Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-23

same location for ten years, and never
felt that any element was lacking IN his
life until now.
But on this brisk spring morning he
sat thoughtfully in his Office, looking at
the great skeleton that hung behind a
baize curtain in the corner, and tapping
his ruler on the table.
''She has eyes like a startled deer" he
said to himself "And such a soft,
sweet voice! She don't chatter, like
those cousins of hers. She speaks in a
slow, gentle way, that seems to rest
ones hearing. A true woman! and so
utterly friendless and alone. Yes, L
think-I'll venture it. I'll marry her, if
she will have me-"
When Doctor Falkney once made up
his mind, he was not long in acting upon
it. He went that selfsame afternoon to
Mrs. Mynton's, and asked to see Miss
Clissold.
"Lan' said Mrs. Mynton, who sat at
her everlasting mending- basket. 'tDidn't
you know? She's gone away"
"Gone" Doctor Falkney looked sur
prised. "Gone where"
"Well, it's the queerest thing" said
Mrs. Mynton. ''We don't know. And
I don't fairly believe she knows herself.
She said she was going to follow up your
prescription, doctor"
"My prescriptions"
Exercise and fresh air, you know.
She said she'd be back at the end of
few weeks and let US know how it
worked"
Doctor Falkney's jet-black brows con-
"And you let her go away like this?"
said he. " So young, so lovely and so
inexperienced. Where were your mater
nal instincts, Mrs. Mynton?"
Mrs. Mynton bridled little.
81 don't see what maternal instincts
have to do with it,p said she. ''She's
no kin to me. Only Mynton's sisters
child. And I've got four girls of my own
to look after. And when all's come and
gone, I've got no authority over Phebe
Clissold to stay or to stop her."
eyes, see," said the doctor, with
say. But 1 hope she will soon come
home againr'
Phebe has made up her mind what to
'I'lI be travelling peddler.n she told
herself. 'Part of my stock I'll carry in
my brains, and part on my arm"
That day, Just as Mrs. Perkins, at
Flock Center, was setting her table for
dinner, Phebe Clissold Knocked at the
door.
''Bless mep' cried the farmers wife,
nearly dropping her biggest blue-edged
plate in her surprise; els that you,
Phebe?"
eyes" nodded Phebe Chow good
your dinner smells, Mrs. Perkins
Chicken pot-pie? l Thought SOL And an
Indian pudding! Mrs. Perkins, think .
shall stay and take dinner with you''
And welcome :" said the good women.
''But thought, Phebe, you had gone to
your New lork relations. You hain't
Iuarreled with them hope and trust"
ooh, mop said Phebe. II never
quarrel with anybody, Mrs. Perkins.
But I've got my living to earn. Uncle
Mynton isn't rich man, and can't be
drag on him. 1 tried life in a store,
put it seems l wasn't strong enough for
hat sort of thing. So I'm going to
trike out on new tack. I'm a travel
ng milliner at present"
What" said Mrs. Perkins, holding
he tea caddy b gh above the shining
plated teapot.
Phebe pointed to the light basket that
he had carried on her arm.
I'm that basket" said she, laughing,
there are three compartments. One is
ull Of the latest style of spring frames,
lacked closely, one within another; the
econd contains flowers, wings and
yreaths, the third is full of ribbons of
very color of the rainbow. You'll take
our spring bonnet of me, Mrs Perkins,
Won't you?'
"Wel, if that amt providential :" sad
1rs. Perkins. Il was just going to Lin
ey arter it tomorrow was, Just as
ure as you're born"
'Pll suit you better than any of the
4inley milliners, Mrs Perkins, said
'hebe. "And Pll work cheap, too. Give
ne trial-that's all I ask
We'll, do that, said the good dame
Il remember, now, you was always
andy with the needle. Dinners ready,
n I'm go1n' to blow the horn for Per
.ins.and the hired man. Sit down, Phebe,
nd take pot luck with u.s."
After dinner Phebe set herself dill
emily to work to suit Mrs Perkins in
ew bonnet. Scarlet field peoples, black
attn ribbon and frame covered with
utfed black silk took the worthy
romans fancy completely.
81 never had a handsomer bunnit, ,
aid she. There's real style to it. Eight
ollars? Of course I'll pay you eight
ollars, Phebe! I expected to pay ten
l Linley, and this is prettier than I'd
ave got there
This bit of success took the edge off
rom the criticisms and carpings of Mrs.
Deacon Root, who lived in the next
Il L