Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08

-. s.sSes.-- - 80 .- -.
PBGBis STOOD VI TO LOOK AT IT.
with clustering hair and a resolute cast Of
features which yet expressed melancholy
size was painted that way on account Of
his mouth explained Psyche There was
something dreadful tie matter with IT,"
Il have seen him" said Phoebe, with
slowly worded conviction.
Miss Fawcctt gazed at her.
do you know that have always lived in
fear of that mans coming bach3 Not on
account Of the money, but because l should
be scared TO death by such a horrid queer,
creepy relation If he eyer does come
shall hide CA closet shelf in my room and
Keep my hands tight over nlycyoe."
She clisped heT lands over her eyes, and
Phoebe laughed aloud, but suddenly changed
expression. The curtains Of igiadow be-
hind Psyche were 50 arrrnged that they
loft u t.'i2u se OF glass in which tho light
dill not fail Through This she saw Painter
Ltocping forward to look into the roorl The
shaggy beard reached his eyes lie moved
Lis eyes from tie portrait 10 look at Phoebe.
''Somotilae5 dream about him. contin-
ucd Miss iawcett, coming back of nights
TO stare in at the windows He'd be just
inc man TO ghost around and make ones
hair rise
Look thcro!" whispered Phoebe, stretch
ing out her hand. ''But he's gone.'i
Psyche dropped her hands end Few with
faint scream to hold around her guest.
''Oh, what did you see lone right behind
nay back''
Don't riad," said Phoebe, forming her
lips TO laugh. .'Thal's only the second vision
I've seen through window this evening"
"But what was it," Mss Fawcett palpi-
tated.
"Just Painter the man who lives alone
up the hills"
''Ohi I've heard of him. He IS harmless,
isn't hel Was he looking in!'
'Yes. And how sorrowful his eyes
werep'
Il should love to have him made sorrow
full" said Miss Fawcett, relaxing her
breath, ''for providing around here and ter
rifying us. Now shan't sleep for a week"
ut might be / imagined it, said Phoebe.
"This is an unlucl;y night for me to look out
of a window"
1--WE are 18th perfectly silly" pronounced
Miss Fawcett, ''shut away here by our
selves. l am afraid of the dark and of
spoolls; and so are You if you would unbend
your martial bearing and own it,"
In the listening attitude which twenty
four hours had confirmed to a habit, Phoebe
sat in the school-house and waited for
Thorney. Al the seats were empty, but
ridges Of dust around the bottom Of the
desks and clay tracks en- The floor showed
where young, restless feet had been. a
sum in fractions remained upon the black
board The fire was dying in tho gray ana
elderly stove, which seemed 10 deny having
ever INDUCED in rcd-hot fits of roaring
when wind and snow bcatoutside. a barlly
Odor came from the wood box, and from il
also crcpt out mouse to smell at crumbs
dropped ct noon. Perhaps PhWbes moving
hand, perhaps the appalling dreariness OF
the school-house interior, terrified the
mouse, and it flashed back in a gray streak
Somebody's COW in the woods, reminded by
associations Of s.1 experience in her life,
uttered a mellow, plaintive loving. Feet
shuflcd and bumped upon the step; then
Thcmcy White brought thcm ia and straight
TO the wood-box, whcro he stood digging
the mud off by scrapng his heels across the
box's edge, as If this were the object Of his
entrance. Phoebe came down the aisle and
took hold of his arm. The un5hattered win
dows threw plenty Of light around them; il
was not yet five o'clock.
Thorney gave pettish jerk and continued
digging with his heels. Sho stood patiently
aside Search as she might she could never
find comfort or support in his face, yet she
could not bring herself to guide ana control
him with more firmncss than tenderness
In the secret folds Of her heart she owned
nc was modification and pain; bat be
ing her brother he ought to have IN average
struck between them ANA be endowed with
half Of her abilities
''You aren't cross tonight, are you
ThorneyN' said Phoebe.
Thorney responded that he didn't see nc
sense in leaving his work to run at her becA
aud call
Il didn't want You to leave Your work.
would have waited till your work was
done"
Thornev growled that his work was never
done. lie didn't have folks taking him L
parties; he couldn't drive around big and
proud and keep his brother a-hooping it.
"Oh,n said Phoebe, with an accent OF quiet
despair Thames been with you, hasn't
hc,"
ayes. he has growled Thorney. Sand
he took my tin whistle from mes
Thornley,, he didn't get your money!"
"IIo did, too. He nude me bring ont ell
my wages. And he took my tin whistle,
sullscd Thorney, growing for the instrument
with which he initiated birds i'll he woods
Many an hour when Thornley, should have
been chopping, he sat upon a stake-and
ridered fence or the high limb Of a follcl
tree, and pipel after his fashion as heartily
as Fan.
s'7haae don't know how to work it,
shifted Taorney, "5lG he mals me give il
up to him.
Phoebe looked at him, col!apsing on his
own muscles in abject helplessness; and al
herself.
"Do you think we shall ever get away
from it, Thorneyln
Get away from whatl'
"From all of it, Thane is so much stoutel
and older than we are. And be knows how
to make US do things we hate to do. We
ought TO have some chance
You've got chance enough frowned
Thorney Il wish could set around and
draw big wages. Anl 90 to parties Why
4 don't they invite me 70 their partiest'' de
manded Thorney, in sheepish sullenness,
shaking his head ut the wood-box.
''Yes, why don't theyl' said q voice be
meath one of the window-sashcs, winch be
gan to go up with many shuddering re-
monstrance and jar Of glass. The man who
had met Phoebe in the woods propped the
sash with a stick and leaned on his arms 80
as to bring head and shoulders within the
room, opposite Thoraey. And me, too.
But my lad S<here has a way of putting her
self above you and ne, Taorney. She
would like to shake US altogether. Only
she can't