The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-19


This remarkable velubility completely
batlled the old mans slowness He coul,
not say word if he wished to, and whel
she concluded at last with, 81 can maxi
tlapjacks and corn that'd bring the yer.
/ eyes out iv yer head and make we swall,
! yer tongue with delightsomeness, If he
had weakness it was for fapiacks anc
corn bread, he could only twirl his thumbs
her with sudden smile how much she ex,
pected ''to get for all those things
"Seventytive cents week" was the re
ply.
With still more cunning laugh, Joel
offered her half the money. Greatly to hi:
amazement, she agreed at once; and he
found himself. to use his own expression
sin for it, To add to his chargrin, An
son stood by laughing with intense enjoy
ment.
But the girl, without further ado, pro
ceeded te disencumber herself of a bonnet
and shawl and vanish in the direction of
the kitchen before anything could be said.
AS she shut the door she stole a glance at
Ansen that made him start and bite his
lips, and presently he stole kitchenward
also. She was already at work, handling
the broom like an adept, and grumbling in
her rich brogue at the dust that had accu-
mulated in the corners; for the extent OF
Anson's and his fathers sweepings had
been to brush the center of the room, some
what to the disadvantage of the rest.
She did not look up as Arson entered;
but he sat down and deliberated and fur
lively watched her. For some time she
seemed unconscious of his scrutiny; but
presently she turned, and clasping both her
little hands upon the top of the broom
handle, said, with mixture Of bravade
and archness too natural to be mistaken
"Well, Arson, what do you think -
The young man laughed and looked an
noyed in the same breath.
"Then it is you, Barbie? - he said: q
was suspeeting something of the sort
Not till looked at you,' said the girl,
roguishly, retreatins as he approached.
s:Do you think it is quite the thing,
Barbe?''
"Shure, an WY amt it the thing for a
poor girl to be gettin' her living dacently
and honestly?'
And that was all he could get out of her.
Having acknowledged her identity with
r, rho for n instant clio was tho most I'm =
approachable Biddy the next, and would
have nothing to say save in that character.
docs your father know of this, Barbie {?
What would he say?' persevered Arson.
"Shure, an it's not me own fadder
would be interferin' wild me, would he ."
said Biddy.
In vain were all remonstrances with the
reguish and wilful girl. She persisted in
being Biddy, even to him, and maintained
a distance between them very different
from that between him and Barbie in her
own proper self. Annoyed, provoked,
chagrned, almost angry, the advent of his
father forced him to retire from the kitch-
ell, for fear of betraying Barbie's secret
which he would not have done for great
deal.
1t was several hours before he could re-
turn to the house, his father having, upon
one pretext or another, detained him.
When at last they entered together,
kitchen and sitting room, both Of which
had been in a most untidy state when they
left there, had undergone such a rcmarka-
bic rcnovating process that old Joel drew
back at first, thinking he had set foot in
somebody else's house instead Of his own.
Supper was smoking on the table: such a
supper as old Joel, at least, had not seen
in months. To crown all, Mrs. Shellenbar-
ger was sitting, propped up with pillows,
in great easy chair, and looking Won
dreusly contcnted, and with reason-the
poor lady had not had a woman's hand
about her before, since her illness. They
lived in such an isolated, inhospitablc man
ner, that very few of their neghbors even
that knew Mrs. Shellenbarger was not as
usual Biddy, as she called herself, had
tidied the poor lady up in wonderful man
her.
Joel Shellenbarger sat down to the daint-
ly spread table, and made most hearty
and kecnly relished meal, glancing askance
at Biddy meanwhile. Ansen, strange to
say, ate very little, and he watched Biddy
askance too.
This was only the beginning of reforms
this daring girl instituted. First, however,
as much for her own peace of mind as An
son s-knewing that mother and son were
fast friends and always of one opinion
she told her secret to Mrs. Shellenbarger,
and fairly wheedled the good lady into ap-
proval. 1t is true that she shook her head
at first, and looked wondrously shocked
1t was charming to have those little soft
hands kuttering about her, and to see such
brightness and comfort spring up around,
that she could not, for her own sake, help
countenancing, as much as silence could,
Biddy's mysterious presence.
l haven't time to give particulars, but
having made good beginning, with true
Irish facility, Biddy established herself in
a very short time, completely in the good
graces Of the old man. He had lurking
likeness fer neatness and good order and
Mrs. Shellenbarger, poor woman, wasn't a
very tidy housekeeper. Under the new
reign, order grew out of chaos the house
seemed in holiday garb all the time. and
an atmosphere Of social cheerfulness per
vaded everywhere. One morning, Biddy
had said something about leaving, the day
before, the old man ended grumbling
complaint of Arson with Il never see no
good come Of eddication 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 Biddy as he spoke. She
turned scarlet and came near dropping the
dish she was holding. 1t was not the first
time Arson had heard such insinuations,
and he rather enjoyed Bddy's trepidatisn.
"See here, father" he said, reguishly,
"just pick me out wife, and see what will