South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-03-09

MI tON6 uet.
Yes. but / hoped it wouldn't be
for some years yet. 1t will make
such q difference in the house, for
Of course jennie must come here.
Tom hasn't business enough to
support two separate families.
Well. well, we must be resigned
1t seemed 60 odd to Phebe to
hear her mother talk about being
resigned, while her own mind was
running about the wedding and
gay times, on the new muslin dress
up stairs. which would have to be
made now, and upon the acquisi-
ton of such pretty, amiable sis
ter.in-law, who would fill the house
with sunshine and make the tine
pass ill Tom came home both look
ing for him, that che knew not
what to answer.
AT any rate,' che said, unthink-
ingly, as sho proceeded to lay the
table tor sup per, sit will be good
deal better than burying him.
How often she thought OF those
words afterwards, aud for how long,
particularly as her mother made
answer:
well, l don't know aud added
disconsolately, marriages eeem to
me sometimes like funerals
Phebe laughed and chattod away.
trying 10 console her mother, who
was rather given to looking on the
dark side of things.
Then the clock struck six, and
they watched for Tom, whose day
it was to 60 to the city for goods
for Tom drove a wagon and sold
the lighter aud finer kinds of tin
ware-having bought himself a
route-when they saw Jenny run
ming up the rose bordered path to
the house, her pink calico sunbon.
net in her hand, her cheeks pale,
her hair disarrauged.
Hasn't Tom come p she cried.
bursting in. No. OF course not
but, O, dear, l heard Of an acci-
cent, and it sent me cold all over.
| shall be wretched now until he
comes
IAN accident exclaimed The wi.
dow Palmer, letting the needles fall
from her nervous hands. O. dear
I've been feeling all day as if some-
thing was going to happen. What
did you hear p
Il was down at the store, and
while was there two men, stran-
gera, came in. They said they had
come from the Five Corners. and
people were talking of train being
run into-the very one that Tom
is coming on
The little group sat there speech.
less aud troubled even the ch:l.
dren's voices were hushed as they
waited in dread suspense for It'd
ings. Phebe put on her bonnet at
last and went down to the depot,
only to hear the news confirmed.
'TheI e's smash, but We havn't
got full particulars. Only two or
three killed. however,
'Ouly two or three What did
it matter to poor Phete how many
hearts would beat with new thank.
fulnees on the morrow, while her
little home was the scene Of mourn.
ing and desolation. Of the three
killed outright, handsome Tom Pal
mer was one. The mother was
stunned by this dreadful blow, SO
that for time it was feared that
che and her boy would be buried
together. Tom had been the wild
ow's idol. She bad wanted him all
to hers elf: she even grudged the
woman he loved the happiness of
being loved by him. 1t was weeks
before light was admitted into her
room and che could not bear to see
the pale face of poor, plain little
Phebe, who, had she resembled her
brother more, might, alas, have
been more welcome.
But Phebe was very brave girl,
and bad known where to carry her
SORROWS and her crosses. So she
bore her mothers complaints with
exemplary patience, aud to her oft
reiterated question, what shall we
do without Tom p answered cheer
fully, God will help US mother,
wait and see.'
Poor Phebe, che never had real
lied how much they had all depend.
ed upon the arms now folded over
the heart never to beat again. The
girl would go out III the small sta
BILE, and laying her head on the !
horses shoulder, sob and cry al if
her heart would break. She dared |
not cry at home, for her mother ]
was broken in health and spirits, !
and never ceased TO mourn for her |
boy. All the work of the family |
devoIved upon hebe, who was
obliged to keep her wits about her. |
The little money Tom had saved |
was nearly gone; alter the Sum.
mer. Winter would follow. aud /
what would become of them I
Il