Year: 1875

Silas Western, is this: / shan't speak
to you again until you tell me you are
sorry. You ought to apologize, and
you would if you cared about me; and
| shan't marry any one that don't care
about me. I'll tell you that


Then she waited for moment, but
Silas Western said nothing; and she
added: Goodnight" !" and went into
the house, closing the door after her
For this happened on the way home
from singing school one Wednesday
evening.


Silas was really in the wrong, and
she had shown no angry temper. If he
loved her he surely would apologize
soon and "woman should not lower
her dignity" she said, as she went to
bed in her little upstairs room but for
all that her pillow was wet with tears
before she slumbered.


Silas meanwhile walked away. He
had been engaged to Phoebe Spinner
three months, and he did love her dear
ly; but his blood was up just then.
He would have broken with her on the
spot sooner than apologize.


"She'll come round" he said. "If
I'm ever to be master, | must begin
new."


1t does not matter what they had
quarreled about. Quarrels are mere
nonsense to all but the active parties
generally, but all, the gentle and simple,
poetical and prosaic, young or old,
must know how true it is that:
That to be wroth with one we love
Doth work like madness on the brain"


Two very wretched young people saw
the sun rise over Cranberry Mountain
next morning, and decided that every
thing was vanity. Silas Western was
nobody in particular to the world in
general, and Phoebe Spinner was even
less, but "Ah, the difference to them
now, that each seemed blotted out of
the others life.


For 1 will never, never forgive him,
unless he does what is right" said Phe-
be, binding up her hair.


And | will never treat woman as
though she were goddess" said Silas,
struggling with his stubborn boots.
Not l, darn IT,"


Then he waited for word or message
from Phoebe, whom he felt sure would
give in at last, but who never dreamt of
it. Men are obstinate, as long as obsti-
macy makes them comfortable and con-
tent with themselves but women are
obstinate when it makes them miserable.


The world does not know yet how
much more eight there is in women
than in men. No Phoebe, paling and
pining, aching heart and head alike,
never dreamt Of yielding; but after
three days of complacent crossness ii
began to strike Silas Western that il
made him uncomfortable to be cross
that it had been pleasant to go to see
Phoebe. That it was nice to think OF
having dear little wife to care about
him always, and share bis joys and sor-
rows; and that he could not easily for.
get Phoebe for any one else, even pret-
tier girl. And then he walked alone by
the river bank, and thought how they
had been together there so often and
how warm and soft her little hand lay
in his-and suddenly found two tears in
his eyes, and said:


Hang it, I've been fool r and went
home and wrote this little note to her


"PHGBE DEAR, | was wrong. We've
both been wrong TO let i'll feeling come
between us. Forgive me, dearest, and
send me word that you have done so. /
shall await your letter with impatience


SILAs."


Then Silas sent the note to Mrs Spin
ner's house by his landlords little boy,
telling him to be sure to give it himself
to Miss Phoebe.


By this time the falling out was five
DAYS old, and Phoebe was simply wretch
ed. But in the Spinner household work