The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-19
A Will OF IRON.

"Ah, well, about that there Ssubbs-.
that's his namo-he Is Just the obstinatc.o
willfullost, deny -me-if- you-dsre sort rs
ever clapped eyes on, and the terror of
this here place he was when come here
for he had whopped every chap that dared
put EN- up agin him, and heavy was bis
hand on the man that thwarted him. But |
by and by he must 90 and get ia love.
which he certainly showed the best Of |
taste, for never have seen such checks
and such eyes as Polly Savory was, aud |
her flgure--woll. It's grown a biz since
then, but don't see any one about here,
young or old. with figure as will bear
compare with horn now while, az for man
ners, she'd have taught duchess how To
receive company, for i never see a young
lady. even In Diapers shop, as had Pol
iys style.
"Well, one evening she was walking
across the ten acre meadow yonder, when
Dick Stubbs meets her and turns round at
once and says arter "A few polite words.
love you.
with that he stops short, as II he OK.
peoted her to fall straight into his arms.
but Polly just holds out her hand and says
very polite, Then III wish you good even
ing, Mr. Stubbs.'
want you 20 tell me that you love me, too,
for you do, don't you, Polly, deari'
"'No, says she, I'm blessed IL dot
''Ah, well, you win in time, after
you've walked out with me bit.
"'Never, says she. Besides tiere's an
other gentleman Iprcfor.
THAT mndo him show his teeth. Now,
look here, Polly, no says, I'm one OF the
sort, am, who always has his own way.
mean to have you for my wife. and woe
betide the man that comes between ms
and my prlp
HE looked so big and threatening that
many girl would have been frightened
and might perhaps have taken him out Of
fear, bus Polly didn't know what fear
was, SO she just tossed her dainty head.
she did, and with Don't you never dare
to speak to mo again, Dick Stubbsl' she
walked of like n hempress.
Next day tho nows was all over the
village. Stubs was made a laughing
stock, though hc swore to break any chaps
head who made fun. But even he could
not thrash whole village.
"As for Polly, lie treated her shameful,
meeting her whenever he could and threat
ening murder against her gentleman as
soon as ever ho fouDd him out and telling
her day after day that he'd make her his
wife by fair means or foul. was down in
tho dumps dreadful, for knew this gen.
tleman, as Polly said she had fancy for,
couldn't be me.
"Wcll, what I'm coming to Is this:
Polly went TO see a married sister living
at Amblecctc. Instead of going by tho
bridge, which Is nigh mile away, sh0
borrowed old Garston's boat and sculled
herself across. She started back just as 10
was getting dusk, for there wasn't any
moon TINT night, and down she comes to
the bank where she had mnored- the boat
She got In, unhitched the painter and was
just ashoving OF when, all on a sudden,
Stubbs was standing OH tho bank above
her. Ho takes CT his hat, and says he:
"'Susan Is that bad that I've been over
TO Marplcton To get her some doctor stuff.
It'll save sight Of tiinc and be a real
blessing to her IL you'll let me cross in the
boat with YOU
polly hadn't the heart to say No. so
she says very short:
"'If It's to do Susan good, you can
come
And she sat down In the stern and let
him shove or and take the sculls Then
she sec that lo was a. pulling hard down
stream.
"'Whnt arc you a-doingf' she cries ont
"'I know what I'm ADDING right
enough, says ho.
Below Polly could hear the splashing
and roaring of the weir and right nhead she
could see whore the river divided, and she
knew ono fork OF IL would lead them ON to
certain dceth Which was he goingy
"froily.' he says, you're going to mar
syr
,yrn she answered him. Never,
you reor thingi'
'''lhen wo'il die together this night
he says scowllng Gt her like the black
devil he was. Over the weir Wen co.
He pulled sharp around with his left as no
spoke. She looked behind, and ho gave a
laugh.
1.-The ruddCr's In tho hows,' ho says
Il put 1t there out Of harm s way We'll
let her drift now, and in just about three
minutes we shall bo In kingdom come.
Polly, will you have mes'
'Nevor' she tells him again,
4" Then it's Lcathl' he cries out, ship
ping his sculls, and long kiss, sweet.
heart, before it comes.
He jumped up ard moved toward her.
with his arms cut, when, quicker than
I'm a-tclling you, Polly swings herself
with big jcr,. over to port, and with her
right hard she reaches and gives him
push to help him, and, slap over ho went
into the river The boat riahtcd, and Pol
ly was i'm his sent ana had the sgulls out in
less than q qunrtor of minute She was
only just la time, for tho boat weren't 90
yards from the weir, and hard work il WAS
pulling round against stream, but some
how she managed it, and back she come
safe to old Garston's. All OF a-tremblc she
was with rage when she landed, for hap
pened to bo there quite promisouous, and
she told us oil about IL.
al hope he's drowned, says old Gar
ston.
No fear o. that, says his wife. He
swims too well and amt meantis drown
ing. You have the law on him. my dear
she says to Polly.
"'No, says Polly, just a-looking at Inc.
that amt tho sort of punishmont want
him to have.
$50, says l, IL you'll kindly excuse
me, must be a-going.