Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22

is ION Hale hurt!'
Eth, Mrs. Hale, Pm sure I'm sorry
| spoke, never thowt--"
But is he hurt?" she cried, grasp
ing his arm.
Not as know of. But, We ee
missus, did ma hear all tn names.
Phoebe turned and went into the
house without another word. Her
mother stayed behind for a few min
uteS to hear more particulars, and
then followed her daughter indoors
She found the old man sitting alone
by the fire in the comfortable kitchen
and had barely time to tell him the
news of the explosion, when Phoebe
came down stairs in her bonnet and
shawl She glanced from one to the
other
Il see thou hast told father what
has happened. I'm going home
mother. | must go and
Her voice broke.
Theirs no call for thee to CO. that
| see,' said Mrs. Brimlow. IF Tom
had been hurt we should ha heard on
from the town by-and-bye. We can
stop em an ask. It'll be time enow
for thee to go 1t thou hears as theer's
anything wrong. Thou stay here,
where thou got a good home, an mo-
body to worrit thee, an don't thee
demean myself"
But the old man interposed.
Sarah" he said, how'd thy tongue!
The lass is right. I'm glad she sees
the way O things ait last. Her place
is down theer an not up here. Let
her go, an say no more about it."
So Phoe5e went back to Irthdale.
These seven miles never seemed so
long. Not that it was difficult walk
ing, for the snow was now frozen
hard; but her thoughts outran her
steps. Who could tell what might
be happening while she was toiling on
in the twilight?
AT last she saw the lights of the
town shining through the mist, and
she hurried on till she reached the
familiar streets. Even then she did
not dare to question the sorrowful
groups standing here and there. She
was afraid of what the reply might
be-
When she reached the cottage the
door was open. There was fire burn
ing, and by its fitful blaze she saw
the children hand in hand, gazing
affrightedly at the body of a man
stretched motionless on the floor.
Seeing their mother, they ran to her,
clutching her skirts.
Father has'na spoke, mother, sin
the men brought him in" said the
elder
Phoebe gave one quick glance at the
face, scorched and blackened by the
explosion, and sank on her knees be-
side the dead man. She was too
dazed and stunned TO think clearly.
though she felt vaguely that this
was what she dreaded all through that
weary walk through the snow.
They had parted in anger; and she
had thought 1T would be easy to come
back when she wished, and all would
be the same as ever. But who can tell
II even tomorrow will be the same as
yesterday? Who can say the next
hour will be within his grasp? She
had meant to end the quarrel some
day. Well, it was ended now.
Phoebe, lass!" said a voice behind
her.
She started to her feet with a cry
of Toni" and threw her arms round
his neck, sobbing violently.
Il were coomin up TO tn farm this
afternoon to fetch thee" he said. ME
and the little uns couldna do wi'out
thee for Christmas But the blow
up COON, an was bound to stay and
help. Did tha' think that wur' me %
with glance towards the PROSTATE
form. Nay; it's poor Joe Mills.
The bearers made mistake, an browt
him here minute sin'-Pd Just heerd
ont"
Phoebe faltered some incoherent
words.
Nay, lass, nay! Let bygones be
bygones. Well forget all about II.
I'll go an fetch one o. the chaps to
help me carry away poor Joe, an then
tina can get tn tea ready. And to-
morrow we'll fetch thy father an
mother, to eat their Christmas dinner
wi US; Ell. lass?"