The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-05-11


done for me. Money couldn't pay her.
I'll stay by her and work for her in
her old age, as she did for me when
was sickly little orphan baby There
now-and goodbye, Mr.. Armstrong
She certainly looked pretty as she
thus addressed him. but Percy was
aware that his lady mother would have
been shocked by her air and manner.
He was angry and ashamed, and he
walked away with his head up, and as
soon as he was out of sight, out Of the
house popped Grandmother Bell, with
her ticking apron on and her head tied
up in a check handkerchief, for she
was washing. '> E..-..
Il heered every word, Phoebe, my
pet she said. land eff ever I made
any sackerfices fer you, I'm ped fur
EN-, and eXtry. IngratitOod is the rule
III this wuld, but you stuck by me
noble. God will reward YOU You'll
see eff he DON'T - t... ~..s.,
only a beast would do any different,
granny said Phoebe, and nothing
could have changed her purpose. But
any girl will know that pride cannot
keep the heart from aching, and she did
cry. and very bitterly.
AS for Percy Armstrong, he walked
on for mile, feeling very Independent,
saying that he had done with Phoebe
Bell forever, and glad of it, Then
great and terrible sense of loss fell
upon him-liye without Phoebe? He
could not!
He rushed back, ready to go Oh his
knees and apologize, and do anything
she wanted him to do, and passing the
kitchen window, heard these words:
"Ain't you goin to repent byme'by;
Phoebe?''
No." said Phoebe, II loathe the
mean. mean wretch. I do, indeed,
grandma
He felt mean. He knew that he had
ridiculed Phoebe's best and dearest rel
ative in a foppish, silly way. He de-
served to be hated.
An awful paroxysm of woe fell upon
him as he thought Of the sweet lips
and glorious eyes, the dainty form he
coveted. She was so good, so noble,
and he had insulted her.
So he went mad for a little space and
went down to Il spot where some old
trees grew; wrote these words in pen
Gil on the back of an envelope in his
pocket:
phoebe, cannot live without you-
5OOO-US, l11ulSS-1l Will IL SoAAh
muller to convenient apple bough.
Hung himself in good earnest, mean
ing to do so.
Il dunno why I'm wastin' this bright
sum-" said Grandmother Bell just about
that time. Il might as well put out
these things to-day
So she took one handle of. the clothes
basket and Phoebe the other, and out
of the kitchen door they walked. The
lines We're frightened and the clothes
pins We're handy, when the old lady
cried out:
Stakes alive! There's a pair of mems
pants hangin' to the apple tree. Didn't
[ take down them l washed for Mr.
Smith hast week?'
She hurried across the grass and sud
denny began to run, reckoning to
Phoebe. The girl made haste to obey,
and saw: to her horror not only panta-
locus, but man suspended from the
apple bough.
She had not time to ask who it was
before old Mrs. Bell, who always car
| ried pair of shears in a sheath at her
! side, whipped them out, and crying:
Kinder hold him. So't he won't fall
too hard,' severed the silk sand undid
the moose.
Percy lay Oh the grass. and Phoebe.
faint with horror, espied. pinned to the
trunk OF the tree, the papec on which
her lovers message was written
Phoebe, cannot live without you"
oh! oh! oh!' she screamed.
Don't teu.' said her grandmother.
"No need to tell the neighbors-he amt
| nowise so purple as he Washes comm
to. Run and fetch me some cold water
and the French brandy | had when I
had the collie, and the bellerses to blow
breath into him.
| We will NOT describe the proceedings
by which Grandmother Bell restored
Percy to consciousness, nor how she
trOtted him back to the house and put
him on the parlor sofa With pillows i'm
| der his head, brought him Il cup of tea
and rubbed his throat with linlment,
scolding him all the time. How she
sat up with him all night and gave him
''FOX'S Martyrs to amuSe himself with
next day.
But I VIII tell you this, that as soon
as he was quite himself again. Percy
| Armstrong went on his knees-not to
Phoebe. but to Grandmother Bell-and
begged for pardon.
viii yea be my granamother?' he
said.
ASK Phoebe" said the old lady.
but 1nOeDe would NOT consent Tor 4
long time. In fact. it took year to
bring her to the point of saying Yes
And when all was settled, the aristo-
cratic family of Armstrong set them
selves against the match, stopped
! Percy's allowance, disowned him and
! scratched his name out Of their wills
Give up this foolish idea and return
to us, and you will be forgiven" his
father wrote. Not else
THE question is,'' said Hercy, IAN I
worth having now?'
Then they kissed each other, and up
rose Grandmother Bell, nodding her
head and smiling.
| "Children,' she said. ~T've been
'keepin' secret fur Il long while You
| remember. Phoebe, how I went to BOs-
| ton year ago to see my brother. and
how he died while I was there. He
| left me 100000 and some houses, and
I made my will straight off and left
everything to Phoebe, but didn't want
the gal run after by no fortuns,hunters,
$50 l never said nothin'; Thought I
wouldn't till I seen how things between
you an her was gOin' to turn Ofrt. Rrt