The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7978, 15 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

J JOHN WILLIAM'S N.VI'GHTKHS. ! Vhocte Kutness throw a handful 01 ijrravH at old Miss Barker's domier 'window, »nd a minute aftenvarrls a i»ig|rt-capped head popped "»' l,a " ; tte niistj air. The young woman held up her lantern so that her lac' 3nigbl be visible It was thin ar-d ?l»tchct-shapc«l- * na l ' r shar P " ise 'was fed with indigestion ansl cold. £ "Et's Pboi-jc, Miss Barker," she .-"■• id. "I've coom to Aell yo' as 1 • tnt Atmie's .sinkin' fast- Hoo seem- ■: td getlin' on all reel till len o'clock Ifcut hoo's weak 4 s a kitU'"' na* •' •■ "Eh dear ! ch dear !" Mius -"Barker ;" exclaimed, "I'll be wi yo' very soon > iVo'd best send someone lo raase kjo'l feyther—ct'., but just, wliate'ir -70' bev again him. as he should lanow" , .-1 T "I reckon there'll be taU el 1 <lii.H»," Phoebe said, as she turned ■ away ; "but el's a hard job to g'e l |b. We oHert huu his choice twin t qp an' poachin', an' he stuck to ipoachin'. Haasoe'er I'd best lei him j p She disappeared in Hie darkne-tf | J- and Miss Darker began to 'lres- | I <pMckly. • "Them Methody wenches es hard as J '.linls," she muttered. "Held only rierve 'em reel ei poor .John William "ftttidna coom. Ay, but he will coom. 1 tho' d.r spite «»"' thier whimsies he's *kmi o" 'em as e'er !" S* In a short time she reached the bouse, with ils little shop window light.d by the plow of a sh.ck • lire. A talf-fmishiil jiown, winch r Phoebe had been sewing diring th; lay folded on the work table. 'There waw no sound save IP? tm-vinp fc Of feet in the upper chamber. As ; Miss Harker fastened the sn-ck. ' Phoebe moi- downstairs. "Well, yo' hevna tin luig." she !. ut'd ''Hoo's still ihe same. I -, n! «, Yellol's lad up t.> th Kdge fir Keyi- ther. He'll be here soon enow." t "l*m Rlad yore hevin' him. I h k- *■■ be," the nld'won..n said. "I in.ml *. When yo're nwM*'r were 1' th ..-:i|, Jtcasr, an' he'turned ih.- il.k ioi ; .at *©' th' haase an' mid siigiirat as E .taunt her ra,-ii i' a day or two. I've forgot what ~l were he did. hul j Jo' mam get him to trv ct. Vo'r was subject to these nert vnus levers—l reckon poor A;.i.if's t got em fro' her." I .She went upstairs and look.-.l a'

(lie >ick woman, gaunt ami cadaverous, iHl'.iml Ui.- r. I rniMiii!, of ilafour |u.v 1..-.1. To ..II appear n-.-s sh- was lii.-1.-s. !"■' when Miss •'•■"ker touched her pulse found H stunni family •'Hev )•>' ->nt ."or •!.- rJ.K-i.oi I hoebe." nlh- wl.:>!iiT.-rl. "\,.. 1 Ik-.!i... I'i- sa.u as he cuiuilna !■'• '»' »■■■' '■'" '"'» s.i'aK ar.aiii. Ih' slillicale II I)'- a" > L e'- "> ! <"ir (irei'it cciu >» an' pr-iyed wi' her l-v l\va haais ■' lit even, an' h"o seethed at rest."

As she .poke some)■"».■ tapp?l niil'tly a. ihe iio'isenlar-' dooi". e.iiil she hasten.d downstairs. A any wa 1 - stai.dins outside. "I've Kvn up to lir i 111 !\'or k," ho sahl. "an' raa.-x-.l llr I-'iinn ss an' lie says he'll l.v wi' >u' a'-aal iour u'cock «i' .Minimal as'll brms her raand. Yo're to i;i'c her hre.i.dy evtrv five minute.".'' •Humi.h !" exclaimed rhor.be, half lo h.-rs. Ii". ••Like -'lion wllon AllliiI an' me's kep"ih' iih-.1-e for liftien l\o.irs ' 11001.l ne'er 0.1-i'e me el" I tijiulnl her lijs wi' that poison.

Well, thank yo' for Raoin', Job, loove. I'll liud a penny for yo' when 1 next see yo." She returned lo the el,amber and sat with Miss Harker at the bedside.

"Kt's very hard." she grumbled, "as fey titer's ways arcana as aar ways. Kf he hadna' bin sent to jail abaat the snuire's pheasants, we enulona hev renaancej him. hut that stood 1' aar way i' nellin' gcntlefowks' custom. We've doon twice as weel sin' we cut kmi off. Deary me, ef Annie goes, I'll have to tek a partner into th' business." Miss Barker said nothing, but sat, with compressed lips, ministering to ihe unconscious woman.

"I'm none savin' owt again his bein' a kind parent," Phoebe continued. He were sillily kind—he'd h.-v spoilt us wi' lettin' us hev aar own way, mt wc were too sensible. Mcster (ireen uphowded us i' leavjn' him when he wouldna' turn fro' his evil courses. Th' HiUr. htrkid us up." At (our o'clock John William "Yo" go to Hi' door. Mis., Harker. ei \i> ple.is.'." Phoebe said, "liapl«n 1 nuch: be tempted to call linn if I did." So the old maul Vent down the 1 creaking staus and let 111 the father. He was .1 thin gaffer, with a cleanly etit face and an abundance of bushy while luir. His eyes were rvd, as it j he hail li.cn We.-piug. "Kt's yo". 'Li.Jlirlh !" he said. "Ilaa's mv poor dowter '" I "Abaat lie same. John William,' .he replied. ••Doff vo'r cap an' coom 1 1 th' chamber." "I'll iic'ei iorg.-l- ih' goodness yoIve always showul in me ;n' nine l.i/beth.' he remarkid. "Yo've bin a i'rirn' o' frttn's. See" d.e held ii| .. i-i". swath:d in Hanncl si that ill ei.ntmts might l.e kepi hot), "I'm. iiia-b- Ih' tran' luiil'rin.' liuri;! mj »!:> wi', .in' I iu.iy ..s ei II hev th' sjiite etlccl 1 n Annie." He lollowid her to Ihe l>cds;.le. where 111. .(be arknowl.dged his pies e..i • liv a so'ir not. which, however, ,s !„.>"(•; 1, -.'..iv sill! dimmed, K n.n-trueii 11.to an affectioiiate greeting. "l-iy. I'le; be. yo've sent for t'.n oil ciiap at last." hj,, >aiil tenderly : "1 knew ,0 yo' ha'lua th' h art to keep 1,-! m ..way always."

Lut I ho bo Vo..- and left l!:e;:i. and tie pi a- lii-r hanhd th. jug l(/ l.li-s 11..1-L- .M„i k.,.-!t ;,i 111.- ii.MM.lr. iioil i with a silui teaspoon which he hail ' i.r.,u ; IP. began to j.1.111 drop* <>■ i ihe surealeiit .lixir between Ins: i dau'-'iil. 1 s lips. Mie swaiiowid lee!:- ! ly. and alter .: while her eyelid

were raised, and she ga/ed at him vacantly. "Kt's me, Nan; el's vo'r poor o\vd feyther cuoin lo gi'e beck health and arenglli to yo'. Naa, dt'nna speak, loove'; lie still as a masse an' drink in' drink till yo'n-fiill. Kt's what I gov to yo' motlk-r when hoo were hail like this." Soon Annie petulantly tunud away ;.er face, as if the sight of him were-distasteful. He shifted the canlie thai stood on the dressing table. "Kt's Ihe Icel as hurt her e'en, l.i/.helh," he said. "Hoo mun be I kep' as quiet as hoo can. I reckon 1 1 |i,-ll go well. I'll go whonm i;',i' 00111 after breakfas', bust for lo s.e haa things es goin' on. I'm loth to ■ urn aat. for el's comfortable in hither, an' up al the N'ook a man's alone wi' his own thowfs- I'll le a ve sh' drink for yo' lo gi'e her." Mi-s Barker's heart was so full that she could scarce speak ly"l'm sorry for you, John William. eiv sorry," she murmured. "Kl es•l.l mitral for a man to li\c so •:iich by hissen. Well, good-morn ; tappen 11. see yo' amiin soon."" Phoele did not speak as lie pas-.ul ier in 1 lie . lioiisi-place. 11l anolli.'r niiiiute lie Was iroping his way hroiigh the mist up the steep anil .toiiey lain 1 that led lo his home. The old mad cine downstairs soon, nd laid her hand kindly on Phobe's irm. "I'm I'i.irnl vo' werna as jjiod as v, " ..wi lo !„■ to \„'i- lovilvr." sli,aid. "Save for his one fault o' ito.ii bin' fan' thai he laima help) lie 's as i.ohle a man as e'er breathe 1." 'lhe woman's palieiife gave -y. "Kl' yo' tlunk so." she ret,, p■l. -wliv didiia vo' wed lnm veais ,go wlieti he ;s ! ;e,l yo". Mai !:e' yo o:iI:l h.-v wirked at his til 'ivin" 'o' -,ame ■ 'lh- Bible suvs: 'Thou shall ■ot SI .Ml " "

"Av. (I i!„ s." s.u.l Mrs H,.iir:. m'etly ; "air ~| s.us 'Honour Ur. i-yHicr.' .Hi'' yi.'re bie.-i-in' ifiai ;■.mmauliiii■ r» 1 every <l;iy yn're> life. Uaasoi-.ci, I'ni none Koin' (ci ];q\ voids wi' yi>' wliil,- Annie's so bad-ly-.vc'll hrv et Ai \\ afterwards." Sic ifliitncil in the clianilxi' and dminisifrtJ more of John William's filicjic to the invalid. I'hochc m' '■ii came in anil out without dcisn■ii,: In ui ii ire cinr-criiiiif; licr sister's

At leu oYln-k .(elm William ~p-"■an "■an il imam, ami his li.ii.- daughter "d him in the threshold will, ;l anv,. siiiilin. , a .", a,,,] ~ V(1 j ( . (jk ■. w.„„|-,|,,,,■■*. "What were ,-t ils >■„• K ,. v pon| . \niiii ?" she inquired. 'Til in,, tu ""«'. as to be ~1,1. to .;,.( 1,.. r ,„• aiiie >' future."

.lohu William lanirhed n.-ivonsrv ~-. t moved towards Hi-staircase. '■ I'd f-il an I wi' el weixli," hj- said 'tthen yo'r mother wire hid i' ur •■aine way, I Ink my K nn anil maple (i a .';ivco „' c,k-k nhiasaiits an' ducked em' an' stewed il„. csn-iicc ■nit "' Vm till et were as thick as •;'>• ■ / '.* a„ew 'i.i ~.l V(. , H I d two i Hi' pantrv when word t'lii o' my lass bein' ill, so I <|i,| 'lie same wi' tin \:\\ cock pheas■■•lH hrolh." I'lioel.e drew herself |„ lier full "Uilil and stood, in tragical att j'ude. point in;: to (he door. "Aat yo' fi „ owd man," she snai I- ''.-!■ "Aar roof shanna cuover a nnrol.au- like you'. You |„-„wt shame and Hi.sjir.u-e on us wi' ,-,,'r j-oa-liin' "er sin I can ree'leel '"

On Ihe evening of (| ie . salm , ~.,v Miss Barker put on her ilonk ami overshoes and wen I to .! ( ,hn \\illa,„\s rolUi:.-. Sh.. 1'..,1.i,| ll,„, sil. !n? licfoii' tin- lire, with his rhoi nstin- on his hands. 'Vo've hin liardlv dell \vi' ,J, ha William." she said, ",,„ I've'felt s„r'V lor yo'. Annie's p-fli'ii' hrtter -• vo.ne.'d Ire I no mole ~»aal her." She poked the r„ a ls t ill a hri-hl '!a/i; .lai,<v,l „,, , |„. c hiiiii„-y. "l-.l's good o' vo' to coom " he said feehly. put her arm _ rwii.d his , .'•■.' film Willi.un." she s a id i n i ■ii'h-pilehed viViratms voice. •'.)„[,„ Ai'liani. v., „i,et asked me lo mar- '*. >'i ■ an I said miv. for I ,|i,|,,, ■ i'.nh >n were as l.itilwiiimled as vo' '<; i') .want someone l„ |,,ok ~fj,.r '", '"",' "■• y»»» up io s,„ -■es." • i ■ s o«ped end kis-ed his wrinkled