The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-11

ed. AS for me felt like stone: could
not weep.
oh she gasped out finally. II knew.
] knew. i told Phoehe-I knew just how
il would he: knew
I reused myself at that What do
you mean" said !.
When Phoebe came home Tuesday
night and said she heard your father and
Rufus Bennett having words, knew how
it would be" she choked out Il knew
he had dreadful temper
did Phoebe Dole know Tuesday night
that father and Rufus Bennett had
words2' said /.
Yes" said Maria Woods.
How did she know
she was going through your yard. the
short cut TO Mrs. ormsby's. TO carry her
brown alpaca dress home. She came
right home and told me; and she over
heard them"
Have you spoken OF il to anybody but
me-" said /.
Maria said she didn't know: she might
| have done so. Then she remembered
hearing Phoebe herself speak of IL 70
Harriet Sargent when she came in to try
on her dress. 1t was easy to see how
people knew about it.
l did not say any more. but thought
IL was strange that Phoebe Dole had
asked me IL father had had words with
ansbody when she knew it all the time.
Phoebe came in before long. / tried on
my dress. and she made her plan about
the alterations and the trimmings I
made no suggestions / did not care how
1t was done. but if | had cared It would
have made no difference. Phoebe always
does things her own way. All the women
In this village are in a manner under
Phoebe Doles thumb. Their garments
are visible proofs of her force of will.
While she was taking up my black silk
<hntll6aFr T1hnahc Dole
Let me see-you had a green silk dress
made at Digby three summers ago, didn't
yous'
Yes" said
We'll" said she ''why don't you have
II dyed black? Those thin silks dye. real
nice. IL would make you good dress"
/ scarcely replied and then she offered
to dye it for me herself. She had recipe
which she had used with great success.
i thought il very kind of her. but did not
say whether I would accept her offer or
not. / could not fix my mind upon any
thing but the awful trouble I was in.
"Ill come over and get 1t tomorrow
me rning,'' said Phoebe.
thanked her. / thought of the stains.
and then my mind seemed to wander
away again to the one subject.
All the time Maria Woods sat weeping
Finally Phoebe turned TO her with inpa-
thence. IF you can't keep calmer. you'd
ptlLtt 80 -hdflds Setid Sut
You'll make Sarah sick. Look at her
she doesn't give way-and think of the
reason she's got.'
"rve got reasons, too" Maria broke out:
then with piteous shrek. "Oh, I've got
--reason.'
Maria Woods, go out of the room''
said Phoebe. Her sharpness made me
jump, half daZed as / was.
Maria got up without word and went
out Of the room, bending almost double
with conclusive sobs.
She's been dreadfully worked up over
your fathers DEATH" said Phoebe caln,-
ly, going on with the fitting. shes terri
bly, nervous. Sometimes have to be real
sharp with her. for her own good
j nodded. Maria Woods has always
been considered a sweet. weakly, depend
ent woman. and Phoebe Dole is undoubt-
edly very fond of her. She has seemed
to shield her and take care of her nearly
all her life. The two have lived together
since they were young girls.
Phoebe is tall and very pale and thin;
but she never has days illness. She is
plain, yet there is kind of severe good
ness and faithfulness about her oolorless
face, with the smooth bands of white
hair over her ears.
I went home soon as my dress was
fitted. That evening Henry Ellis came