Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-01

the woods, ought sheln
She isn't alone, Ogre, dear. maa met
Der just out Of the clearing. That's why
turned back. saw she wanted me to-
:" May be it was her brother, or one Of tho
neighbors' boysn
1T was a stranger. took good iool, &
hun, and enough worse loolt!ng ne Il thIai
her poor simple brother I don't lHSe K
And her getting so excited before supper.
as If she saw something cut OF taa window
and alln
II don't like it e;,aer,n said tho master.
rubbing his grizzly head.
The man took several steps basido pho,,e
before either Of them spoke. She drew hcr
shawl close around her and shruult III from
him, but she did not look diroctlg IA AIM
but glanced sidewise, pickering hct. face IN
anguish.
lie was a grotesQuo creature. with the
various pieces OF his clothing shabby and
unmatched; but tha most skiifi 81 t..ilaf3
could scarcely have nodded him in gar
ments suitable to his face. Ii was pmaot.tcl
and withercd, though neither by disease
nor age One corner Of his M 3uin twisted
downward as If in a continued iear. and
nervous spasms came aad went over every
atom OF countenance which could be moved
and distorted Whenever ne besamo AZ.
cited in talk, this singular inirmity played
faster and faster like evil lightning over his
face.
"Well" said Phoebe in a high agitated
tone.
IAN right said her companion. ssYou
saw me becllon % You through thc Window
You know / saw yaun
"You were long time getting ous. III
you hadn't come pretty sooa ia bolted IN
and asked for you
Il knew you would. What do you want
now"
what do / want noww mimeEel tho
twisted mouth "Whca YOU an't seen nae
for two years. Where's Thorney"
Hes near me, of course, replied Tho
shaking girl. 'Why can't you let us alone
what should | want 10 let You alone
for Amt got my rights''
Your rights said Phoebe, Gcrcclv 30.
you wicked millstonc you want t0 drag as
under forever You know wien / was
sorry for you and tried 70 help you Eat
you can't impose on me any more. And FL
defend Thorney against you"
ooh, you willw
piteously, and using her hands acaius,
her throat 70 press back the explosive
sounds.
"You look like defending any tainef'
laughed the man. Don't DO that. now.
You never made any thing believing 70
me. Didn't you know I'd drop around some
dayln
"0h,yes, IlKncw it--you always do -there'8
no help-and no escapc8"
well, then, shut up your dolcful racket.
amt going to hurt YOU
mo; I'm past being struck with your
fist but never past being robbed and
shamedn
The man broke off a bit d. bark and chcwod
it, as he kept pace with her
How much money have youi" he in
quired
You'll dog Thorncy and me just tho
same If give it to you. I've bought you OH
for the last time"
"You'n give me what money you have.
TN clear down If you don't IN make
stake the way you despise, and III take
Thornley,
Phoebe faced about, and they stood still,
with the path between them.
There's hundred other things ] can do, ~
added the man, grinning you know you
don't want to own me around hcron
mot drop Of my blood owns a drop Of
yours burst out Phoebe. II have lived a
blameless life. You do your worst won't
give you my earnings, and you win loaycmy
brother Thorney alone, too
She walked rapidly ahead into The dusky
woods. He was at no pains to oycrtako her
but let the space widen between them.
thrusting his hands into his pockets ana
breathing q croolS-mouthod whistle ou his
chin.
Phoebe feeling frozen in her last mood,
and carrying her defiant head erect. en-
tered the familiar sitting-room whose Mrs.
Holmes was rocking the baby To sleep sho
entered as one who heard the cry Of wolves
behind her, and knew the wolves might yet
burst in and claim her, Notwithstanding an
ablebodied man like Guley was at huld 20
defend her.
"Mr. Gurley has called TO see you. said
Mrs. Holmes
Phmbe had stopped at the si4lt of Tod
dies going 20 SLEEP II hnJf har t1 rr,letg-
Der how lately she had rocked him herself,
feeling almost as safe and happy as i vol
through with tho world
She turned and met Mr. Gurlcy with
dignity he could not add 70 her sincere md
crodulous image and while she spoke She
wondered how soon her pursuor wJGld enter
that room.
Mrs. Holmes silently thought her too
scarlet in checks, too dazzling ia her eyes,
altogether too powerful and pretty.
II was just about to trace YOU SAID
Gurley. "Mss Fawcett has changed her
programme. Instead of having us later iu thc
week she wants us this evening, aod rs the
little party SO informal hope you'll pc wilt
ing TO substitute my escort for the other
arrangement which was made Con yod.n
II should like to 90 to Miss IaWceit's,n
said Phoebe, choosing for herself like Il
princess. She thought she heard u now step
in the kitchen
my horse aud phaeton are ready said
Gurley. 81 came early to make up for THO
lack of notice by giving you plenty Of timc
TO get ready in"
'Oh, ! am always ready for amy thing I
might wash my hands ana beg Mrs
Holmes for bit OF gcranium. / have iust
one dress" explained Phoebe. "And that
makes it so easy 10 be ready
Gurley laughed out with approval but
Mrs. Holmes secretly shuddorcd q Such
1inging OF ones poverty at a man's w8ln-
thics She had kindly planned decking
Phoebe for this party in some of hcr oWu
finery, and felt indignant al beng robbed
Of such feminine pleasure and the sefep-
prevail which would have been Consequent
on it. At the very least her lace bcl1aa or
q sash might have relieved the girls a-
borncss, but now she felt too outraged %
add even the BIT OF gcfaniUn.
"You arc, in fact, an Ascensonist,h c9m-
mented Gurlcy, 'snd go about an the tma
becomingly robed for the day Of judgement
"You have said it exactly" Phoebe told
him, smiling, holding her tears STORMY il
their cisterns "And you haven't aAvhisa
what feeling Of compauionGhip yoa CEN
have towards gown that is like yourself
alone in the world"
"Your brother wants 90 see you Ns3
White said Randy, speaking pt the ~ eh-
en- door, shade Of patronage co.oriug her
tone to the sister Of such brother
Phoebe expanded, standing quits erect
and high.
''Oh, does he! Bring him 70 mc chem.
Bring him directly in hero
Randy withdrew her one-eyc1 cJlnte-
nance, and Mrs. Holmes carried Todlsas ia-
10 his nursery.
Instead Of the figure which the gir, asl
braced herself to meet, however, Tho9ey
White came in, smiling and d0auclsf. TOO
timid 70 lift his eyes as high as q str,,ng
face, yet too doggedly indignant 81 the
world in general TO avoid all encounter with
1t. He seemed ready to fall apart, so slight
q hold had his garments on each others
support; and his hay -colored hair hung over
n silly face which expressed nothing but an
appeal to his sister. His spraying boots
were heavy with such moist earth as hc
had been able 70 collect upon them during
his tramp across the Hollow; but banEard
doors rather than breath of the spring
woods saturated his presence and spread