The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-04-26
BkRBARA'S DIFFICULTY.


That Barbara Hawkins owed good deal
to her step-mother was fact that she could
not have concealed from herself if she had
tried.
Her fathers house had been very home
of discomfort during the dull interim be-
tween her own mothers death and the arri-
val of .he youthful and winning stranger
who had been somehow persuaded by Squire
Hawkins to "come and take keer of his lit
tie darter."
The history of the next five years, in
which she herself had grown from girlhood
to womanhood, included all the genuine
sunshine OF Barbara's life, and she knew to
whom that change, and a good many other
excellent things, were due.
Then, since the squire had been gathered
TO his fathers, what notable manager 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 tn at
state of affairs. The widows share, if set
apart by itself, would be only another name
pONcllN. llue, anu ySl Wudt OI
at least which one of the two now nearest
would care to "marry mother-in-l law"
and step-mother at that, as well as wife ?
"And She understands it," said Barbara
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.
| must say it's been very convenient once or
twice, for they both like her. In fact,
every body likes her, and that's what makes
my position so very peculiar" &.
A very pretty girl was Barbara Hawkins
even prettier than her step-mother, and that
was saying something, in spite of the
widows thirty years.
A bit of a belle, too was the squire's
"heiress" in that unambitious rural COM
munity, and by no means without some
characteristics which put the village gos-
sips at times in mind OF Squire Hawkins
fust wife"
AT the present juncture, however, the
pahlic opinion of the Dorcas Society was
more than usually perplexed. The best
Judges oi such matters were inclined to
"gueSs Bill Emmons is a leetle ahead"
although thus was sureto be followed by the
remark " But then, you know, Dan Gro
vers got ten dollars to Bills one, and he's a
mighty sight stiddier"
And Barbara was in a worse quandary
about it than the Dorcas Society knew how
to be- for at times she almost suspected her
heart of threatening an impertinent inter-
ference before her head could have a fair
chance.
"She'd be entitled to third, l sup
pose, soliloquized the fair maiden, and
she's wonderful hand with her needle.
There no danger of her starving. There's
lots of folks'd be glad enough to have her
come and live with them"
And Barbara did not know it, but 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 kindly relieved her step-daugh-
ter.
I" 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'll be here this evening.
ought not to say word III such a matter.
She's old enough to decide for herself, but
why can't she see that Dan Growers worth
five hundred of him?-not to mention his
big farm, and that's something nowadays.
| won'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 sew
ing. That's what l may have to do when
Barbara's married"
The neat, tidy figure paused in the
kitchen doorway as she said that, and a
shade OF dar kness swept across her face.
-" Live in the house with Bill Emmons for
the master of it?" she exclaimed, after a
paused. "Not /, indeed! She won't have
sense enough to settle on Dan Grover, Pm
afraid. Would | stay, then, if she did
Not so long as could earn or beg any
other shelter"
The last exclamation came out with un-
necessary energy, and the widow caught up
a broom and made an immediate assault on
the kitchen floor.
The sweeping was very unnecessary in
deed.
Barbara had clearly misunderstood her
to penetrate the mind of the squire's pretty
and sensible representative.
That was only too good reason why the
sheet of music forwarded by Mr.. Emmons
had received so little attention that after
noon.
Barbara's morning walk had carried her
now the sole property of the present family
representative, and she had noted only too
precisely the renovating and beautifying
process on which Dan was expending half
the proceeds OF that years liberal wheat
crop.
Carpenters, GLACIERS, painters; and all
the Dorcas Society was in arms, she knew,
about the extrayagant waste with which
the old-fashioned interior was Transforming.
More than one village critic had added
to his other charitable thoughts the sur
mise: Looks kinder bad for Bill En-
mons; and Barbara herself could have as
sured them OF the correctness of their rea-
soning. --- ,--;
She was too kind hearted, however, not
Q add Y. herselfi 30 much the better, too,