The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-28
he rather enjoyed Biddy's tire

situations, he rather enjoyed Biddy's tire
pidation.
"See here father" he said, rougishly,
"just you pick me out a wife, and see
what will come of it,
"The only girl 1 know of, worth hav-
ing, wouldn't have you, dare say-would
you, Biddy2" Joel said, grumblingly,
but suddenly turning to the girl.
Anson was smiling maliciously. But
Bridget O'Flynn had kept Barbie's lover at
a most tantalizing and unrelenting dis
tance all this time. He was taking his re-
venge now. Making a desperate effort,
Biddy rallied her confused senses to say,
with considerable self-possession:
"Shure, sir, an it isn't mesilf thatll be
afther havin' any man till I'm asked"
"Biddy, will you marry me?" said An
son, gravely, extending his hand.
81 will that, now," said Biddy, prompt
ly putting her hand in his, while old Joel
came near choking with amazement. 1t
was too late to recede, however, whether
he had really wished such thing or not,
as they soon made him understand. He
went out of doors presently, and privately
PuuCACu ulluSCll w dSCO1 lClu IL uC W So Ill
his senses or not. Seeing the two stand
ing by the window in close conversation so
soon after, he crept with the same lauda-
bic intention toward them, under cover of
the bushes that grew by the house.
"Now, Barbie," Anson was saying,
laughingly, "what is to be done next? 1
must say you've managed wonderfully, so
far; but what do you suppose he'll say
when he knows you're not Biddy at all? I"
"Not Biddy at all? screamed Joel
Shellenbarger, struck with sudden sus-
picion of, he knew not what, as he started
out of bis covert.
There stood Biddy, the white frill of her
close cap as immense as ever. She
laughed, though, when she saw him, and
deliberately taking off her cap, shook her
bright curls all about her face, and reach
ing toward him her little hand, said, archly,
"Shure, sir, an ye won't be after hatin'
poor girl because her names Barbie Hal
stead instead of Biddy OFlynn!"
Professor Halstead is my father, sir, {"
said Barbie in her natural tones.
"What's that ?'
Barbie repeated it.
"And you're not Irish?"
"Niver bit!"
The old man stood a moment, clouds
gathering in his face
"Well, Anson," he said, rather surlily,
"you've outwitted me again-much good
may it do you. You had better get out
the horses now, and take Professor Hal
or g., nj Ia %0
her by this time"
eyes, SIR" And Anson colored with
mingled anger and amazement.
Barbie did not change countenance,
however. Extending that pretty hand of
hers again, she said, "Youll shake hands
with me, sir?''
Joel Shellenbarger turned back and gave
his hand awkwardly. The girl took it in
both of hers, bending her bright, arch
face towards him, and said: 81 shall come
back some time, sir. Will you be glad to
see me?"
Joel hummed and hawed, and stam-
mered out at last: "Yes, yes come back,
Biddy-I mean Miss O'Flynn-I mean
Miss -"
"Barbie," suggested the girl, quietly.
eyes, come back; and the sooner the
better. There, Anson; make the most
ont!"
Barbie did come back, in a very few
weeks, too, and nobody was gladder to see
her than old Joel, though he was a little
shy at first of Professor Halstead's girl.
She soon made him forget everything,
however, save that she was Anson's wife /;
and the way he humored the sly puss to
sundry grants of money, refurnishing and
repairs, ETC., couldn't begin to tell you.
But I'd like you to see the Shellenbarger
place since Barbie has gone there to live.