The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-25

=
arm, streamed from one side, and WithiI
the brim Topped the immense fFill Of :
cap which elung close around the faee
of the stranger. The face what could
be seen ofit-Was a very curious one tC
be inside Of such a bonnet and cap
Just now, as she Surveyed the kitchen
and Anson-herself still unseen-the
muscles about her mouth tWitched nerv-
Ousiy, and her eyes tWinkled with roguish
brightness.
Presently Anson looked that way.
Instantly the face took lugubrious
length, and, coming into the room, the
girl said, insinuatingly, but without look
4 ing at him:
"An' would you be afther hiTin' a
servant the day? and stood fdgeting with
the fringe of her shawl.
I believe not, said Anson, coloriDg,
with some annoyance, perhaps, at the
nature of his employment.
'Shure, sir, an the lady that sint me
God bless her swate eyes!-said you'd
be shure to take me on her recommends
ton. which I has in my POoket-and here
'tis now
She gave him a little note, which
proved to be from Barbie Halstead. An
son read it with very lover-like careful
ness, but shook his head.
& amvery sorry, my good girl, but we
do not wish to hire a servant.
'Belike your father mayu't object Whin
he sees me, the girl persisted.
Anson looked at the soiled white bon
net and the red feather, and repressed a
smile, wondering what his father would
say. But he was of too kindly nature
to be willing to expose even this servant
to his fathers rough manner. He repeat
ed what he said before, assuring her that
it would be of no use to see his father.
The girl stood a moment-Ifye plase,
sur, I'll just see him m0mint. Belize
he may take a likin' to the look o me-
And before he could reply she had
crossed 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 I'll do plinty m0re'n I'm
worth to yees, she was saying, with inno-
cent emphasis, as Anson entered. She
talked rapidly, pouring out such torrent
of words that the old man could not by
any possibility slip one in among them,
and sat regarding her with an expression
Of the most ludicrous establishment.
This remarkable volubility completely |
baf1ed the oldman's slowness. He could |
not say word if he wished to, and when
she concluded at last with i can make
flap jacks and corn bread that'd bring
the very eyes out iv yer head and make
ye swally yer tongue with bclightsome-
ness Cif he had a weakness it was for
flap, jacks and corn bread, he could only |
twirl his thumbs ia a sort of delicious awe,
and ask her with cunning smile how
much she expected 'tO get for doing all
them things
'Seventy-fve cents a week. was the
prompt reply.
With g still more cunning laugh, Joel |
offered her half the money. Greatly to
his amazement, she agreed at once, and |
he found himself, to use his own express
sion, 'in for it. To add to his chagrin, /
Anson stood by, laughing with intense
enjoyment.
But the girl, without further ado, pro-
eeeded to diseneumber herself Of bonnet |
and shawl, and vanished in the direction
Of the kitchen before anything could be
said. As she shut the door sic stole /
a glace 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 center of the room, somewhat to
the disadvantage ofthe rest.
She did not lookup as Anson entered;
but he sat down and deliberately, but |
furtively watched her. For some time
she seemed unconscious of his scrutiny; [
but presently she turned, and clasping
both little hands upon the top of the |
broOm-handle, said, with mixture of |
bravado and archness too natural to be /
mistaken,
well, Anson, what do you thinkY
The young man laughed and looked
annoyed in the same breath.
Then it is you, Barbie p he said, 4
was suspecting something Of the sort
'NOt till I looked at you, said the
girl, roguishly retreating as he approach
ed.
do you think this quite the thing,
BarbieP
'Shure, an Why amt it the thing for
poor girl to be gettin' her livin' dacently
and hOnestlyP
And that was all he could get out of
her? Having acknowledged her identity
with Barbie for an instant, she was the
most unapproachable '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 ? persevered Anson,
anxiously.
'Shure an it's not me own fader would
be interferin' wid me, would he P said
Biddy.
In vain were all remonstrances with
the roguish and willful girl. She persist
ed in being Biddy, even to him, and
maintained distance between them very
different from that between him and Bar
bic in her own proper self. Annoyed,
provoked, chagrined, the advent of his
father forced him to retire from the
kitchen, for fear of betraying Barbie's
secret, which be would not have done for
a great deal.
It was several hours before he could re-
turn to the house, his father having join
ed him, and upon one pretext and anoth-
er detained him. When at last they en-.
tered together, kitchen and sitting room,
both of which had been in most untidy
state when they left there, had undergone
such a remarkably renovating process that
old Joel drew back at first, thinking he
had set foot in somebody else's house in
stead of his own. Supper was smoking
on the table such a supper as old Joel,
at least, had not seen in months. To crown
all, Mrs. Shellenbarger was sitting, prop
ped with pillows, in great easy chair,
IzzI-.- I-o,.-l.- ,nI