The Falls City tribune., 1908-02-21

Delng engaged, | should expect her To
think my attentions didn't mean any
thing and she was free TO go home
with anybody she liked. Shouldn't
your"
The young man blushod. 81
guess I've been something of fool,
Miss Percival," he said. with an EN-.
barrassed laugh. I've been expect
ing folks to be mindreaders. Thank
! you for doing up my wrist"
Phoebe watched him as he went
down the path. II knew Nellie was
| feeling bad about something the last
time she was here" she mused; but
l had other company and so she didn't
say anything. It's queer what tritles
will come between two people who
really think the world of each other"
and Phoebe sighed as she recalled the
one romance of her own life.
The cutting out of Freddie Westall's
clothes was done, and Phoebe was at
her stitching machine, when Mrs.
Gaines, her next neighbour burst in at
the door and sank into q chair. "Do
you know how to put in stove lin
ing| she asked, breathlessly John
took mine out and then was called
away and won't be home till noon;
and just before he went he remem-
bered to give me letter he took out
of the post office a week ago-and it's
from my sister, and she's coming here
to-day on the half-past ten train, ana
going off in the afternoon on her way
! hnn1n from, ha a and hpr
son and his wife are with her-and
I've been canning tomatoes all the
week and let everything else go-and
I've been working every minute since
I got the letter cleaning things up, and
forgot all about the stove"
"Pll so right back with YOU"
Phoebe said promptly, and the two
left the house together.
Phoebe was possessed of "gump-
.tion," and the stove lining was put in
as quickly and as well as John could
have done it.
Now, Laura" she commanded, you
just run and change your dress and
get ready for your company-'tis most
II o'clock-and leave the dinner to
me- I'll have it all on the table by
12, and run over afterward and wash
up the dishes"
"Oh, 1t is too much"
NO. it isn't!" Phoebe interrupted
her. What are neighbors for If not
to be neighborly?"
So with a deep breath of relief Mrs
Gaines obeyed, and Phoebe set to
work on the dinner.
Everything went off well, and at
halfpast one the dishes were washed
and put away, and Phoebe was back
at her machine.
Her next caller was deaf old man,
who came limping in with a cane. He
sat down with sigh in the easy chair
Phoebe pulled up for him, and seemed
to be very low spirited But Phoebe
asked him about his rheumatism and
talked politics at the top of her voice,
and laughed at his feeble jokes, and
brought out a big peach, the only one
borne on her one little peach tree that
year. and cut it up for him with a
sprinking of sugar, so that when he
went away he was wonderfully cheer
full and stepped quite briskly.
q don't suppose his folks have much
patience with him. thought Phoebe.
"He must be kind o. wearing; but he
can't help it, poor soul"
Just before supper, Mrs. Gaines ran
over for minute to tell Phoebe how
grateful she was. MY company had
to go away at three o'clock" she said,
"and if it hadn't been for you
should have had to stay in the kitch-
en- most Of the time and hardly seen
my sister at all"
Phoebe hurried her sewing after
supper, so that by half-past eight she
was on her way down the road with
, Freddie Westall's completed garments
over her arm
Mrs. Westall gave relieved sigh
at sight of her. Pm 50 glad they're
finished" she exclaimed Some of
the other children dared Freddie to go
through a thicket of horse-briers and
blackberry vines this afternoon down
in the pasture, and his only pair OF
kuickerbOckers was torn to tatters
You couldn't stay and spend the even
ing, could you?" she asked wstfully as
. Phoebe rose to go. 81 can't blame
folks for not coming to see me, when
l never get to see them; but | do get
so lonesome-and my husband is away
this evening, too"
"Why, I'll be glad to- asserted
Phoebe, and the two sat and rocked
. and chatted till Mr. Westall came
home at ten o'clock.
After Phoebe was home again anJ
had locked up for the night, there
came a quick knock at the door.
Somebody must have been takel
suddenly sick and sent for me-" sh,
? thought as she drew the bolt anC
T. opened the door,
Good evening, Miss Percival," sal,
a voice which she instantly recognized
u as that of the grocerynan.
81 was going by home" Tho ycun'
! man enTH H1vT snrr rrr4rF. T..rF.f -r....