The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-05-04
BARBARA'S DIFFICULTY.

That Barbara Hawkins owed a good
deal to her step-mother was fact that
she could not have concealed from her.
self If she had tried.
Her fathers house had been very
home of discomfort during the dull in
term between her own mothers death
and the arrival of the youthful stranger
who had been somehow persuaded 10y
Squire Hawkins to "come and take keer
of his little darter."
The history of the next five years, in
which she herself had grown from girl
hood to womanhood, included all the
genuine sunshine of Barbara's life, and
she knew to whom that change, and q
good many other excellent things, were
due.
Then, since the squire had been gath
cred to his fathers, what notable man
ager had Widow Hawkins proved herself
for the very moderate property he had
left behind him
1t was just there that the difficulty was
now coming in, for that which, with such
good management, had kept the two
women very nicely so long as they lived
together, could continue to do so only
under Just that state of affairs. The
widows share, if set apart by itself,
would be only another name for poverty.
True, and yet what sutton, or at least
which one of the two now nearest to q
proper condition for consideration, would
care to "marry mother-in- law" and q
step-mother at that, as well as a wife?
"And she understands it, said Bar
bara to herself that September afternoon,
"as well as / do. She's as polite to
both of them as if they were counting her
instead of me. l must say it's been very
convenient once or twice, for they both
like her. In fact, everybody likes her,
and that's what makes my position so
very peculiar.
A very pretty girl was Barbara Haw-
kins; even prettier than her step-mother,
and that was saying something, il spite
of the widows thirty years.
A bit of a belle, too, was the squire's
"heiress in that unambitious rural
community, and by no means without
some characteristics which put the vii
lage gossips at times in mind of esquire
Hawkins's fust wife,"
At the present juncture, however, the
public opinion of the Dorcas Society was
more than usually perplexed. The
best judges of such matters were in
clined to "guess Bill Emmons is leetle
ahead" although this was sure to be fol-
lowed by the remark, "But then, you
know, Dan Growers got ten dollars to
Bills one, and he's O mighty sight Std
der.
AnJ po,loco ,,,os -, n ,,,orao ,,,,o,,.1 NV,
about it than the Dorcas Society knew
how to be, for at times she almost sus-
pected her heart of threatening an i'm
pertinent interference before her head
could have a fair chance.
"She'd be entitled to a third, l sup
pose" soliloquized the fair maiden,
land she's wonderful hand with her
needle. There's no danger of her starv-
ing. There's lots of folks d be glad
enough to have her come and live with
them"
And Barbara did not know it, but n
train of thought very nearly related to
her own was at that moment passing
through the mind OF the widow, as she
stepped lightly to and fro among the
household duties. of which she so kindly
relieved her step-daughter.
81 don't hear the piano." murmured
the soft, low voice of the widow, "and
yet / know she wanted to practice that
new piece. Young Emmons II be here
this evening. ought not to say word
III such matter. She's old enough to
decide for herself, but why can't she see
that Dan Growers worth five hundred OF
hlm mot to mention his big farm, and
that's something nowadays. 1 wouldn't
put that in her head, however-not for
the world. I've paid dearly enough for
making just that sort OF a mistake.
Better have gone out to service or taken
IN sewing. That's what / may have to
do when BarDaras married."
The neat, tidy figure paused in the
kitchen doorway as she said that. and
shade OF sadness swept across her face.
Live in the house, with Bill En-.
mons for the master of it?" she ex-
claimed, after a pause. "Not /. indeed
She won't have sense enough to settle on
Dan Grover, I'm afraid. Would 7 STOW
then, if she did? Not so long as / conId
earn OF beg any other shelterp
The last exclamation came ont Will,
unnecessary energy, and the widow
caught up broom and made an immed;.
ate assault on the kitchen floor.
The sweeping was very unnecessary
indeed.
Barbara had clearly misunderstood
her step-mother, and the widow had
also failed TO penetrate the mind OF the