Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-11-18

II
gone such a remarkable renovating process tina
Old Joel drew back at first thinking he had sc
loot IN somebody else's house instead Ofhis own
Supper was smoking on the table-such a sup
/ per as old Joel at least had not seen for mani
months. To crown all Mrs. Shellenbarger wa
sitting, propped with pillows, in great eas]
chair and looking wonderfully contented, ant
with reasOn-the poor lady had not had a wO
mans hand about her before since her illness
They lived in such an isolated inhospitabl'
manner that very few of their neighbors eve
/ knew that Mrs. Shellenbarger was not as vel
as usual Biddy, as she styled herself had tidieC
/ the poor lady up in a wonderful manner
joel Shellenbarger sat down to the daintily
| spread table, and made most hearty and keen
| ly relished meal glancing askance at Biddy
/ meanwhile. AnsOn, strange to say, ate very
little, and watched Biddy askance too.
q This was only the beginning of the reform,
| this daring girl instituted. First however, al
much perhaps for her own peace of mind al
Anson' 's-knOwing that mother and son wer,
/ fast friends and always of one mind-she tolC
her secret to Mrs. Shellenbarger, and fairly
wheedled the good lady into approval It /,
true that she shook her head at first and looked
wonderfully shocked. But it was so charming
to have those soft little hands fiuttering about
her and TO see such brightness and comiori
spring up around, that she could not for her
own sake, help countenancing, as much as ST.
lence could, Biddy's mysterious presence.
haven't time to give you all the particulars,
but having made so good a beginning, with Z
true Irish facility, Biddy established herself in
very short time completely in the graces ol
the old man. He had lurking likeness foi
neatness and order, and Mrs. Shellenbarger-
poor lady l--wasn't avery tidy housekeeper.-
Under the new reign, order grew cut of chaos;
the house seemed an a holiday garb all the time,
and an atmosphere of social cheerfulness per-
vaded every thing. .-s.ass-.
: One niorsling-Biddy had said something
about leaving, the day before-the old man end.
ed a grumbling complaint TO AnsOn with: II
never see no good come of eddicatiOn yet. II
it hadn't been for that college business you
might have taken liking to a sensible girl,
and she to you" He glanced at Biddy as he
spoke. She turned scarlet and came near drop
ping the dish she was holding 1t was not the
first time AnsOn had heard such insinuatiOns
and he rather enjoyed them.
s'See here father, he said, roguishly, ',iust
you pick me out wife, and see what will come
of it'
1.-The only girl know of, worth having,
won't have you dare say-wOuld you Biddyf''
Joel said grumbling, but suddenly turning to
the girl.
AnsOns was smiling .maliciously. Bridget
O'Flynn had kept Barbie lover at most tan
talizlng and unrelenting distance all this time.
He was taking his revenge now. Making des-
perate effort. Biddy raised her confused senses
to say, with considerable self lf-possessiOn:
''sShure, sir, an it isn't mesiif that'll be af-
ther hayin any mon till 1 m asked
"Biddy, viii you marry mef'' said Anson,
gravely extending his hand
Il will that, now" said Biddy, promptly
putting her hand in his while old Joel came
near, choking with amazement 1t was too late
to recede, however, whether he had really wish
ed such a thing or not, as they soon made him
understand. He went out Of doors presently
and privately pinched himself to ascertain if he
We're in his senses or not. Seeing the two stand
ing close by the window in close conversation
soon after, he crept with the same laudable in
tention toward them, under the cover of the
bushes that grew by the side of the house.
Nov, Barbie,' AnsOn was saying laughing
ly, ''what is to be done next2 | must say you
have managed wonderfully SO far; but what do
you suppose he II say when he knows you are
not Biddy at all?''
''Not Biddy at all ~ screamed Joel SheIlen-
bager, struck with a sudden suspicion of he
knew not what, as he started out of his covert.
s There stood Biddy, the white frill other close
cap as immense as ever. She laughed though,
when she saw him, and deliberately taking off
her cap, shook her bright curls all over her face
and reaching toward him her little hand, said
archly: "Shure sir, an ye won't be afther hur-
tin a poor girl, because her names Barbie Hal
stead instead of Biddy OFlynn r.
sYOu-you Professor Halstead' s girl -
Professor Hslstead is my father, sir, " said
Barbie ia her natural tones.
whats that2''
Barbie repeated it.
s'And you're not Irish?''
'Niver a bid!''
The old man stood moment, clouds gather
ing in his face.
"Wen, Anson," he said rather surlily,
"you We outwitted me again-much good may
it dOyOu. You'd better get out the horses now,
and take Halstead's girl home. He must want
to see her by this time"
eyes sir % And Anson colored with min
gled anger and amusement.
Barbie did not change cOuntenance however.
Extending that pretty hand of hers, again, she
aidsweetly, lyon Ii shake hands with me sirf''
Joel Shellenbarger turned back and gave his
hand awkwardly. The girl took it in both of
hers, bending her bright, arch face, toward
him, and saying 81 shall come back some time,
sir. VIII you be glad to see me p
Joel hummed and yawned, and stammersd
out at last. s.1es, yes; come back, Biddy-I
mean Miss O'Flynn-I mean Miss"
"Barbie," suggested the girl quietly.
"Hes come back; and the sooner the better.
There Anson, make the most On'tr'
Barbie did come back, in very few weeks
too and nobody was gladder to see her than old
Joel, though he was little shy at first of Prot.
girl. She soon made him forget
however, everything save that she was Anson's
wife; and the way he humored the sly puss to
sundry grants of money, re-furnishing and re-
pairs DC, Icouldn' tbegin to tell you But I'd
like to have you see the Shellenbarger place,
since Barbie has gone there to live.