Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-11-10


and canning into the room the girl said in
sinuatingly, but without looking at him,
"An' would yc be hirin' servant the
day p And stood fidgeting with the fringe
of her shawl.
II believe not" said Anson coloriug with
some annoyance, perhaps at the nature el
his employment.
"Shurc, Sir, an the lady that sint me-
God bless her swate eyes said you'd be
shure to take me on the recommendation,
which has in my pocket-and hero 'tis
new"
She gave him little note which proved
to be from Barbic Halsted. Anson read il
with very loyer.like carefulness, but shook
his head.
II am very sorry, my good girl, but we
do not wish to hire servant"
"Belike your father mayn't object whin
he sees me, the girl persisted.
Anson looked at the soiled white bonnet
and the red feather and repressing smile,
wondered what his father would say But
was of too kindly nature to be willing to
expose even this servant to his father s
rough manner. He repeated what he had
said before assuring her that it wovld be of
no use to see his father.
The girl stood moment-"if We place,
sur, III just see him momint. Belize he
may take a likin' to the look me"
And before he could reply she had cross
ed the room, and stood upon the threshold
of the next. Anson followed presently,
curious to see what sort of reception she
would get,
"Shure an LII dc more'n than I'm worth
to yees," she was saying with innocent en-
phasis as Anson entered. She talked rap
idly, pouring out such torrent of words
that the old man could not by any possibil-
ity slip one in among them, and sat regard
ing her with an expression of the most lu-
dicrous astonishment.
This remarkable volubility completely
baffled the old mans slowness. He could
not say word if he wished to, and when
she concluded at last with II kin make flap
jacks and corn bread that'd bring the very
eyes out iv yer head and make ye swaley
yer tongue with delightsomeness" (if he
had a weakness it was for flap-jacks and
corn bread, he could only twirl his thumbs
in sort of delicious awe and ask her with
cunning smile how much she expected to
get for doing all them things"
"Seventy-ive cints a week." was the
prompt reply.
With still more cunning laugh Joel of
fered her half the money. Greatly to his
amazement, she agreed at once, and he
found himself, to use his own expression,
in for it," To add to his cbagrin, Anson
stood by, laughing with intense enjoyment.
But the girl without further ado, pro-
ceeded to disencumber herself of bonnet
and shawl, and vanish in the direction of
the kitchen before anything could be said
As she shut the door she stole glance at
Anson that made him start and bite his lips,
and presently he stole kitchenward also. =
She was already at work, handling the broom
like an adept, and grumbling in her rich
brogue at the dust that had accumulated in
the corners for the extent OF Anson's and
his fathers sweeping had been to brush the
corner of the room, somewhat to the disad
vantage of the rest.
She did not leok up as Anson entered
but he sat down deliberately and furtively
watched her. For some time, she seemed un-
conscious of this scrutiny, but she presently
turned, and clasping both little hands upon
the top of the broom handle, said with a
mixture Of bravado and archness too natural
to be mistaken,
well, Anson, what do you think ?"
The young man laughed and looked an
noyed in the same breath.
'Then, it is you, Barbie?" he said. 81
was suspecting something Of the sort"
Not till looked at you," said the girl,
roguishly, retreating as he approached.
DO YOU think this is quite the thing,
Barhie ?"
Sure an why amt it the thing for a
poor, girl to be gettin' her living decently
and honestly p
And that was all he could get out of her.
Having acknowledged her identity with
Barbie for an instant she was the most un-
approachable "Biddy" the next, and would
have nothing to say to him save in that
character.
"Does your father know of this, Barbie :?
what would he say?" asked Anson anxious
ly.
"Sure an it's not me own fader would be
interferin n wild me, would he?" said Biddy.
In vain were all remonstrances with the
roguish and wilful girl. She persisted in
being Biddy even to him, and maintained a
distance between them very different from
that between him and Barbe in her own
proper self. Annoyed, provoked, chagrined,
almost angry, the advent of his father forced
him to retire from the kitchen, for fear of
betraying Barbie's secret, whicS he would
not have done for great deal.
1t was several hours before he could re-
turn to the house, his father having joined
him, and upon one pretext and another de-
tanned him. When at last they entered to-
gether, kitchen and sitting room, both of
which had been in a most untidy state when
they left, had undergone such a remarkable
renovating process that old Joel drew back
at first, thinking he had set foot in some
body else's house instead of his own. Sup
per was smoking on the table--such sup.
per as old Joel at least had not seen fol-
months. To crown ali Mrs. Shelsnbarger
was sitting, propped with pillows. in great
easy chair, and looking wonderfully content
ed. and with reason-the poor lady had moi
had woman's hand about her before since
her illness They lived in such an isolated
inhospitable manner, that very few of theil
neighbers even knew that Mrs. Shellenbar
ger was not as well as usual. Bddy, Al
she called herself, had tidied the poor lady
up in wonderful manner
Joel Shellenbarger sat down to the daint
lily spread table, and made a most hearty
and keenly relished meal, glancing askanc,
at Biddy meanwhile. Anson, strange t,
say, ate very little, and he watched Bidd.
askance too.
This was only the beginning of reform
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