Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-10-03
me reception Of NJ. letters. the rr.n,~rt ,ov

the reception Of his letters, the grent~~s joy
OF life was In answering them Among my
schoolInates had no childish love, no juve-
niles TO wait upon me 10 sleigh rides and
parties that the children ia the neighborhood
delighted in. II | could not 60 and come
alone ! would remain at home, whatever
might be the inducemeut offered To teInpi me
from my nnswerving course. | was little
Mrs. HAYNES, and little Mrs Haynes | was
bent on remaining.
But while was In the very midst of my
heroic devotion a terrible runlor reached inv
ears, a rumor that Prank Haynes, my self
appointed lord and master. was engaged 10 a
young and b-autiful lady in the city. Il was
dreadful blow to my precious hops and
plans. though for long time battled against
crediting the report. Hadn't Frank told me
that lac would never look about for wifel
that ! was the only little lady who should
bear his nainei Didn't he write me regu-
larly every fortnight, commencing his letters,
.Dcar little Mrs. Haynes, and telling me TO
be faithful 30 hint And--and- would he do
this IL he was engagedi No, not bit OF iti
Some one had maliciously lied about him,
had manufactured the story from their own
wicked imagination | would not believe it,
though the whole world stood up before me
and testified to the truth.
As IL to reward me for my faith. and set
my prcjudiced little mind 10 right, the next
coach set Frank down at our door He
thought he must come and see his little wife
once more, ho said, as went timidly forward
to meet him, though he thought il very
bad taste IN ms to grow at such rapid rate.
He was afraid Id grow out Of my engage
neDt; he should have to put loaf of hot
bread ON my head To keep me within bounds
We had been engaged two years. | was II
years old, and a head taller than was at TO-
He was going To Europe To stay three or four
years. What would bc when he returnedi
He did not dare to think He believed would
be as tail as he by that time. Wouldn't IL
II hoped so," answered, tartly, thinking
the while OF the story Of the engagement.
"Whew! You are taking ON this airs OF a
fine young lady already, my little Phebe," he
answcsd, laughing heartily. You wouldn't
give ms one Of your brown curls today il my
heart should break for it, would your
mo, have none 10 spare
"Not onei Whyr
''CauseN-
''Cause whatm
''Because she has heard strange reports Of
YOU Frank, broke in my mother, mischiev-
ousy 'She hasn't any idea of letting you
/
sincere allegiance 10 her. She is u lady Of
spirit, you seen
ION my faith she is,n lac exclaimed, gayiy,
his blue eyes upon my face. "And truw I'm
in love with her for IL. Never mind reports,
my little lady"
answered only by curl Of my lips, while
he reached out his hand TO draw me to "a seat
upon his knee.
mo, won't sit therel' | cried, pushing
away his hand, while tears, which had been
crowdin2 their way into my eyes, gave a
sudden dash down my burning cheeks. I'm
never sit there agnin, neyert'
''My dear little Phebei'
There was real pathos in his rich, manly
voice, quick, penetrating, surprised look in
his clear, blue eyes, as he uttered these words,
followed by "a rapid, wondering expression
of tenderness, as he repeated them.
My dear little Phebe! May God bless
you'll"
/ stole quietly away from out of the house,
with TINT feryent l,ene,liction living fresh aud
deep upon my childish heart. and threw my
self down la the shade of the old orchard
trees and sobhsd out the heaviness that
pressed upon my spirit. For hours lay there
in thc-mellow September sunshine, brooding
over the little romance that had 30 silently
kipNIi ltitD tAit NutlI Oh INV
most baby life | wept before my time for
the delicious griefs that forever cling TO a
sweet and conscious womanhood.
When | returned 10 the house Frank had
taken his leave, hut in my little work basket
he left small pearl box, which contained
plain gold ring! Did | wear itf Are you
woman, reader, and ask III
H.
"Phebe, Phebe mother says come down
stairs. There is gentleman in the parlor
who wishes Ia SEQ you
The words broke harshly into my pleasant
dreams which l had been weaving all the
long golden July afternoon. in the unbroken
stiffness Of my chamber AT my feet, upon
the carpet, with its leaves rumpled and
crushed lay my neglected Virgil in close
proximity TO a huge Latin dictionary, while
upon my lap, In wrinkled condition, my
sewing was lying, with needle hanging by
a long line of thread, nearly to the floor, as
| II escaped luckily from round Of monoto-
nous hemming, which yet boastetl but two
OF three stitches at Its commencement
"Who can ii be that wishes 10 see mef'
exclaimed, rising hastily and calling after
my little 6-year-old brother: .Who is it,
| Charlief'
"Don't know; it's somebody Mother says
come down.
"Who can il her An hour since had
seen a gentleman with a heavily bearded face
come up the walk but | was too busy with
my dreams To notice him very parti ulariy
Still, as | recalled his face and figure and his
| quick, springing step. there seemed some
thing strangely familiar in them Who
could il bet nv heart beat rapidly Surely
/ l had seen that face aud form before, and a
name that was singularly dear to me trem-
BLEED upon my lips-'Frank Haynes"
| But ! could not 20 down 20 meet him,
though was summoned Thousand tifaes.
did not wish 10 see him; why should II
| There was no occasion for II. | was not the
| foolish little girl Of ten summers whom he
| had left five years ago in short frocks and
4 curls, but little grown woman instead No,
/ was not the same | would not go down
| Besides, a sudden headache was nearly blind
ing me. Mother could not ask IL Of me when
| | was hardly able 20 sit up. Bat what would
( he thinki Would he carei Would he still
remember tenderly the little Mrs Haynes Of
five years agui
4 Littlel repeated the word as stood be-
fore the mirror, which gave back TO me an
accurate picture Of myself. A slender, pass
able form; dark clear compls ZION; large
gray eyes; a mouth whose retnesr seemed 10
have robbed the cheeks Of their color; white
teeth; broad forehead, but not high: large,
heavy braids OF chestnut brown hair, was the
likeness framed before my eyes. turned
away with sigh and glanced down at my
hand Upon the third finger of the left was
plain, gold circlet. The hot blood rushed