The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-11-04
TO LEr--INauIRE WITHIN.
rhe lady flouneed out in a rage.

Two young damsels and spinster
aunt followed, and after lengthy in
spection of hepremises, came to Estate
council in the parlor.
II like the house very much," said
spinster aunt solemn y, 'sand with few
alterations, will engage it for my
brothers. family.
Every well, ma'am," said Nahum,
rubbing his hands, and scenting a
speedy termination to his trials
"Name 'em."
"The door handles must all be gil |
ded, and | should like the house new
ly papered in velvet and gold, and re-
painted, and partition between the |
parlors taken down and replaced by an
arch and an extension dining-room |
built on behind, and a new style Of |
range in the Kitchen, and a dumb |
waiter put in, and new bronze chande-
ilers throughout, and"
"Hold on, ma 'am-just hold on one
minute, said Nahum, feebiy grasping
for breath. "Wouldn't you like the
old house carried away and new one
put up in its place? think it would
be rather less trouble than to make
the trifiing changes you suggest"
''Sir!' said the spinster loftily.
81 don't think we can agree
ma'am."
Every well-very well. Come,
girls"
With prime dignity the lady mar
shalled her two charges out, muttering
something about the extraordinary
ideas of landlords nowadays"
While Nahum, wildly rumpling his
iron-gray hair with his hands, solilo-
quized:
"Well, if Job had been alive, and had
a house to let, there never would have
been any book of Job written. There
goes that everlasting bell again! I'll
haul it out by the roots if this thing
goes on much longer. I'll tear down
the bill and put the place up at auc-
tion."
Another lady-but quite different
from the other-a slender little cast
down lady, with head that dropped
| like lilly of the valley, and a dress
I If brown silk, that had been mended
aad turned and re- trimmed, and even
Nahum Briggs, man and bachelor
though he was, could see how shabby
1t was. Yet she WAS pretty, with big
| blue eyes and shining brown hair, and
checks tinged with fair feetiDg col
or. where the velvet roses of youth had
once bIoomed in vived carmine. And
a golden haired little lassie clung to
her dress, as the tiny lilly buds to a
| blooming chime of flower bells.
AS Nahum Briggs stood looking at
her, there came back to bin the sunny
DAYS of youth, field of blooming clo-
yer crimsoned the June light like
waves of blood, and a b!ue-eyed girl
irt,lIilIs u tlIe IenUe witl, hnr bright
hair barred with level sunset gold, and
he knew that he was standing face to
face with Barbara Wylie, the girl that
he had quarreled with years and years
| AGO, and whose blue eyes had kept
him an old bachelor all his life long.
"This house is to let believe ?" she
asked, timidly, with little culver in
her mouth.
''I believe it is, Barbara Wylie."
She looked up, starting with a sud
den flush of recognition. And then
Barbara turned very pale and began
to weep, with the little golden-haired
| girl clinging to hey skirts, and wall
ing:
"Mamma. mamma-8hat's the mat
ter. mamma ,"
"Nothing now," said Bares1'es res
olutely brushing away the tears.
| "If you please, Mr.. Briggs, l viii
look at the house; l am widow now
and very poor, and am thinking o.
keeping clearinghouse to earn my
daily bread. / hope the rent is not We
ry high"
"We'lI talk about the rent after
ward,'' said Nahum, fiercely swallow
ing down a big lump in his throat tia
threatened to choke him.
"Come here, little girl, and kiss me
/ used to know your mother when sh'
wasn't bigger than you are"
Barbara. with her blue eyes still
dropping, went all over the h2us
without finding a word of fault, af1
Nahum Briggs walked at her side
wondering if it was really fifteen year
since the June sunshine lay so bright
ly on the clover field.
81 think the honse is beautiful" sai'
meek Barbara. "WiH you rent it tt
me, Nahum ?"
Well yes" said Nahum, thoughtful
", "I'll let you have my house If yo1
want it, Barbara
"With the privilege of keeping des
boarders ?"
"No, ma'am ~
Barbara stopped and looked wistfe1
Iy at him.
"But, don't think you understan
how poor ] am Mr.. Briggs
"Yes, l do"
land that ] cannot afford to tax
the house without the privilege c
boarders ?''
81 tell you what Barbara. " said Nh
Briggs, dictatorially. "I'n give 70
the privilege of keeping just one boar
der, and him, you have got keep a
your life long, if you once take him.
"I don't think / quite understan
you, Nahum Briggs" said Barbaf.