Omaha daily bee., 1885-07-06
Philips WIFE.

est Of sunlight, the greenest frame Of
quivering %le,ves, to make them at al
presentable. And In the gray, uncom.
promising medium Of the November dusk
Hampden looked dreary enough, with
the dark chimney of the new sllk mill
rising out Of the hemlock woods, the star,
Ing Queen Anne depot, the church, which
bore q strong family resemblance to o
child's wooden toy, and the stone quarry
to the left, which reminded the thought
full looker-on of q gigantic fortifcatlon In
an unfinished state.
"Humph!" said Mrs. Medley, as she
looked around her. "a queer place."
Her niece Phebe was there to meet her
with a box wagon and a whlte'nosed old
horse.
"Folks can't always choose where
they're ) live" said Phebe, who was al
ways Il. a state of antagonism to Mira.
Medley, sand Hampden is good enough
for me-"
elbow Is Phillip" asked Mrs. Medley.
"Phillip is WELL" said Phebe, as she
helped the depot boy to hoist Aunt Ned
iey's trunk into the wagon.
Phillip Barrow was Mrs.. Nedley's
f%avorite nephew. She had paid his bills
at school, superintendent his fortunes, and
finally purchased a share for him for him
In the new silk mlllr.
"He's all I've got" said Mrs. Medley.
''except Phebe, and Phete and l never
did hitch horses together. And l want
him to sucoeed in the world.
But within q few days a new claimant
had arisen to Aunt Nedley's protection
and tender const6 eratlon.
''To be sure, she Is no relation to NO."
said Mrs. Medley. 'But her mother
wau my dearert friend, and L think l will
adopt her for her rake.'"
And 1t was scarcely an hour from the
time in which she learned that Silvia
Gray was an orphan that she wrote a
kind letter to the girl, inviting her to
come to the East for a visit.
eff you like 1t, my dear, there need be
no occasion for your going back, she
wrota. "We are both alone. Let us be
companions n to another"
She had waited and waited, and no re-
ply had arrived; and while she waited a
plan had developed itself In her mind.
SIT she Is her mothers daughter she
can't help being pretty" aaid Mrs. Ned
ley. ''Phil Is handsome lad. She shall
marry Phil"
And this explains Mrs. Nedley's pres
ence at Hampden.
81 suppose you are still keeping house
for Phillip" said she to Phebe, as they
drove along In the chill twilight.
"No," said Phebe, skillfully guiding
the old horse down a steep place in the
road.
she boards, he2" said Mrs. Medley.
"No. he doesn't board" answered
Pheb; ''his wife keeps house for him."
"Whatl" said Mrr. Medley.
"He Is married." announced Phebe,
very much In the zone In which she might
have said, SIT Is q cold evening"" or the,
Strain is late"
"Phillp married." repeated the old
lady-"married! Stop, Phebe; don't
drive q step furtherl Turn round at
once. Take me back to the station. I'll
return to Concord"
"Ain't you going to see Philip" asked
Phebe.
''Not IL he's married." answered Mrs.
Medley, in a choked voice.
"He's got a proper nice wife," pleaded
Phebe. "You'l like her."
"No, / shan't," said Mrs. Medley.
"Phllip-marrled. Phebe, if you don't
turn around I'll get out and walk"
Mrs. Nedley's will was like adamant,
and Phebs Barrow was forced to sue
cumb to it.
And SC 1t happened that Phebs and
the white.nosed pony arrived, solitary
and alone, at the little cottage of the
mill superintendent half an hour later.
Phil came out into the porch, carrying
a lamp In his hand. Mrs. Phil ran after
him with a pink apron tied around her
trim waist and her brown fringe of hair
blowing back from her forehead.
"Where's my aunt2" said Phil, as
Phebe jumped out. "Dldn't she comet"
"She came" said Phebe, CURLY; shut
she's gone back again."
"Gone back again?'
"Yes. She didn't like it because you've
got married; 30 she's gone back by the
SOC train"
80, Phil" criod Mrs. Barrow, who
was o round, oherry-cheeked little
woman, with soft, hazsl eyes, and a
mouth like a rosebud. "Whst shall we
do2 Why didn't you consult her before
you married me2"
Phil Barrow broke into a great laugh.
"My dear" said he, 1t wasn't her con-
sent [ wanted; 1t was yours"
80, but Phil, she has done 30 much
or you"
"She's a good soul, but she's eccen.
rlc," said the mill superintendent. $50
n, Phebe, and get your tea"
"Im sure 1 can't eat a mouthful,"
said Mrs. Phil, despairipgly. "And the
biscuits l mixed myself; and the fried
chicken; and the White Mountain cake
% Phil! o Phil"
"Don't fret, DEAR" said Phil; "my
Aunt Medley has missed a very good
supper; that / can tell her."
"But I've bllghted your future" said
Mrs. Barrow, tragically selling the sugar
tongs.
"We'll go to Concord tomorrow and
see the old lady" soothed Phil. ''She
must surrender if she sees you, WHEY"
eaPhebe chuckled grimly.
"That's all very we'll" said she; "but
you forget that an old lady and a young