The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-06-13
PHILIPS WIFE.

sunlight tne BreeneSt frame OF QulVerlnS
leaves, to make them at all presentable.
And in the gray, incorporating medium
of the November dusk Hampden looked
dreary enough, with the dark chimney of
the new silk mill rising out of the hem
lock woods, the staring Queen Anne depot,
the church, which bore a strong family re-
semblance to child's wooden toy, and
the stone quarry to the left, which re-
minded the thoughtful looker-on of
gigantic fertilization 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 box wagon and a white-nosed old
horse.
"Folks can't always choose where
they're to live" said Phebe, who was al
ways in state of antagonism to Mrs.
Medley, land Hampden is good enough
for me-"
"How is Philip" asked Mrs. Medley.
"Philip is WE'LL" said Phebe, as she
helped the depot boy to hoist Aunt
Nedley's trunk into the wagon.
Philip Barrow was Mrs. Nedley's ia
vorite nephew. She had paid his bills at
school, superintendent his fortunes, and
lHulll puICnuscu " Silulc lOI MN III JIe
new silk mills.
"He's all I've got" said Mrs. Medley,
except Phebe, and Phebe and I never
did hitch horses together. And | want
him to succeed in the world"
But within few days a new claimant
had arisen to Aunt Nedey's protection
and tender consideration.
'"To be sure, she is no relation to me-"
said Mrs. Medley; "but her mother was
my dearest friend, and think will adopt
her for her sake"
And it 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 visit,
"lf You like it, my dear, there need be
no occasion for your going back" she
wrote. 1--WE are both alone Let us be
companions one to another"
She had waited and waited, and no reply
had arrived; and while she waited plan
had developed itself in her mind
"If she is her mothers daughter she
can't help being pretty" said Mrs. Medley.
Phil is handsome lad. She shall marry
Phil ~
And this explains Mrs. Nedley's presence
at Hampden.
Il suppose you are still keeping house
for Philip" said she to Phebe, as they
drove along in the chill twilight.
NO" said Phebe skillfully guiding the
old horse down steep place in the road
HE boards, ell ?" said Mrs. Medley
"No, he doesn't board" answered
Phebe; "hs wife keeps house for him."
WHAT" said Mrs. Medley.
ale is married." announced Phebe,
very much in the tone in which she might
have said, ut is a cold evening"" or
"The train is late
"Philip married." repeated the old lady
married. Stop, Phebe; don't drive a
E,,,sl Mt rnl.A
me back to the station, I'll return to Con-
cord"
"Ain't you going to see Philip" asked
| Phebe.
"Not if he's married" answered Mrs
| Medley, in choked voice.
pr Hes g got proper IP nice wife, pleaded
mo, I shan't," said Mrs. Medley.
"Philip-mnrried Phcbe, if you don't
| turn around I'll get out and walk"
| Mrs. Nedley's will was like adamant,
| and Phcbe Barrow was forced to succumb
| TO it,
And so ii happened that Phcbe and the
| white-nosed pony arrived, solitary and
alone, at the little cottage of the mill SUI
| perintendent half an hour later.
| Phil came out into the porch, carrying
n lamp in his hand. Mrs. Phil ran after
him with pink apron tied around her
trim waist and her brown fringe of hair
| DlOWllE nutk from ncr lOTcncuu,
where's my Aunt" said Phil as
Phebe jumped ont. Didn't she Gomez
she came, said Phebe, curtly; "but
| she's gone back again"
Gone back again.
"Ies. She didn't like il because you We
got married; so she's gone back by the
SOC train"
80, Philw cried Mrs. Barrow, who was
round, cherry-cheeked little woman,
with soft hazel eyes, and q mouth like q
rosebud. "What shall we do? Why didn't
you consult her before you married me?"
| Phil Barrow broke into great laugh.
| my dear, said he sit wasn't her con-
sent ! wanted; it was yours"
| 80, but Phil, she has done so much ior
you"
"she's a good soul, but she's eccentric, -
said the mill superintendent $50 in,
Phebc, and get your tea"
| Pm sure can't eat n mouthful," said
| Mrs. Phil, despairingly, land the biscuits
| mixed myself; and the fried chicken
and the White Mountain cake-Oh, Phil
| Oh, philI'
Don't fret, dear" said Phil; "my Aunt
Medley has missed very good supper;
that ! can tell her.
"But I've blighted your future" said
Mrs. Barrow, tragically Selling the SUI
wen go 10 Concord tomorrow and see
the old lady" soothed Phil. "She must
surrender II she sees you, WHEY"
Phebe chuckled grimly.
"Ihats all very well, said she; "but
| you forget that an old lady and young
man don't look AZ u girl with the same
| eyes
'"Ilold your tongue, Phcbe," said the
| mill superintendent Whats the use OF
| always croaking?'
| And then Mrs. Phil began 10 laugh, and
| Phcbe, who, after a Grabbed fashion, wa
fond Of her pretty young sister-in-law
laughed also; ana after all, the dainty
| little supper was eaten and enjoyed, ever
though Aunt Nedley's face was steadfastlS
| turned toward Concord.
Her own iireside had never seemed 50
solitary and dreary as IL did upon tina
| November night. The maids, gossipinl
| in the kitchen, were called upon 10 re
| kindle the dead fire. The tea, smoky and
half cold was served, and Mrs, Medley
was just resolving TO go TO bed when Betsy
brought letter.
"Poslman, mum he left Il week ago
said she. 1T fell down back of the letter
| box"
"Ah" said Mrs Medley, fitting ON hel
| spCctacles and scTutinizing the seal ant
directions, from Silvia Gray Now | shall
have some one to love in Philips place
but she had not read three lines befor,
she flung the letter Indignantly into the
sulky fire.
Married. she exclaimed. THAT child
L 10 has ayk IN not ma ri 1