Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-05-12
BARBARA'S DIFFICULTY.

That Barbara HAWKINS owed Boou
deal to her step-mother was fact that
she could not have concealed from herself
if she had tried.
Her tather's house had been very
home OF discomfort during the dull inter
i'm between her own mothers death and
the arrival OF the youthful and winning
stranger who had been somehow persuad
ed 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, included all the gen
uino sunshine Of Barbara's lie, and She
knew to whom that change, and good
many other excellent things, were due.
Then, since the Squire had been gath
cred to his fathers, what notable mana
ger 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 wo
men very nicely SO long as they lived to.
gether, could continue to do so only un-
der just that state of affairs. True, and
yet what suitOr, or at least which one OF
the two now nea1st to a proper condi-
ton for consideration, would care to
"mary mother-in-la and step
mother at that, as well rs II wife.
"Aud she understands it," said Barba-
ra to herself that September afternoon,
"ss we'll as | do. She's as polite to both
of them as il they were counting her in
stead 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"
A very pretty girl was Barbara Haw
kins even pretter than her step mother,
and that was saying something, in spite
of the widows thirty years.
A bit Of II belle, too, was the Squire s
"heircss" in that unambiuous rural com
munity, and by no means without some
characteristics which put the village
gossips, at times, in mind Of esquire
Hawkins 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 inclined to
guess Bill Emmons is 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 mighty sight ,tiddier."
And Barbara was in worse quandary
about it than the Dorcas Society kuew
how to be, for at times she almost sus.
pccted her heart of threatening mn impert
=. inent Interference before her head could
have fair chance.
"She'd be entitled to third, | sup.
pose," soiloquized the fair maiden, "and
she's a wonderful hand with her needle
There's no danger ofher starving. There,
lots Of folks d be glad enough to have
her come and live with them.
And Barbara did not know it, but Il
train of thought very nearly related tc
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 50 kindly
= relieved her step daughter.
81 don't hear the piano" murmurcd
the soft, low voice Of the widow, "and
yet know She wanted TO practice that
new piece. Young Emmons n be here
this evening. | ought not to say II word
in such 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. I wouldnr
, put that in her head howeyer--not for the
r world. I've paid dearly enough for max
! ing just that sort OF mistake. Better
have gone out to service or taken in sew
ing. That's what may have to do when
Barbara's married."
The neat, tidy figure paused in the
kitchen doorway Ms she said that, and n
. shade Of sadness swept across her face.
"Llve in the house, with Bin En-
mons for the master Of it ?" she oycaim
ed, after pause. "Not l. indeed ! She
won't have sense enough to settle on
Dan Grover, I'm afraid. Would | stay
then, If she did ? Not so long as | could
earn or beg any other sheltes !"
The last exclamation came out with
unnecessary energy, and the widow
caught up broom and made an imme-
diate assault on the kitchen floor.
The sweeping was very unnecessary
indeed.
Barbara had clearly understood her
s'ep-mother, and the widow had also
failed to penetrate the mind Of the
Squre's pretty and sensible representa-
tive.
There was only two good reasons why
the sheet of music Forwarded by Mr. I'm
mons had received 50 little attention that
afternoon.
Barbara's morning walk had carried
her past the old homestead Of the Gro
vers, now the sole property Of the present
family representative, and she had noted
only too precisely the renovating and
identifying process on which Dan was
e&pending halt the proceeds ofthat years
liberal wheat crop.
Carpenters. GLACIERS, painters and all
toe Dorcas Society were in arms, she
knew, about the extravagant waste with
which the old fashioned interior was
transforming.