Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-16
RAR.BARA'S DIFFICULTY.

That Barbara Hawkins owed great
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 and win.
ming stranger who had been somehow
persuaded by 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, including 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 gather
ed to his fathers, what a notable man
ager had Widow Hawkins proved herself
for the very moderate property he had
left behind himl
It 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 a
proper condition for consideration, would
care to q marry a mother-in-law," and a
step-Hother at that, as well as {, wife?
And she understands it," said Bar
bara TO heyelf that September after
noon, :" as we'll 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, everybody likes
her, and that's what makes my position
SO very peculiar"
4 very pretty girl was Barbara Haw-
Ens; even prettier than her step-moth-
er, and that was saying something, in
spite of the widows thirty years.
A bit of a belle, too, was the squire
"heiress" in that unambitious rural COM
munity, and by no means without some
characteristics which put the village Cos
sips at times in mind of esquire Hawk
ms fUst wife"
At the present juncture, however, the
more than usually perplexed. The best
Judges of such matters were inclined to
guess Bill Emmons was a leetle ahead"
although this was sure to be followed by
the remark: "But then, you know,
Dan Growers got ten dollars to Bill s
one, and he's a mighty sight stiddier."
And Barbara was III a worse quandary
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 fair chance.
"She'd be entitled to third, / sup
pose, soIiIoeHized the fair maiden, "and
she's wonderful hand with her needle.
There's 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 a
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-daughter.
" [ 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
In 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. Bet
ter have gone out to service or taken in
sewing. That's what may have to do
when Barbara's married"
The neat, tidy figure paused in the
kitchen doorway as she said that, and
shade Of darkness swept across her face.
olive in the house with Bill Emmons
for the master of itp' she exclaimed,
after 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 shelterp'
The last exclamation came out with
unnecessary energy, and the widow
caught ND a broom and made an imme-
date assault on the kitchen floor.
The sweeping was very unnecessary IN
deed.
- Barbara had clearly misunderstood
her step mother, and the widow had also
failed to penetrate the mind OF the
squTre's pretty and sensible representa-
tive.
That was only too good reason why
the sheet of music forwarded bv Mr.. EN-
mons had received so little attention that
afternoon,
Barbara's morning walk had carried her
past the fine old homestead of the Grov-
ers, 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
expanding half the proceeds of that years
liberal wheat crop.
Carpenters, glaciers, painters, and all