Willmar tribune., 1908-01-22
Overcoming Her Dependency;
BY Elizabeth Robin.
(Copyright.)

ight.)
The young man blushed. II
guess I've been something Of Z fool,
Miss Percival." he said. with an EN-.
barrassed laugh. 1--WE been expect.
Ing folks to be mind-readers. 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 trifles
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 Westalrs
clothes was done, and Phoebe was at
her stitching machine, when Mrs.
Gaines, her next neighbor, burst in at
the door and sank into Z chair. do
you know how to put in a stove lin
fng? 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 a 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, anG
going OF in the afternoon on her way
home from the mountains, and her
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"
'Ill go 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 1t.
Nov, 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
IL, and run over afterward and wash
up the dishes"
'Oh, it is too much"
mo, 1t isn't!" Phoebe interrupted
her. What are neighbors for il not
to be neighborly?"
So with deep breath of relief Mrs.
Gaines obeyed, and Phoebe set to
work on the dinner.
Everything went OF we'll, and at
half-past one the dishes were washed
and put away, and Phoebe was back
at her machine
Just before supper, Mrs. Gaines ran
over for a minute to tell Phoebe how
grateful she was. my company had
to go away at three o2lock," she said,
''and If it hadn't been Tor you l
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. I'm 80 glad they're
finished" she exclaimed. Some of
the other children dared Freddie to 70
through thicket of horse-briers and
blackberry vines this afternoon down
in the pasture, and his only pair of
knickerbockers was torn to tatters.
You couldn't stay and spend the even.
ing, could you?" she asked wistfully as
Phoebe rose to go. II can't blams
folks for not coming to see me, when
1 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 and
had locked up for the night. there
came a quick knock at the door.
Somebody must have been taken
suddenly sick and sent for me-" she
thought as she drew the bolt and
opened the door.
Good evening, Miss Percival," said
voice which she instantly recognized
| as that of the groceryman.
Il was going by home," the young
man said, 'and saw your light was
burning, so thought Id stop and tell
you that acted on the hint you gave
me this morning. and everything is
all right. Nellie has said she'll marry
me. We thought we'd like you to know
about it first"
"Well, l am glad!" thought Phoebe
as she fastened the door again and
went upstairs. Hes a likely fellow
and she's good girl. They'll neye,
be sorry, either of EN-
When Phoebe had put out her light
she lay for awhile watching the leafy
shadows on her curtains, cast this
time by the newly-risen moon.
The dependency of the morning
had given place to quiet happiness
that was soon merged in pleasan,
dreams.