The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-11-26


1t was several hours before he coul
return to the house, his father hav
ing, upon one pretext CT another. dc
tanned him. -. ,... ..r e.
! When at last they entered togeth
err, kitchen and sitting-room, both 0
which had been in most untidy
state when they left there, had un
dergonc such rcmarkab bic renovatip.
process that old Joel drew back al
first, thinking be had. set foot il
somebody elsc's house instead of his
own. Supper was smoking on the
table; such a. supper as old Joel, a.
least, had not seen in months. To
crown all, Mrs. Shellenbargcr was
sitting, proppcd up with pillows, in
great easy chair. and looking won
dcrously contented, and with rea son
the poor lady had not had a w"-
mans hand about her before, since
her illness. They lived in such an
isolated, inhospitsble manner. that
very few of their neighbors even tha t
knew Mrs. Shellenbar:cr was not as
well as usual. Biddy, as shc called
herself, had tidiod the poor lady up
in wonderful manner. : .. @&&2@ -
Joel Shcllenharger sat down to
the daintily spread table, and made
a most hearty and kccnly relishcd
meal. glarcicg askance at Biddy
meanwhile. Anscn, strange to say,
ate very little, and he watched Bid
dy askance too. j.. rA. .. -. g,..
, This was only the beginning Of re y
forms this daring girl instituted
First, however, as much for her own
peace Of mind as Anson's knowing
that mother and son were fast friends
and always of one opinion--she told
her secret to Mrs. Shellenbarger, and
fairly wheedlcd the good lady into
approval. 1t is true that she shook
her head at first, and looked won
drously shocked. 1t was so charming
to have those little soft hands fut-
tering about her, and to see such
brightness and comfort spring UP
around, that she could not, for her
own sake, help countenanceing, as
much as silence could, Biddy's mys-
terious presence. s.-, ..a.
Ihayn't time to give particulars,
but having made good beginning,
with true Irish facility, Biddy es-
iablished herself in very short time,
completely in the good graces of the
old man. He had lurking likeness
for neatness and good order, and Mrs.
Shellenbarger, poor woman, wasn't a
very tidy housskeeper. Under the
new reign, order grew out of chaos;
the house seemed in holiday garb all
the time, and an atmosphere. Of so
cial chcerfulness prevadcd every
where. .....7 .....-.'
One morning, Biddy had said some
thing about leaving, the day before,
the old man ended grumbling COM
plant Of Anson with Il never sec no
good come of cddication yet. IF it
hadn't been for that college business,
you might have taken a likin' to a
sensible girl, and she to you.''
He glanced at Riddy as he spoke.
She turned scarlet and came near
dropping the dish she was holding
1t was not the first time Anson ha d
heard such Institutions, and he rath-
er enjoyed Biddy's trepidation. r41, SO
''See here father" he said. roguish-
ly, 'just pick me GU. a wife, and see
what will come of it, .
+ "The only girl l know of, worth
having, wouldn't have you, I dare
ssy-would you, Biddy?" Joel said,
grumblingly, but suddenly turning to
the girl. - a. .ras ~
Arson wos smiling maliciously.
Bridget O'Flynn had kept Barbie' 8
lover at tantalizing and unrelenting
distance all this time. He was tax.
ing his revenge now. Making a des-
perate effort, Biddy rallied her con-
fused senses TO say, with considera-
bic self possession as-r...
'.Shure, sir, an it isn't meself
that'lI be afther having any man till
I'm asked.'' -- .s4 d. ,s
"Biddy, will you marry mc?" said
Anson, gravely extending his hand. p.
II will that now,'' said Biddy,
promptly putting her hand in his,
while old Joel came near. choking
himself with amazement. It was too
late to recede. however. whether he
had really wished such thing of not,
as they soon made him understand.
He went out of doors presently, pri-
vately pinching himself to ascertain
if he were in his senses or not. See.
ins the two standing by the window
in close conversation soon after, he
crcpt with the same laudablc inten-
tion toward them, under the cover of
the bushes that grew by the house.
"Now. Barbie,'' Anson was say.
ing, laughingly, "what is to be done
next? | must say you've managed
wonderfully SO far; but what do you
suppose he'll say when be knows
you're not Biddy at all?"
"Not B.ddy at air. screamed Joel
struck with q sudden suspicion Of he
knew not what, as he started out Of
his covert. lss5 ~
There stood Bildy. the white frill
Of her close cap as immense as, ever;
SIZE laughed though, when she saw
him, an! deliberately taking off hel
cap, shook, her bright curls all about
her face, and reaching toward him
her little hand, said
"Shurc sir, an ye won't be afther
hating a poor girl because her name 4