Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-03-10
Sfleft Sttru.
To Let-Enquire Within.

The lady bounced out IN rage. Two
young damsels and slinster aunt fo!-
lowed, and after Lengthy inspection Of
the premises, came to Aate cexncil IN
the parlor.
Il like the house very much said the
spinster aunt solemnly. and with a few
alterations. will engage tlor my broth
er's family
Very good, ma'am,' said Nahum,
rubbing his hands, and seeming spec
DIV termination to his trials. Name 'em.
The door handles must all be gilded
and I should like the house newly pa
pered in velvet and re-painted, and tho
partition between the parlors taken down
and replaced by an arch, and an ex-
tension dining room built on behind, and
new style of range in the kitchen, and
dumb waiter put in, and new bronze
chandeliers throughout. and another
furnace in the ub-cellar, and
Hold on, ma'am-just hold on one
minute said Nahum, feebly gasping for
breath. Wouldn't you like the old
house carted away, and new one put
in its place? think it would be rather
less trouble than to make the triiing
alterations you suggest?
SIR said the spinster: loftily.
1 don't think We can agree, ma'am.
Very well-very Welcome, girls.
With prim dignity the lady marshalled
her two charges out. muttering something
about the 'extortionate ideas of landlords
a-days.'
While Nahum, wildly rumpling his
iron-grey hair with both hands, solilo.
quized:
We'll, if Job had been alive, and had
| o house to let, there never would have
been any book o: Job written. There
goes that everlasting bell again I'll hau
| it out by tbs roots, if this thing goes or
much longer. I'll tear down tho bill, and
put up the place at auction
Another lady, but quite different from
the other-a slender little cast-down lady
with head that dropped like lily Of the
valley, and a dress Of brown silk, tha
had been mended, and turned, and re-
trimmed, and even Nahum Briggs, mar
and bachelor though he was, could
see how shabby it was. Yet she wa.
pretty, with big blue eyes. and shining
brown hair, and cheeks tinged with fair
fleeting color, where the selyety roses o
youth had once bloomed in vivid earmine.
Aud a golden. haired little lassie chung t.
her dress, like the tiny lily buds to I
blooming chime Of flower bells.
| As Nahum Briggs stood looking at her
there came back to him the sunshiny days
of youth field of blooming clover
crimsoned the June light like waves o.
blood, and blue-eyed girl leaning ovel
the fence with her bright hair barred
with level sunset gold, and be knew that
he was standing face to face with Barbars
Wylie, the girl 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 be let, l believe! sht
asked timidly, with, . little culver in hcl
mouth.
L believe it is, Barbara Wylie.'
She looked up, starting with sudden
flush Of recognition.
And then Barbara turned very pale
and began to weep, with the little gold,
en-haired girl clinging to her skirts. and
wailing-
Mamma. mamma-whats tho matter
MammaT
Nothing now,' said Barbara, reso-
lutely brushing away the tears.
If you please. Mr.. Briggs, | will look
at the house am a widow now. and
very poor. and l think Of keeping .
boarding. house to earn my daily bread.
hope the rent is not very high!'
We'll talk about the rent afterwards.
said Naham, fercsy swallowing down .
big lsaap in his throat that threatened to
chake him. :.
Come here. little girl. aud kiss me
l used to know your mamma when she
wasn't much bigger than you are
Barbara with her blue eyes still droop-
| inc, went al! over the hoqse. without