Mrs. Martindale e"-began Phil
lis.
"Nay; divvent co me Mrs. Martindale;
CO. me mother that's good BARN, inter
polated the kindly dame. "Ts sure fin
like mother to the, an [ always will
whether thoo gans or stops but thoqs gan
min"
rWell, mother, dear mother, continued
Phyllis, Sif | stayed, should only be a
trouble to you, and that would make me
miserable as well as you. 1t is very, very
hard to leave you; but as have my
livelihood to make, it is best | should"
"There's nea best about it, that | can
see, =" reioined Mrs Martindale. "Ruth s
gan to leave me, an rs gittin' oald an
feckless, an there'n hev to be somebody to
tax her place, an thoo could manHish I
famously Thoo maybe thinks that Joe
wad object but here he is comm and well
see what he says" And Joe, whose face