, 1864-12-16


s'Shure, sir an the lady that snt me-God
bless her swate eyes l-said you'd be shure
to take me on her recommendation, which has
in me pocket-and here tbs now.
She gave him little note which proved to be
from Barbe Halstead. Anson read it with very
lover-like carefulness, but shook his head.
81 am very sorry, my good girl, but we do
not wish to hire servant"
"Belke your father mayn't object whin he
sees me-" the girl persisted.
Anson looked at the soiled white bonnet and /
the red feather, and repressed smile, wonder
ing what his father would say. But he was of I
too kindly nature to be willing to expose even
this servant to his fathers rough manner He |
repeated what he had said BEFORE assuring her
that it would be of no use to see his father
The girl stood moment-"If ye plaze, sur
III lust see him momint. Belize he may take
a likin' to the look ONE.
And before he eouldqcply she had crossed the
room, and stood upon the threshheld of the next.
Arson followed presently, curious to see what
sort of reception she would gey
"Shure an I'll earn plenty nqereh I'm worth to
yeer, she was saying with itnoGf fit emphasis
as Anson entered. She talked raIAdly, pouring
out such a 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 astonishment.
This remarkable volubility completely bahled
word if he wished to, and when she concluded
at last with 81 kin make Aap,jacks and corn
bread that'd bring the very eyes out ivyer head,
and make We swally yer tongue with delight
someness" (if he had weakness it was for flap
Jacks and corn-bread), he could only twirl his
thumbs in a sort of delicious awe, and asked
her, with a cunning SMILE how much she ex-
pected to "gt for doin' all them things.
"Seyenty-ive cents week, u was the prompt
reply.
With 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 expression, "in for it. To add to his
chagrin, Arson stood by, laughing with intense
enjoyment
But the girl, without further ado, proceeded
to disencumber herself of bonnet and shawl,
and vanished 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 already at
work, handling the broom like adept and
grumbng 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 Of the rest.
She did not look up as Anson entered but
he sat down and deliberately but furtivelv
watched her. For some time she seemed un-
conscious of his scrutiny but presently she
turned and clasped both little hands upon the
top of the broom handle, said with a mixture of
brayado and archness too natural to be mistaken
''Well, Arson, what do you think?
The young man laughed and looked annoyed
in the same breath.
''Then it is you, Barbie ?" he said "I was
suspecting something Of the sort. "
'NOt till looked at you, said the girl, rogush-
ly, retreating as he approached
tDO Won think this is 0uite the thinp Barbie9N
"Shure an why amt it the thing for poor
girl to be gettin' her liyin' dacently and hon
estly?"
And that was all he could get ont of her
Having acknowledged her identity with Barbie
for an instant, she was the most uuapproacha-
BILE 'Biddy' the next, and would have nothing
to say to him save in that character.
g Does your father know of this, Barbie
what would he seyY persevered Arson anx-
iously.
"Shure an its me own fader would be inter
fern wild me, would he said Biddy.
In vain were all remonstrances with the
rogush and wiIlful girl Shepersisted in being
Biddy even to him, and maintained distance
between them very different from that between
him and Barbie in her own proper self An
| nOyed, provoked chagrined almost angry the
advent of his father forced him to retire from
the kitchen, for fear of betraying Barbie's Sc
cret, which he would not have done for great
deal.
1t was several hours before he could return to
the house, his father having Joined him, and
upon one pretext and another detained him
| When at last they entered together, kitchen and
! sittng-rOom, both of which had been in most
untidy state when they left them had undergone
such remarkable renovating process that old
! Joel drew back at first, thinking he had set his
/ foot in somebody elses house instead of his
own. Supper smoking on the table-such
a supper as old Joel had not seen in months.
| To crown all Mrs. Shellenbarger was sitting,
| propped with pillows, in great easy chair and
! looking wondrously contented and with reason
! the poor lady had not a woman's hand about
her before since her illness. They lived in such
an isolated, inhospitable manner that very few
of their neighbors even knew that Mrs. Shellen-
! barger was not as well as usual. Biddy, as she
called herself had tidied the poor lady up in
wonderful manner.
Joel Shellenbarger sat down to the daintily-
spread table, and made most hearty and keenly
relished meal, glancing askance at Biddy mean
while Anson, strange to say, ate very little,
and he watched Biddy askance too
This was only the beginning of reforms this
daring girl instituted. First however, as much
| perhaps, for her own peace of mind Ansons
knowing that mother and son we're fast friends
and always of one Opinion-she told her secret
to Mrs. Shellenbarger, and fairly wheedled the
| good lady into approval. Il is true she shook
herheadat first, and dlooked wondrously shocked.
But it was so charming to have those little
soft hands hutterng about her, and to see such
! brightness and comfort spring UP around, that
she could not, for her own sake, help counter
acing, as much as silence could, Biddy myster-
ious presence.
haven't time to give you all the particulars,
but having made so good beginning with a
true Irish facility, Biddy established herselfin a
very short time completely in the good graces
of the old man. He had lurking likeness for
neatness and order, and Mrs. Shelleubarger-
poor lady wasn't Uery tidy housekeeper.
Under the new reign order grew out of chaos
the house seemed in holiday garb all the time,
and an atmosphere of social cheerfulness per-
vaded everything.
One morning -Biddy had said something
about leaving the day before-the old man ended
a grumbling complaint of Arson with, II never
see no good come Of eddication yet If it hadn't
been for that college business you might have
taken liking toa sensible girl, and she to you"
He glanced at Biddy as he spoke She turned
scarlet, and came near dropping the dish she
was holding. 1t was not the first time Arson
had heard such insinuations, and he rather en-
| joyed Biddy's trepidation.
"see here, father" he said, roguishly Gust