Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-14

iduI anu OlleHSiNe. lNeH Sne EeceiN6u
many mot at homes" from angry SER
wants, who knew her errand well, and
felt that they had been troubled to open
the door unnecessarily. After many long,
hot, wasted hours she found that her
next number was drug store, and en-
tered it, thankful for its cool shadow.
She was hot, thirsty, wretched. She
longed for glass of the ice cold soda
water, but had only little change,
which must serve for fares. in her pocket.
She stood before the counter and ne
peated her little story-her talk about
the book The druggist smiled as he
glanced at the volume.
81 would not half such drash in mine
house." he said. ''You waste your dime
NIT book like dis"
sit seems worthless to me-" said poor
Phoebe, signing.
"You get dook in, like some oder beo-
pies, nit dem rascals," said the German.
"You look dired, madame, and not velL
Go home and rest-I atvise you as doc
tor"
a customer, who had been looking at
her, threw down the price of a tooth
brush he had bought, and seizing his
purchase, followed Phoebe out of the,
door.
LET me see your book, madame, > he
said. Very nice; I'll subscribe. Give
me your book, I'll write my name and
residence"
He did so. Phoebe thanked him, and
tried to read it, but the letters danced
before her eyes. Her head was so hot,
so heavy, she must go back to Mr.. Coz
zen's, get her dollar, give in her sub
scription, tell him that she had failed.
She would feel better after she had
rested, she thought-better. How kind
that man had been. But he subscribed
for her booll-she knew it well-out of
sheer pity; as one gives aims to beg
gar.
She was in Mr. Cozzen's Office again.
He looked at her out of his bush of white
hair. His black eyes and black nose
more poodle like than before.
She had wasted her day, risked sun
stroke, failed in her effort, and crushed
her hopes. What did he care, if he had
one subscription more? A book agent
was almost sure to get one, and hundreds
toiled over the earth every day with the
same results.
Every foolish TO give it up so" he de-
clared. "The first day never counts. ]
have ladies on my list making hundred
dollars a week who got no subscribers on
the first day, and Oh, your dollar
Yes, yes! And here is your percentage
ten cents. But you ought not to despair
when you have secured the name of
Capt. Barton on your list. Well, good
day."
She was gone, threading the streets
that led to the ferry. The boat first;
then the train. Was that the train COM
ing? What roari How black it was!
She staggered, but she did not fall to
the ground. Some one caught her in
his arms.
Out of darkness, out of rest, out of
strange communion with her mother in
another world, Phoebe foated back to
life again. A woman sat beside her and
famed her.
"She's all right now," said voice of
the family doctor order. "Only faint
ness; not sunstroke."
Then peace again: and waking, much
better.
MY poor father!' she sighed. HE
must be SO terrified! Some one has been
SO kind; but let me get to my father at
once"
"All in good time" said the motherly
woman at her side.
"Your father won't be anxious, Phoe-
be-" said man, and her only subscriber
stepped where she could see him. 81
found your name and address in your
little note book. went and told him
you'd be home tomorrow. You don't
remember me, PhobeT'
Phoebe smoothed her dress and sat up
on the chinlz couch and looked at the
speaker.
"You subscribed for my book" she
said.
"But before that" said the man BE
fore had a beard and went away to sea
with no hopes of being captain. Don't
you know Billy Barton, Phebe"
"Ohr' cried Phoebe. SIS it you:'
''I thought knew you," said Capt.
Barton. Il followed you, wondering if
dared speak; and you looked SO i'll. So
was there when you tainted"
He took her hand and held it and lifted
it TO his lips before he put it down.
"The same sweet girl" he said, softly.
"Good night. Peggy will take good care
of you. Every one who falls sick at this
hotel knows Peggy"
By next morning Phoebe was well
again, but Capt. Barton insisted on see
ing her home
"What did pa say:' she asked. "Are
you sure he was not worried"
''He said" replied the captain, with a
smile, ''that girls are never to be de-
pended on, and that if he had had son
he never would have cut up such
pranks."
Phoebe felt the tears rise to her eyes.
"The old gentleman is very much
broken" said Capt. Barton. He does
want son as well as daughter: don't
you think SO Phebe?"
When he said that, he looked like the
Billy Barton of the long gone times.
A few months afterward he asked the
same question, adding:
won't do:'