Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-01-10

And this explains Mrs. Nedley's pres
ence at Hampden.
81 suppose you are still keeping house
for Philip" said she to Phebe, as they
drove along in the chill twilight.
"NO," said Phebe, as she skillfully
guided the old horse down a steep place
in the road.
'sHe boards, eh?" said Mrs Medley.
"NO, he don't board, !" answered Phebe;
"his wife keeps house for him."
WHAT" said Mrs. Medley.
"He is married" announced Phebe,
very much In the tone in which she
might have said: 1T is a cold evening"
or, 'the train is late"
i'Philip married !" repeated the old
iady-marriedi Stop, Phebe; don't
drive a step further Turn around at
! once Take me back to the station. III
return to Concord.
Amt you going to see Philip" asked
Phebe.
"Not if he's married, % answered Mrs.
BIedlew, in a choked voice.
'He's got proper nice wife, - answered
/ Phebe. You'll like her"
"No, I shan'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 sue
cumb to it.
And so it happened that Phebe 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 aunt27 said Phil. as Phebe
/ jumped out. Didn't she conner"
/ "She came" said Phebe CURLY; 'Ebut
! she's gone back again"
"tiOne back again?"
! eyes. She didn't like it because you've
got married; so she's gone back by the
8:06 train"
ooh, Philip cried Mrs. Barrow, who
was q round, cheery-cheeked little WO-
man, with soft, hazel eyes and a mouth
| ike a rosebud. What shall we do?
I Why didn't you consult her before you
married me?"
Phil Barrow broke into a great laugh.
''GIy dear" said he, sit wasn't her con
sent L wanted; it was yours"
ooh! But, Phil, she has done so much
for your"
"She'sa good soul, butshe's eccentric"
said the mill superintendent. $50 IN,
Phebe, and get your tea"
"l'm sure 1 can't eat a mOuthful," said
Mrs. Phil, despairingly. "And the
biscuits I mixed myself; and the fried
chicken; and the White Mountain cake
oh Phil; oh, Philip
Don't fret, dear" said Phil, "my
Aunt Medley has missed a very good
supper; that I can tell her"
"But I've bGghted your future" said
Mrs. Barrow, tragically Selling the sugar
tOngs.
"Weu 90 to Concord tomorrow and
see the old lady," sOOthed Phil. "She
must surrender, if she sees you, WHEY"
Phebe chuckled grimply.
'"That's all very wei" said she, "but
you forget that an old lady and 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 fash !
ion, was fond of her pretty young sister |
in-laW, laughed also; and, after all the
dainty little supper was eaten and en-
loved, 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
November night.
The maids, gossiping in the kitchen, |
were called upon to rekindle the dead |
fire. The tea, smoky and half cold, was
served, and Mrs. Medley was just resOlv- !
ing to 60 to bed when Betsy brought +!
letter.
"Postman, mum, he left it a week age" /
said she. ct had fell down back Of the !
letter box"
"Ah," said Mrs. Medley, fitting on her !
sDectacles and scrutinizing the seal and /
directions, from Sylvia Gray! Now /
shall have someone to love in Philips |
place."
But she had not read three lines be-
fore she flung the letter Indignantly on 4
the sulking fire.
Married" she exclaimed. "That /
child! Is everybody crazy to get mar
ried, 1 wonder! And she hopes I'll ex-
cuse her, but her husband think Fol
ly and nOnsensel What is her husband /
to me2 Betsy, my chamber candle"
"Bless me, ma'am % said Betsey. What /
has happened?"
"EverythingP said Mrs. Medley.
Don't let me be called before eight |
o'clock tomorrow morning. I almost
wish that 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 charitable institution she
could leave her money.
With the psalmist of old she could
earnestly have cried, VANITY Of vanity,
all is vanity"
81 loved Philip" she said, "and 1 had
set my heart on Sylvia Gray-and such
match as it would have beenP'
She was sitting at her luncheon the
next day, with the cockatOO on one side
of her andthe pOOdleon the other, when
Betsy opened the door.
= please, ma'am," said Betsy. Com
pany."
Betsy" said Mrs. Medley, severely, 81
told you I was not at home to anybody
to-day"