The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-06

the roguish ana willful girl. She per-
sisted In being Biddy even to him,
and maintained distance between /
them very different from that between
him and Barbie, in her own proper
self. Annoyed, provoked, chagrined,
almost angry, the advent of his father !
forced him to retire from the kitchen,
for fear of betraying Barbie's secret, |
which he would not have done for a
good deal.
II 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 sit
ting room, both of which were in most
untidy state when they left, had un-
dergone such remarkable renovating
process that old Joel drew back at
first, thinking he had set foot in some
bodNelse's house instead of his own.
Supper was smoking on the table, such
a supper as old Joel had not seen for
months. To crown all, Mrs. Shellen-
barger was sitting, propped with pill
lows, in great easy chair, and look
ing wonderfully contented, and with
reason-the poor lady had not had a
woman's hand about her since her ILL
ness. They lived i'll such an isolated,
inhospitable manner, that very few of
their neighbors ever knew that Mrs.
Shellenbarger was not as well as usual.
Biddy, as she called herself, had tidied
the poor lady up in wonderful man
ner.
Joel Shellenbarger sat down to the
daintily spread table, and made most
hearty and keenly relished meal,
glancing askance at Biddy meanwhile.
Anson, strange to say, watched Biddy
askance too.
This was only the beginning of the
reforms this daring girl instituted
First, however, as much, perhaps, for
her own peace of mind as Anson's-
fast friends, and always of one mind
she told her secret to Mrs. Shellenbar-
ger, and fairly wheedled the good old
lady into approval. 1t is true that she
shook her head at first, and looked
wonderfully shocked. But it was so
charming to have those soft, little
hands futtering about her, and to see
such brightness, such comfort spring
up around, that she could not, for
her own sake, help countenancing, as
much as silence could, Biddy's mystic
rious presence.
I haven't time to give you all the
particulars but having made so good
beginning, with true Irish facility,
Biddy established herself, i'll a very
short time, completely i'll the grace ol
the old man. lie had lurking liking
forneatness and order, and Mrs. Shell
lenbarger-poor 1ady-wasn't Il very
tidy house keeper. Under the new
reign order grew out of chaos; the
house seemed in holy garb all the
time, and an atmosphere of social
cheerfulness pervaded everything.
One morning-Biddy had said some
thing about leaving the day before
the old man entered a grumbling COM
plant to Anson; with 81 never see
no good come from education yet. L
it hadn't been for that college busi.
ness, you might have taken a lilen to
a sensible girl, and she to you" Ht
glanced at Biddy as he spoke. ShC
turned scarlet and came near drop
ping the dish she was holding. 1t wa
not the first time Anson had hearc
such insinuatiens, and he rather en-
joyed them.
"See here, father" be said, roguish
ly, "just you pick me out wife, ant
see what will come of it,
"The only girl 1 know of, wortl
having, won't have you, I dare say
would you, Biddy?" Joel said, grum
blingly, but suddenly turning to tn,
girl.
Anson was smiling maliciously.-
Bridget O'Flynn had kept Barbie'
lover a most tantalizing distance al
this time. He was taking his reveng,
now. Making desperate effort, Bid
dy raised her confused senses to say
with considerable self-possession:
".Shure, sir, an it isn't meself t,Iat'l
be after havin' any man till I'm asked.
"Biddy, will you hove me?" saic
Anson, gravely, extending his hand
I" will that, now," said Biddy
promptly, putting her hand in his
while old Joel came near choking witt
amazement. 1t was too late to recede
however, whether he had really wish
ed such thing or not, as they sool
made him understand. He went on
of doors and pinched himself, to as
] certain whether he was in hiD sense
or not. Seeing the two standing b,
the window i'll close conversation sool
after, he crept with the same laudibl,
intention toward them, under the GOV
er of the bushes that grew near th'
house.
"Now, Barbie," Anson was saying
laughingly, "what is to be done next
l must say you've managed wonder
fully, so far; but what do you sup
pose he'll say when he knows you arr
not Biddy at all!''
Not Biddy at all" screamed Joe
Shellenbarger, struck with sudde1
suspicion of, he knew not what, as he
started out of his covert.
There stood Biddy, the white fril
of her close cap as immense as ever
She laughed though, when she saw
him, and deliberately taking off he
cap, she shook her bright curls all owe
her face, and reaching toward him hel
little hand, said archly:
"Shure, sir, an yc won't be afte
| hoIin' q noor cr:,l 1aooueo hon ,.o,,, n,