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

This was eagerly agreed to, and at once
they began the ascent A tiresome tread
mill business it was, till they reached the
clerestory, and looked down from that
giddy height upon the choir beneath.
Then came dark passage, demanding slow
and careful exploration, after which there
was more treadmill work until they arrived
at the bell-chamber Here they paused to
breathe awhile, and look at the massive
bells which had for centuries rung out It'd
ings of JOY or woe to the city beneath.
Whether Ruth and Dick were more tired
with their ascent than their companions, or
whether watching the slow and regular
swing of the big clock pendulum had mes
merized them, or from whatsoever other
cause, they seemed in no hurry to proceed
when Joe led the way upward again; and
so, when they emerged in the open air on
the leads of the tower, Phyllis and he
found themselves alone And what a
scene lay beneath them At their feet
was the busy city, the streets full of hustle
and commotion, for it was market day; in
the foreground, the venerable castle, with
its blackened keep, wherein pined, in days
aforetime, captiyes rude and gentle, from
the redoubtable Kinmont Willie to the
hapless and beautiful Mary of Scotland.
Beyond, wide expanse of meadow-land
and verdant holms, now yellow with but
tercups, through which Eden winds its
sinuous course to the Solway, that glitters
in the distant west like line of silver; to
the south, the lovely vale Caldew, with
gently undulating hills and white hamlets
glinting among the trees; and far away on
every hand ranges of blue fells, Helvellyn,
Blencathra and Skiddaw, Crossfell and
Criffell.
When Joe and Phyllis had sufficiently
feasted their eyes on this glorious sight,
without Ruth or Dick making their ap-
pearance, Phyllis suggested that they had
better descend again. But Joe was not
at all impatient. In fact, having by this
time begun to feel assured that certain
question would not now scare Phyllis away
from Knowecroft, as he had at one time
feared it might, he thought this was
glorious opportunity for putting it; so he
called Phyllis back, and pointing to mere
speck of house far down the valley he
said to her: "Look do you see that house
far away yonder, with two poplars beside it
and the smoke curling up from the chin
neys?"
eyes, replied Phyllis, and then recog-
nizing it, she clapped her hands and ex-
claimed: "Oh, it is dear old Knowecroft T.
And she looked up at Joe with her big
brown eyes in such bewitching way, that
his heart told him his hour had indeed
come
"Phyllis, he said, making a prisoner of
one of her plump little hands-'Phyllis,
you have made Knowecroft another para
disc to me since you came to it. Will you
make it still dearer ?-will you be my own
little wife ?"
Phyllis looked shyly up into his face,
and then down again, but did not reply,
only her hand trembled in his, and her
cheeks flushed aud paled, and flushed again.
II have loved you, darling, he went on,
'eyer since the first time [ saw you. Do
you-can you love me little bit? 1t
would make Ruth, and the mother, and all
of them, so happy as well as me. Will
you, Phyllis ?"
Whether her lips said 'Yes, or only her
eyes, Joe never could tell, but he knew that
that was his answer; and when his arm
slipped round her waist, and her eyes looked
up into his eyes, somehow her dimpled chin
seemed to rise from the level of his heart
almost to that of his lips, so wonderful
leveller is love, And before they had time
TO rush to opposite sides of the tower and
try to look unconscious, up popped Dicks
ruddy face in the doorway, followed by
Ruth's demure one. Perhaps Ruth had
not caused Dick to daily on their upward
way on purpose to give Joe this chance of
securing Phyllis; but we have our own
suspicious on that point. At any rate, ON
seeing them so far apart she put on a look
of great gravity, and exclaimed with mock
surprise Gracious, have you two been
quarrellingS o, Dick, isn't it dreadful p
Dick grinned, and Joe and Phyllis looked
sheepish.
But Ruth was remorseless, and con-
tinued: "What shall / say to mother when
we get back p
To which query Joe, drawing Phyllis
arm within his own, replied "You may
tell her, Ruthie, that | have found another
daughter for her, who is not half so saucy
as the one that is leaving her -
Whereupon Ruth flung her arms around
Phyllis neck and kissed her, saying so,
Phyllis, dear, I am so glad And mother
oh, we'll have to 90 off at once and tell
mother She will be delighted. Come
along this minute"
"But, Ruthie," rejoined Phyllis, "you
have not seen this lovely view. Look !
isn'tit glorious q
Ruth shrugged her shoulders, and gave
a cuFsory glance around. 20 yes; I've no
doubt it's enchanting" she said "But
Eve no time to look at it just now. Dick
aud | are too late to enjoy it to-day, so
we'll have to come back again, Come
along-I'm away" And she darted off
down the corkscrew stairs, followed more
sedately by the rest.
The drive homeward was delightful
one to all parties, albeit Phyllis had some
slight futterings Of the heart as she medi-
tated on the reception she would receive at
Knowecroft under circumstances so changed
since she left in the morning. But when
Ruth tripped into the house and told Mrs,
Martindale that Joe had won Phyllis for
his wife, that good lady showed less sur
prise than pleasure. And when Joe led
lhis blushing sweetheart in, and told his
mother that Phyllis was going to become
her daughter in truth, she took her in her
arms, and looking fondly in her face, said;
''Eh, Phyllis, lass, | am glad we're gan to
get the to keep awthegither," And then
she kissed her, and said "It was lucky
day for aw of us when that horse Knocked
the doom; weyfe, an me good dowter
Who'd ha' thowte it We niver know
what's gan to come o things !"
What did "come O things" was that one
bright morning, between haytime and har-
vest, Ruth Martindale became Ruth
Braithwaite; and later on, after the harvest
was all gathered in, Phyllis and Joe were
made one. And now, if you should visit
Knowecroft and peep into the dairy, there
you may see Mrs Joe Martindale, plumper
and prettier than ever, making up the but
ter; and standing on milking-stool beside
her, miniature copy of herself, pink
gown, snow-white apron and ALL doing her