The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-06
visit to her after that event ended as we

obstlnacy or pride" as She called II.
preserved her, and so she fretted and
worried until Jane was almost driven
distracted by her irritabilitv and unrea-
sonableness. She was so cross. so hard
TO suit, and so lawfully savage.n ms
John would have said, that Jane became
at last entirely worn out, and one day.
When her duties had been more than
usually hard, she surprised her mistress
oy packing up her movable property
ana departing from the house. Then
MISS Barbara was wretched. For three
days she sat in solitary state, and then,
sending for her lawyer directed him 10
insert an advertisement in the leading
papers to the effect that she wanted a
young, neat, and lady-like person for n
companion
mo more old women for me-" she
said savagely, in response to the law
/ yer's look of surprise, "after the behay-
/ iOr Of Jane, who has been with me for
thirty years" and then authorizing him
to examine the applicant, she sent him
away, and waited.
Two days afterward the LAWYER re-
turned, accompanied by tall, slender
young woman, who had come to see if
she Miss Barbara) would engage her.
Miss Barbara's black eyes looked
keenly at her for some time, and after
inquiring sharply into her antecedents.
references and the like, Miss Barbara
pronounced herself satisfied, and Alice
WOrthingtOn las the lawyer called her
was duly installed i'm the Office Of s'com-
panion,h and most delightful cOmpan-
ion she proved to be.
Miss Barbara was at first disposed to
be bit critical and captious; but the
young girl was so anxious to please, so
sweet-tempered and amiable, so quiet
and self-forgetful, that Miss Barbara's Sc
verify melted away by degrees, and at
last she began to love her attendant
and try in various little ways to make
her cheerful and cOntented in her new
home.
"Aliee," said she one day, as the
young girl sat opposite her before the
fire, chow old are you?"
"NOt quite nineteen" was the shy
answer.
And Miss Barbara looked at her in
surprise. Not quite nineteen" and
yet so quiet and dignified and womanlv.
IL was almost incredible. Miss Barbara
looked at her again, and with new an
probation in her face, she saw how pure
and sweet the fair face looked, with the
sky brown eyes half hidden bv the
white lids; she saw how smoothly and
plainly the brown hair was fastened
back, how neat and trim was the dark
dress, how snowy were the cuffs and
the narrow collar, and her heart was
filled with wonder. A girl in the nine
teenth century without q ruf1ie, a puff
a crimp, an overskirt, q sash, or a sus-
Pleion of panier about herl Truly.
wonders would never cease; and as she
gaZed on this rdrd dUis, her heart was
hlied with pity for poor John, who had
thrown himself away.
shes just the wife for him. she
thought, IF he had only waited "A little, |
he would have liked her, / am sure.1 |
And then she dismissed the Thought |
with sigh, and turned TO Alice for con-
As the days went by, Miss Rarbara's /
leart began to yearn for her nephew.
She loved Alice dearly, but even she did 4
lot take the place Of the absent one. His
handsome face haunted her day and
light, and often as she heard n sudden
lOlse IN the hall, or at the door, she would
ook up peagerly, halfeXpecting tOsee him
Is she used 10 do. az am getting old -
he said sadly to herself. "Perhaps I
vas q little hard with him-my boy
lli ask Alice.n
And so one night she called Alice TO
ler and as she sat at her feet in the fire.
ighty as John had done so often, she
Old her all about it, and how she longed
o see him again.
Il am getting old, Alice" she said.
j may die soon and want to see my
BOY. Perhaps | was wrong about his
VIE. 1t would do me no harm TO see
hem just once, Alicen
nd 4 lina ancrua,.oI o,o,,f1,- 49,
laps it would be better for them ali TO
10 so; but she avoided her kind friends
'yes, and there was n scarlet flush on
ler face that was unusual.
Ihe next day, Alice, under Miss Bar
lara's directions, wrote n little note 10
lohn Barton.
Tell him to come soon," said she;
ma as Alice wrote this, Miss Barbara
at and thought intently for time. her
ace resting on her hands, "Tell him.
he said again, ''tell him he may bring his
wife if he likes-I can at least see her
o please him." And so the note was
written and the messenger dispatched.
After this decisive step was taken,
'liss Barbara was in flutter of nervous
less all the time. She donned her
lchest dress, her most costly cap, and
hen sat expectant, until She heard
ohn's step on the STAIR and John him
ell came IN rs of old. OF course, there
ias few minutes during which they
9th talked at once, and then, when
he first excitement was over, Miss Bar
ara suddenly grew grave.
Where's your wife ~ she said m her
ID grim way, and John rose aud rang
ne bell.
"She's down stairs. I told her 10 stav
ntil / sent for herr And then, As the ,
srvant made his appearance, s.Show
" wife up"
Miss Barbara waited quietly.
You will love her a little for my
Ike ?' pleaded John, as a light foot
ep was heard at the door, and then,
realty TO Miss Barbara's surprise, Al
e WorthingtOn came in.
My nephew, Mr.. Barton, Miss
'orthingtOn, she said, and then, turn
lg TO Alice, II am engaged now. and s
on may be excused" 5
To her surprise, John cOollv nut his :
I'm around the waist of his new ac-
laintance and led her across the room.
Alice WOrthington Barton, Aunt o
arby," he said; and then, with the old
ischief in his eyes, "Love her little o
T my sake, please" b
There are children's voices in the
eat house now, and Jane who was in \,
e plot, and is now back in her old 81
ace and Miss Barbara pet them 10 c,
ath, almost, while John, the rogue, .
ten teases his aunt laughingly, about
e "dOll-babyn to whom she considered ol
IN sacrificed. But if there is any one
rsOn whom Miss Barbara loves as
arly as cher boy" it is the sweet &C
,ed, gentle girl whom that boy mar
d. To her mind all feminine graees
4 virtues are possessed by sJOhn's IN