Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-06-02
PHEBE'S PLANNING.


Phcbc Cantwell was spinning III the
,rrrat bare unfinished kitchen cham
brr. The heat would have been al
most sitting without the addition OF
that which indicated from the Kitchen
chimney. in which a fire was roaring
to cook the farm laborers' dinner.
There was Il whole volume OF spite
In the jerk which broke her thread,
and she tied it with an unnecessary
tightneSs.
Presently "A weary step came tollihg
up the narrow, winding stair. ihebr
knew it. and the frown was dlspiacco
by Il smile.
When she turned to meet the mistress
of the house her smile made her h'Hu-
tful. but it was with a fierce, uncanny
beauty that rcpelled and startled the
woman. so that she stood still for Il
momcl4 beside the door.
Mrs. Lowe came forward and sank
upon the only seat in the room.
1T seems so good to sit down here Il
minute and rest, away from the chill
dren and the work. that | nearly for
got what | came up to tell you. Squire
Brninard'S down stairs, and he says
he wants girl to keep house for him,
and somebody recommended you to
him. should hate drcadfully to have
YOU goaway before all that's spun.
guess you'd better stay about two
weeks longer. hadn't you? The Squire
ill get along some way till thcn.
But before Mrs Lowe concluded the
above remarks Phcbe waS rapidly dcs-
crnding the stairs.
WELL never. calculated Mrs.
Lowe. shell go rs sure as the world,
and then what viii Sampson say
Squire Rr:linard sat beside the win
dow of Mrs. loves keeping room. He
was tall, rather Dortly. somewhat bald,
IL wrllto do man of fifty. rich and i'll
dolcnt.
1t WAS said that he had been ruled
by his wife. But she had been dead
now full three months and the Squire
was beginning to rebel against the
household dcSpotiSm of the Widow
Plumly. whom Mrs. Brainard had ap-
pointed head of the domestic regime
before her death
Il beg PARDON" he said Il wished
to see Phebc Cantwcl. Mrs loves
maid"
No wonder he made the mistake
The girl who stood before him. coarse
though her garb had not one of the
outward indications of Scrvitude.
The courtly grace with which Squire
Rrainard rose and handed her Il chair.
and when she, with proud humility.
refused to sit. remained standing near
her. was an instructive and involun-
tary homage to one of natures born
but uncrowned queens.
81 am Phcbe Cantwell." she said.
"lS it possble% said the Squire. Il
had not cXpccted-I-in short, | eX-
p"ctrd to find an-an older person
Mrs. Plumly, my housckeepcr, is about
to leave me. / wish to engage an
other person to fill her place Could
| prevail on you, Miss Cantwc.l to
come: l would endcavOr to make
everything satisfactory as to-as to
salary and Inducements
Il will come, sir" said Phcbc. and
| hope all allowance will be made for
my youth and inexperience l am not
lik" Mrs. Plumly, sir"
Indeed you're not said the Squire.
with laugh. But when can you
Gomez"
Il can be ready in half an hour, sir"
1T Is not necessary to he in Il
hurry" hastily rejoincd the Squire as
thought of Mrs. Plumly. who was
yet to be dcpoScd. flashed across his
bcwild"rcd mind ''Lct me see. This
Is Friday. will send for you on
Monday morning. You will be ready
then. say at nine O'Clock"
l'hebc laid aside her Sunday garb
and went back to the hot kitchen. She
was no longer impatient at her fate.
She worked steadily, but not with the
fierce haste which characterized the
morning hours.
When the laborerS came to their
midday meal one of them. was de-
sired To harness the horse to the rock
away and convey Phcbe to her home.
Her preparations We're completed. and
ON Monday morning she removed to
her new home, the Squire himself, on
prrt"nSc of some business in the vii
lag". coming to fetch her
l'hrb" was an ignorant. but a
Shr"wd and ambitious girl She knew
that she was beautiful and felt that
her beauty untitled her for the humble
sphere to which poverty bound her.
She was shrewd enough to see tho
Squirc's admiration of her beauty and
her ambition Immediately scared high
Long before the Monday morning that
witnessed her installment at the
Brainard mansion she had determined
that she would yet be mistress where
she entered as servant.
Her task was easier even than she
had hoped. The servants, glad to he
emhncipated from Mrs. Plumly'S
tyranny, obcyed her promptly. the
Squire honored her. and his eldest
daughter. Mrs. Lee, then on visit
to her father, fell into ecstasies about
Phrbe'S beauty.
She insisted on sending for young
artist from the city to paint Phebc's
portrait. and as she hinted to fall In
love with and marry one who would
be such an excellent model for him.
Phebc had not the slightest idea OF
marrying penniless young artist. She
| learned all she could from him and
| Mrs. Lee accepted the gifts they had