The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-02
PHEBE's LUCK. ]

Phebe Cantwell was spinning In the
great, bore, unfinished kitchen chamber
There was whole volume of spite in the
Jerk which broke her thread, and she tied
1t with an unnecessary tightness.
Presently weary step came toiling up
the narrow, winding stair. Phebe knew IT,
and the frown was displaced by smile
Whom she turned to meet the mistress O.
the house, her smilo made her beautlfu
but 1t was with a florco, uncanny beaui
that repealed and startled the woman
that sho stood still for moment bessie
the door
Mrs, Lowe came forward and sank upo
the only scat in the room.
esquire Brainard's down stairs, and h
says he wants girl to keep house for hin
and somebody recommended you to hin
i should hate dreadfully to have you Il
away before all that's spun. guess you't
better stay about two weeks longer, hadn'
your Tho squircll get along some wa,
till then"
But before Mrs Lowe concluded tho
above remarks Phebe was rapidly descend.
ing the stairs.
"Well, neveri She'll go as sure as the
world, and then what will Sampson saye'
Squire Bralnard sat beside the wlndoS
of Mrs. loves keeping room He VIZ
tall, rather portly, somewhat bald, wei.
to do man Of SO, rich and lndolent.
II was said that he had been ruled by
his wife. But she had been dead now full
three months, and the squire was begin.
ming to rebel against the household dcs-
potism of the Widow Plumly, whom Mira
Brainard had appointed head of tho domes-
tic regime before hor death.
81 beg pardon, he said. 81 wished to
sec Phcbe Cantwcll Mrs. loves maid /"
No wonder he made the mistake. Tho
girl who stood before him, coarse though
her garb, had not one of tho outward indi-
cations of servitudo. .....--
Tho courtly grace with which SQUIRE
=, Brainnrd rose and handed her a chair, and
when she, with proud humility, refused
to sit, remained standing near her, was an
instructive and involuntary homage to one
of natures boa but uncrowned queens.
II am Phebe Cantwcll" she snid.
Il had not expectod-I-in short, ex-
pected to find an-an older person. l wish
to engage housekeepcr. Gould prevail
on You, Miss Cantwell, to Gomez"
81 will come, sir, " said Phebe, land !
hope all allowance will be made for my
youth and inoxpcricnce.
Phcbe laid aside her Sunday garb and
went back to the hot kitchen.
She was shrGwd enough to sec the
squirrels admiration Of her beauty, and her
ambition Immediately scared high. Long
before the morning that witnessed her in
stallmcnt ut the Brainard mansion sho had
T, determined that she would yet DO mis-.
! treSs where she entered as servant.
Her task was easier even than she had
hoped. The servants, glad to be enamel
| pated from Mrs. pluInly's tyranny, obey
cd her promptly, tho squire honurod her,
and his eldest daughter, Mrs. Lee, then
on visit 10 her father, fell into ecsttsies
about Phcbo's beauty
! She insisted on sending for young art
list from the city TO paint Phcbe's portrait,
and as she limited to fall in love with and
marry one WHO would DO such ali excel
lent model for him
7 Phcbo had not the slightest idea Of mar
rying n pennile5s young nrtist She learn
/ cd all she could from him, and Mrs. Lee
/ accepted tho gifts thay had heapcd upon
her and finally saw them depart with O
sigh of relief.
| She confined herself strictly to her avo
4 cations, spending all her leisure in hcI
/ own apartment and resisting all tn,
i squlrc's attempts To draw her into his SO
cicty. So the summer passed and the earl,
and late autumn.
And winter cnme at last, end the squire
found himself very lonely in tho long oven.
4 inEs, when, tired Of smoking his pipe and
4 doing oIer his newspaper, he fuin woulu
have exchanged his dreams VI Phcbe for
her real presence, ..-r
1 One evening he drew her playfully tt
his parlor, She did not resist, for 81,
i thuuEht 1t no longer necessary. Sh,
! Thought mAttelSWrfc vergng toward /
Crisis ana was quite prepared.
. HAD she knG"n how far her thorIhts
outsLrippad the sluirc's she might hav,
been less confident
Now, Fh2he, said the squire, 81 want
you /" spei.d the evening here. ! am lone
", ahI Nant your company, | wish yui
would come hers always Cf evenings iusi
as II You we're my daughter. Why can
You DO like a daughter to moi Won't
YOU
can never he daughter TO You,
Squire B.ainara, she answered at length
Oh must. you shall, he answered,
hall heWildttcd, wholly fascinated. "YoH
must mover leave he, l cannot part will