Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-15
trodBTe here duilefed Phoebe.

take It from him if he fourishes any such
contraband article under my eye"
"He's very angry" said Phoebe. 81 knew
he would be and that's why / wanted to
come here instead Of staying ct Holmes
He might have got into the house then,
without knocking. And / was afraid he
would follow US in the woods. did cheat
him about the money. When put my hand
in the drawer there was a sealed envelope
full of blank paper which fixed once, think
ing about Thane, but scarcely believing !
could ever use it, He knew / kept my
money so; and the moment my hand touched
it took that instead Of the hundred dollars.
wish I'D given IL to him now"
81 begin to understand the transaction
said Gurley, sand Boss part in it. But if he
tries to storm this house the garrison out
numbers him. They both look as if we had
painted savage at bay, Mr.. Barker
AT the door another demand was made for
admission, but this time timid and fumbling,
anlike the bold knock Thane gave.
4 painted savage or unpaintcd,n respond
ed the mastor, starting, "this unruly rascal
shall feel discipline"
4 "Oh, Mr. Barker" bcsoughs Phoebe
"Ogre, dear" said his wife, apparently in
the act of expanding her large person to
place before him, 'the man will moot"
'Let me open the door, said Gurloy.
/ "Iopen my own door, sir,' lntcrposcd the
master.
i "Now, you scoundrel, what do you want
his timer
/ He made q heavy dash at the person on
the step, recovering himself with difficulty
Those inside saw il was q man quito
elcan-shavcn excepting his upper lip; that
ais clothes were black, fine and old-fash-
ioned; and though he held his tall hat in
one hand as he recoiled from the masters
5nsct, the hat had evidently been lifted be-
fore the door opened and his recoil meant
surprise
"ohl" Mr.. Barker snarled suspiciously.
Good evening, good evening, Sir. Good
evening""
The stranger made some response in a
nasal blur Of words, concluding with an
eager question.
Mr. Barker turned toward the other in
mates, his flereeness cooled to the tcmpera-
turc Of combativcncss.
lis this man speaking Latin with the con-
tinental pronunciation, Gurley, or is it
Welshf"
"Step in, sir" invited Mrs Barker.
"Ogre! perhaps the door better be Shut
''The door will not be Shut" responded
her husband, until this man can intelligibly
state his business"
"It is Painter. Good evening, Mr..
Painter" said Gurley.
Painter, seeing Phoebe, stepped upon the
sill with an exclamation.
During the rest o: her life, when she tried
to set the action Of the next five minutes in
its true light, and TO see the facts as they
occurred by the clock instead of through tho
8 1,
time, she thought Mrs. Barker exclaimed
that the other man was behind this one !;
that Painter turned, saw Thane and seized
him; then they struggled together without
apparent reason; that she ran and hid her
face in the lounge pillow; and shot, the
voices of Gurley and the master, and the
bounding steps of some one running away
all mingled together.
/ Mrs. Barker looked CHASTITY when Painter
was laid on the lounge. Phoebe herself sat
moment on the floor beside the lounge
She heard Guriey ride OFF for physician
and officers Of justice.
Afterwards she waited by the kitchen
stove while Mr.. Barker and his wife attend
cd to the wounded man. There was no fire
in the stove, but she could see the hearth
shine through the open sitting-room door,
and count bricks along the front of the
chimney.
: Here Mrs. Barker brought her a bit of
paper and in agitation told her that Painter
wrote it and sent it. She bent toward the
distant freight to make out the characters,
and noticed that though traced by an UNI
steady hand they were clear and beautiful.
At first merely the name James Fawcett
attracted her; then she walked to the fire
place intent only on reading what was
+ written, and it was: 'You are my child
/ James Fawcett."
/ ''Non' said Phoebe, turning toward the
wounded man and questioning him with
negatives: "Nol No'"
/ One Of Mrs BarScr's quilts covered him
up to the armpits He was looking at
4 Phoebe with wide open and agonizcd blue
eyes. His sensitive lower face she saw was
like the portrait in the Fawcett library
! MOI! she repeated, twisting the paper in
her fingers, "Il'
| He nodded his head, and bcsought her by
gesture to come nearer. In his hands
we're pcncil and paper tablets which Mrs.
Barker had taken out of his pocket for him.
He was shot through the body, and the
doctor, brought later by Gurley, could do
( little moro for him than had already been
done
gedly silent and stern as if justice were gath
ering all forces in him. His wife held a light,
resting her elbow in her palm, and looked
anxiously from Phoebe to the wounded man.
She stood behind his head and let her lamp
shine ON his tablets. Sometime during the
confusion circuit had been walked. Phoebe
remembered hearing his mother command
his return to bed.
As Painter beckoned again Phoebe went
to him, not reluctant but unconvinced, and
rested on the floor looking at him.
His hand flew from side to side of his tab
lets, and when h c gave them to her Mrs.
Barker moved step TO shift the light.
"If tried to talk" he said on paper, ''you
could not understand my voice. My deform-
ity still mortifes me so l can not bear TO
display it before my child. / used TO talk
thus to your mother. We had long, silent
versations, sitting side by side. Her name was
Phoebe. You arc her over again, o little ex-
banded Do you remember when you
brought me the maple sugar!n
Instead Of replying aloud Phoebe took
his pencil and wrote;
''Yes. But why have you boon away from
me alwaysin
He put swiftly down, 'because thought
you were dead. When you came to me
with that maple sugar was startled, and
my thoughts began to work Then heard
your name was Phoebe White. found the
boy Thorney was with you. Still had no
certain proof until this afternoon when /
read a motto you had sent by boy through
the woods. unfolded it as some trifling
property of his, and read your history even
to Thane Whites name. Then | got ready
to come after you. ] brought in my breast
pocket the papers which viii identify me. /
went to the house nearest the school house
where knew you lived; but they could not
find you. So, as you had written TO Mr..
Barker for help, came directly here. You
are my child, and your name is Phoebe Faw-
cett. You were born eighteen years ago In
San Francisco, and your mother died when
you were two-and-a-half years old. l spent
much time in Nevada, where was interest
pi in mines. Your mother was devoted to
ne. l took pleasure In enterprise then,
left home when a boy determined to make
my family proud Of me when camc back,
In spite Of my defect. 1t turned out diff
Telontly. / have lived hero in the woods,
not caring even to claim my rights in the
estate. There was no one to inherit after
me. have covered my identity up as much
IS possible. Now it would DC different. But
wien l could live must die
lie gave &c t...:c,5 to 7hoe5c and covered
bis eyes with ono hand, his mouth set with
physical agony. She flashed over the words,
and advanced a little nearer to him on her
knees.
But father" she said, aloud.
He started from head to foot, immediate