The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-14


mill superintendent half an hour after
ward.
Phil came out into the porch, carry
ing 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 aunt?" said Phil, as
Phebe jumped out. Didn't sho
Gomez"
'she came" said Phebe. CURLY; "but
she's gone back again"
"Gone back again."
Eyes. She didn't like it because
you've got married, so she's gone back
by the eight-six train"
"Oh, Phil |" cried Mrs. Barrow, who
was a round, cherry-cheeked little
woman, with soft. hazel eyes and a
mouth like a red rosebud. "what shall
we do? Why didn't you consult her
before you married me?"
Phil Barrow broke into a great
laugh.
"My DEAR" said he. cit wasn't her
consent I wanted; it was yours"
ooh! But, Phil, she has done so
much for you."
"She's a good soul, but she's eccent-
ric." said the mill superintendent.
Go in, Phebe, and get your tea"
I'm Ire I can't eat a mouthful,"
said Mrs. Phil. despairingly. "And
the biscuits 1 mixed myself; and the
fried chicken; and the White Noun
tain cake Oh, Phil ! oh. Phil r.
Don't fret, dear p said Phil. "My
Aunt Medley has missed a very good
supper; that 1 can tell her !"
"But I've blighted your future r.
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,
wiley
Phebe chuckled grimly.
That's all very WE'LL" said she;
''but you forget that an old lady and a
young man don't look at a girl with
the same eyes"
"Hold your tongue, Phebe! !" said
the mill superintendent. "Where's
the use of always croaking?"
And then Mrs. Phil began to laugh,
and Phebe, who. after her 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 s~teadfastly turned
toward Concord.
Her own Preside had never seemed
so solitary and dreary as it did upon
that November night.
The maids. g%ossiping in the kitchen,
were called up to re-kindle the dead
fire. The tea, smoky and ha~lf-cold,
was served. and Mrs. Medley was just
resolving to go to bed. when Betsey
brought a letter.
"Postman. mum, he left it a week
ago." said she. at had fell down
back of the letter-box."
"Ah," said Mrs. Medley. fitting on
her s%pectacles and scr%utinizing the
seal and directions, "from Silvia Grey.
Now I shall have some n to love II
Philips place"
But she had not read three lines
before she flung the letter Indignantly
on the sulking fire.
"Marriei !" she exclaimed. "That
child Is everybody crazy to get
married, l wonder? And she hopes
I'll excuse her, but her husband
thinks Folly and nonsense! What
is her husband to me? Betsey, my
chamber candlel"
"Bless me. ma'amI' said Betsey.
"What has happened?"
"Everything!" exclaimed Mrs. Ned
ley. Don't let me be called before
eight o'clock tomorrow morning. 1
almost wish that I could go to sleep
and sleep forever!"
And Mrs. Medley, in the silence and
solitude Of her own room. fell to think.
ing to what institution she could
leave her money.
She was sitting at her luncheon the
next day, with the cockatoo on one
side Of her and the poodle on the