The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-19
Professor Halstead's Girl.

Of him, though you mightn't have consid
cred the little pet-bellied, thick-skulled ole
man as much of make after all.
Joel had enc son-a handsome, clear
headed young man-straight as a young
larch tall, and as set in his way, when HI
chose to have one, as old Joel himself
This son, as he grew up, had proved {;
great assistance to his father in working
the farm, and his services had been made
the most Of. The old man managed tt
keep him at home with him sometime aftel
he ought to have been doing for himself
Not an acre of his fathers possessions was
ever called his sons; he owned nothing ir
the world save a horse, which some neigh
Dor had given him, when it was sickly
colt, and some sheep, obtained in much
the same manner; and the old man srudged
him in the keeping of these.
Joel Shellenbarser and his son differed
often, but there were two points in which
the difference amounted to something seri-
Gus. The first point concerned education,
for which the old man had the most pro-
| found contempt, and the son bad not. There
was college some dozen miles from the
| Shellenbarger farm, and thither-having
fatherly thwarting and opposition-Anson
betook himself, in spite Of the same contin-
ued opposition, and by one continuance and
another, and helped by his mothers small
| IL OH coll 1,o 4
uated Joel Shellenbarger contested the
ground inch by inch but was afraid in his
seltishness to do anything more than
be obstinate, lest his son should leave him.
That was the first point of difference, and
that was how Arson settled it. The sec
ond was not likely to be of so easy an ar
rangement. At college Arson had found
something's beside graduating honors. lie
had CHANGED upon very charming combi-
nation of curls and azure eyes-a red-lip-
ped, dimple- checked fairy, daughter of one
of the professors, who, instead of curving
her dainty lip at the homespun suit which
his poverty and his fathers niggardness
compelled him to wear, never seemed to be
conscious of anything or anybody else
when he was by.
In short, Arson had found some one to
love, some one that he wanted to marry, as
he gravely informed his father. You should
have seen the old mans eyes; it was mer
cy they were fast in their sockets. Here
was gratitude. This Arson having de-
frauded his old father of so much time
was going now to set the seal upon his alb
surdity and disobedienee by marrying 4
town girl. Bad enough to marry any one,
seeing his father wasn't through with him
yet-but town girl. He should never
consent, and every Shellenbarger acre
should go to strangers before Arson should
have one, if he persisted in an idea so ri
dculous.
"And pray what harm is there in being
town girl - questioned Barbie Halstead
when Ansen told her, half laughing, half
veXed, and altogether rueful; for, without
assistance from his father, he could not
marry Barbie for long time yet.
Arson laughed again, but with some en-
barrassment, saying, "My father is afraid
that daughter of Professor Halstead
would not make very good farmer
wife
"Does he think-o" Barbie hesitaied,
looking with smiling perplexity at her little
white hands.
"That these pretty hands don't know
much about brewing, baking etc. Eek
actly, Ibelievs he thinks just that
"Then he thinks wrong" said Barbie,
reddenisg and looking up at her lover with
a cemical little pout. "Didnt hear you
say you needed a servant at home? I've a
mind to go down and offer for the place"
Arson laughed enjoyngly.
eve need one bad enough, but my ia
Their will not suffer one inside the house.
"Why, how do you live then? Who
cooks for you, now that your mother Is i'll -
I'VE do our own cooking Arson said,
with return of the half-smiling, half-em-
barrassed expression. "We cook for our
selves or do without
The very day succeeding the one which
witnessed this conversation, Arson was at
home, busying himself over some culinary
operations, when the outside door, which
stood ajar, was noiselessly pushed wide
open and a singularly attired form presented
itself on the threshold. 1t wore red and
green plaid dress, the cheeks very large, a
yellow shawl, and very frowzy and tum-
bled white bonnet. 4 red feather, nearly
as long as Anson's arm, streamed from one
mense frill of cap which chung close
around the face of the stranger. The face,
what could be seen of it, was very curious
one to be inside of such bonnet and cap
Just now, as she surveyed the kitchen and
Arson, herself unseen, the muscles about
her mouth twitchcd nervously, and her eyes
twinkled with roguish brightness.
Presently Arson looked that way. In
stantly the face took lusubrieus length,
and coming into the room, the girl said
hesitatingly, but without looking at him
| can would We be afther hirin' a servant
the day?' and stood fdsetins with the
fringe of her shawl.
81 believe not said Arson, coloring
with some annoyance, perhaps, at the ma
| ture of his employment.
"Shure, sir, an the lady that stint me,
God bless her swate eyes. said you'd be
shure to take me on her recommendation,
which I has in my pocket, and. here tits
now
She gave him note which proved to be
| from Barbie Halstead. Arson read it with
very lever-like carcfulncss, but shook his
| head.
81 am very sorry, my good girl, but we
do not wish to hire servant.'
"Belike your father mayn't object when
he sees me, the girl persisted.
Arson looked at the spoiled white bonnet
and the red feather, and repressed a smile,
wondering what his father would say
But he was too kindly a nature to be will
ling to expose even this servant to his
fathers rough manner He repeated what