Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-18
BARBARA's DIFFICULTY.

BARBARA's DIFFICULTY.
That Barbara Hawkins owed goo(
deal to her step-mother was q fact that sh,
could not have concealed from herself i
she had tried.
Her fathers house had been a very hom,
OF discomfort during the dull interim be
tween her own mothers death and the ar
rival of the youthful and winning strange
who had been somehow persuaded b,
Squire Hawkins to ''come and take kee
of his little darter.'7
The history Of the next five years, il
which she herself had grown from girlhoot
to womanhood, included all the genuine
sunshine of Barbara's life, and she knew
to whom that change, and great man.
other excellent things, were due.
Then, since the squire had been gather
ed to his fathers, what notable manage
had Widow Hawkins proved herself for tn
very moderate propertyshe had left behint
him.
1t was just there that the difficulty wa
now coming in, for that which, with sucl
good management, had kept the two wo
! men very nicely so long as they lived to
! gether, could continue to do so only undel
| just that state of affairs. The widow
share, if set apart by itself, would be onI.
another name for poverty True, and ye
what sutton, OF at least which one Of tn
two now nearest to a proper condition 70
consideration, would care to ''malry /;
fhother-in-law, and step-mother at that
as we'll as a wife?
'And she understands it, said Barbar;
to herself that September afternoon, "a
well as 1 do. She's as polite to both o
them as if they were counting her insteat
of me. I must say it's been very con
venient once or twice, for they both lik
her. In fact, everybody likes her, ant
! that's what makes my position so very pc
culiar."
A very pretty girl was Barbara Hawkins
even prettier than her step-mother, ant
chat was saying something, in spite of thu
widows thirty years. -~--.4s.@-.e-s
A bit Of a belle, too, was the squire
''heiress" in that unambitious rural com
munity, and by no means without som,
characteristics which pat the village COS
sips at times in mind Of Squire Hawkins
fust wife,
F; AT the present juncture, however, tn
O.
more than usually perplexed. The bes
judges Of such matters were inclined tx
''guess Bill Emmons is ieetle ahead" al
though this was sure to be folio we'd by thu
remark: But, then, you know. Dan Gro
ver's got ten dollars to Bills one, and he'
q mighty sight stiddier."
And Barbara was in worse Quandar,
about it than the Dorcas Society knew he
to be, for at times she almost suspected
her heart Of threatening an lmpertinent in
reference before her head could have
fair chance.
''She'd be entitled to third, 1 suppose,
soliloquized the fair maiden, ''and she's {
wonderful hand with her needle. There
lots of folks'd be glad enough to have he
come and live with them.'
| And Barbara did not know it, but a trail
Of thought very nearly related to her owl
was at that moment passing through thu
mind Of the widow, as she stepped light,
| to and fro among the household duties, O
which she kindly relieved her step-daugh
| ter.
II don't hear tie piano." murmured tin
soft, low voice Of the widow, ''and yet
know she wanted to practice that nev
piece. Young Emmons'll be here thi
evening. ought not to say word in sucl
matter. She's old enough to decide TO
herself, bnt why can't she see that Dal
Growers worth five hundred of him ?-no
to mention his big farm, and that's some
thing nowadays. I won't put that in he
head, hcwever-not for the world. Nv
paid dearly enough for making just tina
sort of a mistake. Better have gone GU
to service or taken in sewing. That's wha
[ may have to do when Barbara's married
The neat, tidy figure paused in the kitch
en- doorway as she said that, and shade
of darkness swept across her face.
''Live in the house with Bill Emmon
for the master Of it ?'' she exclaimed, afte
pause. "Not I, indeed She won't hav
sense enough to settle on Dan Grover, Tn
afraid. Would I stay, then, if she did
Not so long as 1 could earn OF beg an,
! other shelter!'
The last exclamation came out with I'm
necessary energy, and the widow caugh
up a broom and made an immediate assault
on the kitchen floor.
The sweeping was very unnecessary in
deed.
barbara had clearly misunderstood he
step-mother, and the widow had also faile
to penetrate the mind of the squirrels prett
and sensible representative.
That was only too good reason why tn
sheet of music forwarded by Mr.. Emmon
had received 80 little attention that after
noon.
Barbara's morning walk had carried he
past the fine old homestead of the Growers
now the sole property of the present famil
representative, and she had noted only to
precisely the renoyatilg and beautifyin
process on which Dan was expanding hal
the proceeds of that years liberal whea
crop.
Carpenters, GLACIERS, painters, and all tn
Dorcas Society was in arms, she knew