The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-16

lovers, BOth We're ahe children or we'll
to-do parents, and both were young and
aspiring. After time their intimate
friends were informed that they We're en-
gagged, and their marriage was to take
place in June. This was in 1895 or 1886.
and Brookville was then the most import
ant town in the infant state and the scene
of much of the gayesy and fashion of
those primitive times.
one evening, a few weeks before the
day appointed for the wedding, Hadley
Johnson and Phoebe Meeks and three
other couples wandered down the canal
banks near the basin and seated them
selves to watch the boats as they moved
lazily by. The lovers and their friends
seemed to be in the best of spirits. Sud
denly rising from the canal bank, and
without utterng a word in explanation Of
her conduct, Miss Meeks turned her back
on her friends and walked hurriedly
away. Mr.. Johnson called to her, but
received no response, and after while
he followed her home, but the house was
dark and he forbore to intrude.
rhe next morning he called 10 learn
what had occurred to offend the young
woman, but she refused to see him or to
offer a word in explanation. Letters sent
to her by the mystihed lover were return
ed Unopened and johnson was finally
obliged to accept the situation and give up
al hope of learning wherein he had dis
pleaeed her Month after month passed,
and Miss Meeks remained in her home.
and rumor said that she remained as well
in her own room, the blinds of which were
now always shut. People marveled at
this strange action and busybodies went
to the house, but they came away no
wiser than they went, for the other mem
bers of the family refused TO discuss the
subject at all, and met all references to
II so coldly that even the most inquisitive
were soon deferred from asking ques-
tons The father and mother died, but
and FINN wi g.f,gr
only from an adjoining room. to which
no one else was admitted, and did not even
follow the bodies to the graves The
months heightened into years and stu the
hermit kept in the Old home, and the fact
of her existence almost ceased to be
known to any except the older residents.
An only sister lived In the house with
Miss Phoebe, and after the death of the
parents the two opened a millinery store
in one of the front rooms. The younger
sister attended TO the store and Miss
Phoebe trimmed hats in her own room,
and was never seen by any OF the GUS
toners through the ten years or more
that the business was carried on. The
old Methodist log church, of which she
was member, was torn away, and new
| and more pretentious edihce was erect
ed She sent subscription TO the Build-
| ing Committee but has never been in the
| church, or in fact seen IT., unless after
night when no one was near to see her.
| The canal fell into disuse and the rail-
road came to take its place, but still the
recluse renamed In her home, and it IS
said that she has never seen railroad
train, although three or four pass within
half mile of her home every day.
After several years of waiting Hadley
johnson went West and became a pros
porous business man in Utah Territory.
Then he invested in mining stocks, and
ere long became one of the wealthiest men
in the Far West. When Utah had been
admitted to the Union and had cast her
first vote for presidential electors, It was
he who bore the official records to WASH
ington as the agent of the government.
On his return home he stopped at Brook
vile, and made a last effort 10 see his
affianced bride of more than ifty years
! before. He was then advanced in life, but
the old scenes had revived the yearnngs
of years before. Miss Meeks was obdurate
and refused to see him or even to receive
any word from him. Her action had gone
| unexplained through all the years of their
separation, and Johnson was destined now
er to know what occurred on that fatal
night to change her attitude toward him
and the world. He died last year in his
Western home, never having married.
Miss Meek's only companions are her
sister, several years younger than herself
and the birds Hundreds of sparrows go
to her window every morning TO be fed
and for a few moments the blinds are
turned that she may put the crumbs upon
the window sill for her little pets. She
has ample means which to live, and
the business of a milliner was taken up
for the recreation IL would give, and was
abandoned as soon as IL ceased TO be d.
verting. She is said to be an omnivorous
reader, and nearly all of the popular high
priced magazines are taken and also a
Cincinnati daily paper Though she avoids
contact with the world, she is thus con-
versant with what is going on in II, and