The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-11-29

face to face with Barbara Wylie, the
girl he had quarrelled with years and
yeals agd, and whose bue eyes had kept
him an old bachelor all his life long.
"This house is to let, believe?"
she asked, timidly, with little quiyer
in her mouth.
"Ibelieye it is, Barbara Wylie'"
She looked up, starting with 4 sudden
| fash Of recognition.
And then Barbara turned very pale
and began to cry, with the little golden
harcd girls clinging to her skirts and
wailing.
Mamma, mamma-what's the mat
ter, nam ma"
Nothing pov," said Barbara, reso.
lutoly brushing away the tears, IF you
please, Mr.. Briggs, will look at the
the house I am a widow, now, and
very poor, and--I think of keeping a
boarding-house to earn my daily bread
I hope the rent is not very high ??
Wen talk about the rent afterwards
said Nahum fercely swallowing down
a big lump in his throat that threatened
to choke him. Come hear, little girls,
and kiss ne; I used to know your man.
M when she wasn't much bigger than
you are"
Barbara, with her blue eyes still
droopinr, went all over the house with
out finding n word of fault, and Naham
Briggs walked at her side wandering if
it was really fifteen years since the June
sunshine lay so brightly on the clover
field.
81 think the house is beautiful" p"
said ,mcek Barbara. VIII you rent i;
to me, Nuhum?'
"Well, yes" said Nahum, thought,
fully, 'I'N let you have my house, if
you want it, Barbara"
T. with privilege Of keeping few
boarders 2"
" 10, ma'am."
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully
st him.
But I don't think you understand
how very poor I am, Mr., Briggs"
' Yes, do"
And that I conuot afford to take
the house without the privilege of Dor
l ders."
G "TlI tell you what, Barbara" said
l Mr. Briggs, diotatorily. I'll give you
! the privilege Of keeping just one border
and him you've got to keep all your life
c long, if you once take him"
, Il dou't thluk quite understand
you, Mr., Briggs" said Barbara, but shc
e blushed very becomiugly, and we arr
S rather inclined to think that she told ;
S LLauSh'y LI1Ic Ao'
:. "What do you say to mefor boardcr
Barbara ?" said the old bachelor, taking
both the widows hands in his. " Bar
bara, We were young fools once, bu
" that is no reason we should be old fool
r now. I like you as well as ever | did
2 aid I'll do my best to be good hus
Is band to you ond good father to you
little girls, if you'll be my wife"
is Barbara blushed again, and hesitsted
D. but Nahum was not to be eluded thus.
"Shnll I take down the TO Let
d Barbara"
d yes" she murmured, almost undo
D. her breath.
y So Nahum went deliberately out au
g coolly tore down the bill, to the grea
n astouishment and disappointment Of
." party of rabid house hunters who wer
1t Just ascending the steps.
It. And when vii we be married, Bal
d bara ?" he next demanded
OF In the summer, perhaps" said Mr.
ID Barbara, shyly.
n Tomorrow" said Nahum, decisive
e. ly, and tomorrow " it was.
Fy Upon my word, Barbara" said Na
y mum, on the first day Of May, as h
'n watched his wife's blooming face benin
IT. the coffee uln, "you can't think ho
OF much jollier it is with you for house
~ keeper, than that hag, Mrs. Farley"
Is Barbara only laughed, and said he wa
ke " dear, good old stupid"
ed So the probabilities are, that Mr., NJ
hum Briggs nor his brown.stone houi
az mill ba In rnarket ooain az % To Tet