The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-10-21

.Shure, an I'll do more'n worm 10 yees,
she was saying with innocent emphasis
rs Anson entered.
She talked rapidly. pouring out such q
torrent OF words that the old man coult
not. BY any possibility, slip ono In among
them. and sat regarding her with an ex
preston Of the most ludicrous astonish
ment.
This remarkable volubility completely
baffied tho old mans slowness. He could
not sag word. II he wished to, and she
concluded with 4 can make fapjacks and
cornbrcad thatd bring the very eyes ou'
iy yer head and make ye swally yer tongue
with delightsomeness.' Gf he lad weak.
ness, IL was for attacks and cornb.ead.)
he could only twirl his thumbs In q sort oi
ridiculous awe, and asked her with sud
den smile how much she expected to got
for doing all those things
.Seventy-five cents n week. was the
prompt reply.
With still more cunning laugh. Joel
offered her haf the money. Greatly to
his amazement, she agreed mt once; and
he found himself, TO use his own expires
sion, in for it. To add to his chagrin.
Anson stood by, laughing with intense
enjoyment.
But the girl. without further ado, pro-
ceeted TO disencumber herself Of bonnet
and shawl. and vanish In the direction of
the kitchen before anything could be said.
As she shut the door she stole n glance
mt An.on that made him start and bite his
lips. and presently he stole kitchenward
also. She WAS at work handling n broom
like an adept, and grumbling In her rich
brogue Mt the dust that had accumulated
in the corners; for the extent Of Anson's
and his fathers sweepings had been to
brush tho centre of tho room somewhat
to the disadvantage Of the rest.
She did not look up rs Anson entered
but he sat down and delibcrated, and fur
tively 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 bravado
and archness too natural to be mistaken
We'll, Anson. what do you think"
The Young man laughed and looked
ANNOYED In the same breath.
Then it is you. BarbicP' he said; Il was
suspccting something Of the sort
Not till looked Mt you said the girl,
roguishly retreating rs he approached.
DO you think IL quite the thing, Bar
bie?'
.shure, an why ain't It the thing for a
poor girl to be getting her living dacent.
iy aud honestly7'
And that was all he could get out oi
her. Having acknowledged her identity
with Barbic for an instant, she was the
most unapproachable Biddic the next,
and would have nothing to say in that
character.
Does your father know of this, Bar.
bic? What would he say' persevered
Anson.
.Shure an it's not mo own fadder
would be interferin' wild me-, would hep
said Biddy.
In vain were all remonstrances with
the rocui,h and wilfnl girl. She persist
ed in being Biddy even to him, and main
tanned distance between them very dif-
ferept from that between him and Barbie
in her own proper self. Annoyed. pro-
yoked, chagrined. and almost angry, tho
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 good deal.
IL was some hours before he could return
to the house, his father having upon one
pretext or another detained him.
When at length they entered together
kitchen and sitting.roon, both Of which
had been i'm most untidy state wher
tbey left there, had undergone such rem
oyating process that old Joel drew bach
at first, thinking he had set foot In somo'
body else's house instead of his own.
Supper was smoking on the table; such
n .upper rs old Joel. at least, had not seer
in months. To crown all, Mrs. Shellenbar'
ger WAS sitting propped up with pillows
in n great easy chair, and looking won
deroisly contented, and with reason. the
poor lady had not had woman's hant
about her before, since her Illness. They
lived in such an isolated. inhospitablt
manner, that very few of their neighbour
even knew Mrs. Shellenbarger was not q,
well n, usual. Biddy, rs she called her
self. had tidied the poor lady up In a won
derful manner.
Joel Shellenbarger sat down to n dain
tily spread table. and made most hearty
and kecnly rclished meal. glancing as
kance ut Biddy meanwhile. Anson
strange to say, ate very little, and he
watched Biddy askance. too.
This was only the beginning OF TO
forms this darling girl instituted. First
however, rs much for her own peace o
mind rs Anson's-knowing that mother
- -. ...o-., c,.t E.;,nde aud a1wars M