The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-26

But l wanted you to know. You ne Yer
liked me, an now you'll despise md l
| give you leave. But you can't never say
that Sarah PettigTew died with lie
on her conscience. Them's my IN
words. I've nothin' more to saw iy
60" al
| She turned her head from thu Id
resolutely closed her eyes, whilM iby
one they descended the narft hrs
in astonished and pitying sile8s hs5ot
till they found themselves gaY erred I'M
der the maple tree in the .eat DOOR
yard did the murmur of beWilderment
at what they had heard swe ell into an
audible hum.
The young minister fingered and
looked doubtfully across at Phoebe.
But when she shook her headIand quiet
| ly formed the word tomorrow" with
her lips, he also silently withdrew.
The slow minutes passed while Phoebe
noiselessly busted herself both upstairs
and below. At length she approached
the bedside, and, bending above the
rigid, PROSTATE figure, gently touched
the hard and knotted hand.
Come, Mis- Pettigrew," size said,
pleasantly, there's bowl O. K i broth,
jest off the fire; it'll do you "A AAopen
your mouth now an drink ittNs,Ass
Mrs. Pettigrew moved thez SGSesaid M.
murmured resentfully: phoebe Allis,
can't you go way an let dyin' woman
be- in peace?"
but you amt goin' to die" Phoebe
replied, cheerfully. Il thought so all
along, an l know it now.'
"Ain't goin' to die! Phoebe Allis,
didn't you hear what the young doctor
said?"
Yes, heard. But sence then Tvs
been two miles down the road to the
Sprigginses, where they've got little
baby not three hours old, an l saw the
old doctor, an l told him the whole
story an jest what the young doctor
said an did. An he says what he done's
all right, an what he said's all wrong,
an you're goin' to get round again,
sure, less you so an work yourself up
into a fever; an he'll be in to see you
himself as soon as ever he gets back"
"Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall do 1?
when I've gone an said my dyin'
words!" was Mrs. Pettigrew's pathetic
wall.
II tried to stop you," Phoebe reminded
her, mildly.
AN after all I've said an done an
been through, to live an be despised!
But | might "a knowed It's all of a
piece. never did succeed in dom any
thin l wanted to, in all my Iife-not
even in dyin' now" she noaned.
who's goin' to despise your? Phoebe
challenged, warmly. Il don't for one,
an can't see no reason why the others
should. By the time you're able to set
up, l guess you'll be surprised to see
how many real good friends you've got.
We always was ready to be deal more
friendly than you gave us credit. Come
now, Mis- Pettigrew," persuasively,
you know | amt goin' to leave till yon
get round again, an if you want ever
to be rid O. me you better drink this
broth down quick. It'll keep your
strength up while your bones is knit.
tin"
| L
glad it's gone. But they'll never get
over that" Mrs. Pettigrew walled.
"Why not"' said Phoebe, calmly. 81
did. An let me tell you, Mis- Pettigrew.
I've knoWed it warn't silver ever sence
that night was over when the minister
stayed to tea, an you was fustered an
upset the sugar bowl-if you remem.
Der? | saw Rogers Plated Ware
stamped on the bottom of it, then"
There was moment of absolute
silence. Then, without further protest,
Mrs. Pettigrew took the broth which
her good neighbor was still holding al
her lips.
And Phoebe, as she afterwards
smoothed the pillow, saw that the
sharp, pinched face was relaxing its
usual grimneSs, and there were sus.
picious quiverings about the still fast.
closed eyes.
just before milking time Jim Farnum
came around to the back door. He car.
ried shapeless bundle tied up in what
seemed tie remnant of an old red table
cover.
Acknowledgements -silver-tea set!'
he whispered, explosively, with an
amazing grin. And then he went on
to tell Phoebe how it had been found in
the woods about mile away, where the
thief had evidently paused in his fiigh,
to examine his cumbersome booty, and
on finding out mis- mistake had angrily
crushed and wrenched the plated pieces
out of all recognizable shape and then
had abandoned them.
An | want to know" said Farnum
still grinning broadly, whats to be
done with it now?"
Phoebe suddenly dropped down on
the doorstep, shaken between a desire
to laugh and to cry. For goodness
sakes, neighbor Farnum, throw it into
the river, or bury it-deep-where il
won't never come to light" she said
with historical emphasis.
AN whatever you do" she added
don't never refer to it before her. in
any way. | don't see how she ever
thought O dom sech a thing, but she's
awful 'shamed u it, an dretful MORT.
fled to think, after all she's said that
she amt a-goin' to die. But she'll get
round again, on crutches ANYWAY. an