The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-04-27

80 90 fAihN ANlAulA W tNNl ltAllfN !
from the society OF the world to tho
seclusion OF narrow sphere OF life,
upon which no one but members OF his
or her immediate family we're allowed
TO intrude. Is Phoebe Mooks. who Tor
siNty-hve years has not stepped out.
side the doorway OF her little room on
the second floor OF a weather beaten
frame house In the center Of this town
The birds on one Of the rooms have
been closed ever since her retirement. |
and therein the hermit makes her /
home. seeing no one but a sister In .
the years Of her secluslon the popula-
tion has changed two or three times.
and today there are out fow who know |
that the hermit exists. and fewer still |
who can recall the days when, for
some unexplained reason. she shut |
herself up In her room and babe n
final adleu TO the social circles OF
which she was admittedly the bright
est ornament Il was during the days
OF canal building in Indiana that Had
ley Johnson and Phoebe Meeks met
each other. and II was not long TIL
rumor coupled their names together az
lovers. Both were children OF woll-to-
do parents and both were young and
aspiring. After time their intimate
friends were Informed that they were
engaged ana were to be married IN
June. This was In 1895 or 1885. and
Brookyllle was the most important
town In the infant state. In fact, the
Athens OF gayoty and fashion, rs gay
ETY. and fashion had It. In those prlm-
Hive times. One evening, few weeks
before the day appointed for the we'd
ding, Hadloy Johnson and Phoebe
Meeks and three other couples wan
dercd down TO the canal bank and
seated themselves near the basin 10
watch the tuwboats ~ they passed
lazlly along. All seemed TO be In the
best Of spirits when. suddenly risins
from the canal bank, and without
utterlng one word In explanation OF
the act. Miss Meehs turned her. back
upon her lover and friends and walked
hurrledly toward her home. Mr.. John
son called TO her. but received no re-
Spouse After awhile he followed her
home but the house was dark and he
forbore TO lntrude.
The next morning he called to learn
! what had occurred to offend the young
woman. but she refused to see him or
to offer any explanation OF her strange
conduct OF the night before. Letters
sent to her by the lover were re-
turned unopened, ana he was finally
obliged TO accept tho situation NJ a
existed and give up the hope OF learn
ing why he had become obnoxious to
her, n, indeed. that was the reason for
her conduct Month after month
/ passed, but Miss Meeks remained In
her home. and rumor said that she
remained also In her own room. ths
blinds 10 which were now always kept
securely closed.
The people marvelod at the strang,
action. and busybodles went TO tho
fouse to learn what was the Snatter
! They came away no wiser than they
went. for the other members OF The
family refused TO discuss the subject
end met references to II so coldly tina
even the most inqulsltlve were de
TERED from asking questions. rh'
father ana mother died. but Mis-
Phoebe heard the funeral Discourse
from an adjoining room. TO which M
one but herself was admitted, and sh
did not even follow the remains to tn
grave. The months heightened int
years. and still the hermit kept In n
old home. The fact OF her existenc
almost ceased to be known to any saw
the older residents.
/ After several years OF waiting Had
ley Johnson went west and soon be
came man OF wealth and innuenc,
he located In Utah territory and In
vested In mining. when Utah wa
admitted as state and cast It's frs
vote for presidential electors he wa
the bearer OF the official returns {
Washington. On his way home h
stopped at Brookyllle and made a lal
effort 20 see his aiiianced OF more tina
80 years before. He was then ad
vanced In life. but the old scenes re
yiyed the ires In his bosom and IN
yearnlng came to him Ms It had /
Years gone by Miss Phoebe was OF
durate, and not only refused to 50
him but declined TO receive any wor
from him. Her action had gone M
explained through all the years, an
10 was destined never TO know whl
rad occurred on that June night /
'hange her attitude towards him an
he world. He died about year az
n his western home.
Miss Meeks' only companions In a
hose years have been her young,
lister and the blrds. Hundreds I
parrows feed at her window ever
morning, and for a few moments n
hutters are opened as she places the
pod upon tho window sill. She M
mple means upon which TO live. 81
said to be AN omnlyorous reader. A
DO high-prieed magazines are take
the house, also a daily pape
hough she avoids contact with Il
ord, she thus keeps In touch wilt
hat Is going on around her.