Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-07
pHEBE's LOVE STORY.

1t was a warm, breathless day In August.
On the mullen-dotted pastures hung the
scents of ripening blackberries; the buck
wheat fields were dazzling white with
bloom, and Lyra Perkins old brindled COW
stood knee. deep in the river, where the al
der shadows made cooling spot of shade.
Opposite the old, one storied cottage, with
it's drapery of scarlet beans and the stiff
buuches of box on either side of the porch,
stood two or three mud splashed country
wagons. The family had just returned
from the funeral.
s'Well, she is gone" said Pindar Perkins,
nephew to the deceased.
The tears stood in Lyra's faded blue eyes.
81 did most hope, :" said she, that there'd d
be little something left. Even $50 would
have been help, with all the children, and
Ebert at college, and Phebe trying to fit
for teacher. However, s'pose the Lord
knows best what's good for u.s."
And SO the Perkins family settled down
once more into the monotonous grooves of
their daily work. Phebe cheerfully gave
up her dream of teaching, and inquired
around as to some more immediate mode of
earning her daily bread.
81 need q spry girl in the store to uphol-
ster curtains and cushions and polish up the
furnitoor and wait on a customer now and
then when all hands is busy" said Jonathan
Darrow, who had come down to leave sick
child to spend the summer with his sister,
Mrs. Hubley. 81 can't offer no gret O.
wage-$2 week and back bed room
openin' on the shaft and her pick at the ta-
BILE of what victuals we have for ourselves.
Anyhow, she might try il"
81 shall be glad to be no longer bur-
den on father and mother" said Phebe,
brightly.
ssAnd there's that ere old caw-legged Ia
BILE as used. to be in her room," said Mrs.
barrow, nodding in the direction of the
Lew made grave in the dismal churchyard.
81 amt partial to no such clumsy old traps
myself, but city people take strange notions
sometimes, and might get a chance to sell
it. What'll ye take for it?"
"What's it worthp" cross ss-questioned Lyra
Perkins, with true Yankee acuteness.
"WaaI, not more'n $5 to me-"
s'Five dollars amt much" said Mrs. Per.
kins; t'but it's better'n nothin'."
| And the bargain was struck.
1t was great change to the rosy cheek
ed little country girl from the breezy bills
of Crooked river to the tall gloomy house
| in New York, where half the rooms nevel
beheld the light of day, and even milk ant
water crosses and punches of roses cos
money. She was little homesick at first
she would have been much more 30 if it hac
not been for Henry Houre. the head carpen
ter, who sho we'd her how to pile thu chairs
up SO as to take the least room ia the long
dim warerooms and make the furniture
shine brightest, and when she felt especial
ly solitary and alone she would go and lool
az Aunt Jane's old claw legged table unit
the gentle shower of tears came to cool th,
fever of hear afssna !. brain, AID she felt better
/ One day-she had scarcely -Sesn IN th'
Bowery week-oEe of the little gSlls oams
running in with her strap of school Deok
; on her arm.
"Phebe!' cried she, "there's cnstome
in the store. An old lad3, sitting by th
claw-legged table, and when I asked he
,, what did she please to want she didn't sa,
a word.'
Phebe dropped the chamos with whicl
she was polishing new invoice of cherry
. framed mirrors, and hastened into the store
, There was no one there.
''LallY," she said, reprovingly, "yo
; oughtn't to play jokes On me when I'm 8
busy"
= ':But it wasn't q joke, Phebs," said th
D round eyed little lassie. s'She was there
!! She must have gone outp'
"How could she, and never a sound fror
the bell over the door?'
/ 1.-The bell over tho door must be cut c
a ORDER" persisted Lally.
/ sit isn't out of order. See for yourself.
She opened and shut the door. The bal
sounded its Bhrili tocsin with due prompt
ness.
"Wel, she was there" Lally declare
> stoutly.
The next day Henry Houre peeped