Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-16
! Overcoming Her Dependency
\ By Elizabeth Robbins
By Elizabeth Robbins


lENi)
The young man blushed. 81
guess I've been something Of a fool,
Miss Percival.' he said. with an EN-
barrassed laugh. i've been expect.
ing ks to be mind-readers. Thank
you for doing up my wrist
Phoebe watched him as he went
down the path, Il knew Nellie was
feeling bad about something the last
time she was here" she unused; but
! had other company and so she didn't
say anything. It's queer what triies
will come between two people who
really think the world Of each other,
and Phoebe sighed as she recalled the
one manc 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 n%eighbor. burst in at
the door and sank into a chair. DO
you know how to put In a stove lin.
ing?" she asked, breathlessly. John
took mine ont 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, n
going off 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 Eo-and
I've been working every minute since
/ got the letter cleaning things up, and
forgot all about the stove
I'm go right back with you"
Phoebe said promptly, and the two
left the house together.
Phoebe was possessed Of 'gump.
ton, and the stove lining was put in
as quickly and as well as John could
have done II.
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
u, and run over afterward and wash
up the dishes"
"Oh, it is too much"
no. 1t 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 10
work on the dinner.
Everything went of well. and. al
half.past one the dishes were washed
and put away. ana 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 o'clock" she said,
and If 1t 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
I've her arm.
ME. NtSAdAl gave u ltlltNt GU tlEu
at sight Of her. I'm so 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
knickerbockers was torn TO tatters.
You couldn't stay and spend the even
ing, could you?" she asked wistfully as
Phoebe rose TO go. Il can't blame
folks for not coming to see me, when
/ eve get TO see them; but ! do get
30 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 taker
suddenly sick and sent for me-" she
thought as she drew the bolt anC
opened the door.
SOuO ~tNtAIIE' hles renewal, Salt
a voice which she Instantly recognized
as that Of the groceryman.
Il was going by home" the youn,
a said, and saw your light wa.
burning, so ! thought Id stop and tel
you that | acted on the hint you CAV
me this morning. and everything /
all right. Nellie has said she'll MARI
me. We thought we'd like you to know
about II first
Well, am glad" thought Phoeb,
. as she fastened the door again an
went upstairs. Hes a likely fello,
and she's a good girl. They'll ueye
be sorry, either Of en-"
: When Phoebe had put out her ligf
she lay for awhile watching the leaf
shadows or her curtains, cast tn
time By the newly risen moon.
The dependency Of the mornln
% had given place to a quiet happine,
that was soon merged In yleasai
dreams.
J.