Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08
NUMBER 81.

| when the girls face touched her. Talk had
never gone around the neighborhood about
herself, and this enabled her TO state the
fact severely.
Yes, / suppose there is" said Phoebe.
"Don't you carel" demanded Randy.
Would my caring stop i'll"
1t might stop some things.n
al don't think it would" said p ssbe.
Randy fixed her eye in dismay upon so case
hardened a person.
Folks don't like the looks shs further
revealed. Mrs. Barker, she seen him,
too"
MRS. Barker is not talking about mei'
Every body is. How can they help iti'
They can't help it," replied Phoebe,
bearing her head erect and undisturbed into
privacy. There she hid it under her bed
clothes, lSueeling by the bed and clenching
the mattress with her teeth while she
storme1 ard sobbcd alone.
That day, however, she prepared her note
for Mr. Barker, saying;
you knew when you got mo this school,
Mr., Barker. that was girl without friends,
and you vouched for my character. There
is sore truth in my mind, and know great
tales are going around the neighborhood.
As far back rs Thorney and can remember,
II
criminal. Many people have been kind to
me, or l could never have got on and kept
Thorney out Of his hands. We lived any way
we could and in many places Once was
nurse 10 some children in nice family, and
the lady taught me almost like daughter,
until Thane, as usual, Swallowed me, and
drove me off by attempting to make thief Of
Thorney. Thorney was at work near me.
an haxy 10 frt,f
he is all my family, and be likes me. / could
not have him turned wicked, and Thames
deeds are more horrible than can tell At
first pitied Thane, and tried to help him.
He always took our earnings; he wants
them yet. | don't feel kin to him; could
let all my blood run out if that would free
me from the relationship
"Thane has followed us here II doesn't
seem any use to run from him, and he has
all the advantage when / turn on him
There is nothing ahead of me, young rs
am because he can reach out and spoil
whatever do. 1 have thought over these
things until they break me down. May
come to your house and ask advice Of Mrs
Barker and you! Though there ia talk in
the ncighborhood | can not help feeling you
are both friendly toward me. He was in
the woods the evening took supper with
you. If you can send some word TO the
school-house / shall be AS have been this
year pastyours grateful for many kind
nesses. PHGBE WHITE"
This message was intrusted to the hands
of q boy VINO could not read script, and who
as q reward for his services, was delivered
from school an hour before dismissal He
lived near MIR. Bankers house, and was
charged not to lay the paper out Of his hands
until Mrs. Barker should receive 1t from
him at her door; and his delighted heels
at first spurned the dead leaves with true
zeal But he saw Painter tramping along
the edge of the hollow, and being boy he
could not help feeling the leaf-mold for a
chip, stick or stone, and having found a
shrunkcn walnut, whizzed il after the her
nit. Painter turned; so the boy was
obliged to dodge behind tree and skulls
from one tree to another in following up his
game, for he was not the boy to turn his
back in the midst Of sport. Other shrunken
walnuts thumpcd the ground about Painter
or pelted him right heartily He concluded
to come after his assailant; so just as the
boy laid the note down TO break q promising
Clod into handy chunks the shaggy man
lowered directly over him. He was away
like a darting hornet. The note, out Of
manu-, was out OF nlnu, Until BdTkef'S CADlu
appealed to both memory and invention ;
and the boy spent the rest Of his homeward
journey building plausible tale about the
documents fate.
Phoebe sat still after the last pupil was
gone dreading to go home Perhaps she
hoped Mr.. Barker might come to her di-
rectly on the receipt Of her message; and
when the school-house door opened, it was
this momentary expectation which lit her
eyes, and left them as suddenly rs life dies
from spark. McArdle tiptoed in.
HIS pale skin had taken an eager glow
from the exercise Of walking up hill. He
gave her propitiating smile, and came for
ward, removing his gloves.
81 came here instead Of seeing you at the
house." said McArdle, "because ! havo
something very particular to say"
"Sit down. responded Phoebe, patiently.
THANK you, prefer TO stand" said Nc
Ardle, leaning one arm on her desk and