, 1864-12-16
Professor Halstead,s Girl.

crotcbety and contrary old chap was Joe
Sbellenbarger, a rich old farmer, as mulish as
the donkey in his barn. He made his way IN
the world by the daggedest obstinacy-s
hold of whatever came in his way and retaining
that hold as though life depended upon 1T.
Joel's mulishness had literally been the making
of him, though you mightn't have considered
the little pot-bellied, thick-skulled ola man as
much of a make after all.
Joel had one son-a handsome, clear-headed,
active Young man-tall, straight as young
larch and as set in his way, when he chose TO
have one as old Joel himself This son, as he
grew up had proved a great assistance 10 ms
father in working the farm, and his services had
been made the most of, the old man managing to
keen him at home with him some time after be
ought to have been doing for himself Not an
acre Of the fathers possessions was ever called
the sons: he owned nothing inthe world save a
horse. which some neighbor had given him when
it was sickly colt, and some sheep, obtained
in much the same manner and the old man
erudged him the keeping of these
Joel Shellenbarger and his son Anson differed
often, but there were two points In which the
difference amounted to something serious The
first point concerned education, for which the
old man had profound contempt, and the son
had not. There was college some dozen miles
from the Shellenbarger farm, and thither-hav-
ing thoroughly prepared himself, in spite Of
fatberlv thwarting and oppostion-Anson be-
took himself. in spite of the same continued
opposition, and by one contrivance and another,
and help out by his mothers small marketing,
kept himself there till he graduated. Joel
Shellenbarger contested the ground inch by
inch but afraid, in his seifshness, to do any
thing more than be obstinate, lest his son should
leave him. That was the first point of differ
ence and that was how Anson settled it. The
second point was not likely to be OF so easy an
arrangement.
At college Anson found something besides
graduating honors. He had chanced upon very
charming combination of brown curls and azure
eyes-a red-lipped, dimple-cheeked fairy,
daughter of one of the professors, who instead
of curving her dainty lips at the homespun suit,
which his poverty and his fathers niggardliness
compelled him to wear, never seemed to be con-
scious of anything or anybody else when he was
by.
In short, Anson had some one to love, some
body that he wanted to marry, as he grayely
informed his father You should have seen the
old mans eyes il was mercy they were fast
in their sockets Here gratitudel This
Anson having already defrauded his old father
of so much OF his time, was going to set the seal
of his absurditv and disObedience by marrying
a "town girl ~ Bad enough to marry any one
seeing that his father WASH through with him
yet-but town grill He should never consent,
and every Shellenbarger acres should go to stran-
gers before Anson should have one if he persisted
IN an idea so ridiculous.
"And pray what harm is there in being a
town girl? questioned Barbie Halstead, when
Anson told her, half-aughing, half-vexed, and
altogether rueful-for without assistance from
his father he could not marry Barbie for long
time yet Arson laughed again, but with some
embarrassment, saying, 'My father is afraid that
daughter of Professor Halstead would not
make very good farmers wife"
"Does he think-?" Barbie hesitated, look
ing with smiling perplexity at her little white
hands.
"That these pretty hands don't know much
about brewing and baking, etc Exactly; 1
believe he thinks just that"
g Then he thinks wrong" said Barbie, red
denng, and looking at her lover with comical
little pOut. "Didn't hear you say you needed
a servant at home? Tve mind to go down and
offer for the place"
Anson laughed again enjoyingly.
"We need one badly enough, but my father
will not suffer one inside the house."
"Why, how do you live then2" Who cooks
for YOU now that your mother is ill2"
awe do our own cooking," Arson said with
return of the half-smiling half-embarassed
expression awe have to cook for ourselves, or
do without"
The very day succeeding the one which wit
messed this conversation, Anson was at nome
busying himself over some culinary operations
when the outside door, which stood ajar, was
noiselessly pushed wide, and a singular attired
form presented itself on the Threshold. 1t wore
red and green plaid dress, the checks very
large yellow shawl, and very frowzy and
tumbled white bonnet A red feather, nearly
as long as Anson's arm, streamed from one side,
and within the brim tapped the immense frill
of a cap, which clung close around the face of
of the stranger. The face-what could be seen
of twas very curious one to be inside of
such bonnet and cap. Just now, as she sur
veyed the kitchen and Anson--herself still un-
seen-the muscles about her mouth twitched
nervouslyt and her eyes twinkled with roguish
brightness.
Presently Anson looked that way.
Instantly the face took lugubrious lengtk
and coming into the room the girl said, insinu-
atingly, but without looking at him =
can would ye be after hirin' servant the
day 2 and stood fdgeting with the fringe of her
shawl. ri
~ hslieys not. said Anson colorinc with