The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-12-17
BARBARA'S GUEST.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

COMPANY tor dinneri" cried little Bar.
nara, in despair. Oh, Lsette, what shall
we do?"
1t was sunshiny day in early July, with
he great cluster of tiger lilies all in bios
som in the garden. the cherries beginning to
urn crimson on the trees, and the roses
tinging their subtle fragrance on the air. as
II they fancled themselves blooming in some
Persian vale. The thermometer stood al
eighty in the shade. Squire Dulcimer's
naymakers were dotting the sides of the dis
tant upland, and all the windows of the lit
lie cottage were wide open to admit what
ever stray whiffs of cool wind might be
roaming athwart the blue air.
And little Barbara had ripped her muslin
,lress apart, and was sitting Turk fashion,
IN the floor, considering now best she might
combine the breadths into something more
modern, when Lisette, her sister, came fly
ing unanimously upstairs, like the wild
little sprite that she was.
Barbara was small and dark, with blue
black braids of hair, large, solemn eyes. a
crimson dot of mouth, and the prettiest of
round, dimpled chins. Lisette was tall and
slender-a sort of human lily, viOlet-eyed
and transparent-skinned with shining vel
low curls, gathered into net, and a sweet,
bird-like voice. not unlike that of a linnet
And these two girls, with their little brother
Benny, were all that the old Doctor had
He had married late in life, this old,
eccentric disciple of Galen. and lost his wife
when Benny was but BABY; and ever
since the young things had grown up by
themselves like the wild roses on the edge
of the woods.
''Doi" repeated Lisette I'VE must go
down and see to the table, that's what we
must do"
''But there is nothing in the house for
dinner!" cried Barbara, tragically clasping
her hands, as she rose out OF a whirlpool OF
pink muslin on the floor. 'Oh, dear. oh
dear! Why don't people stay at hoE,e when
they aren't wanted? Who is it. Lisette,
anyhow
I'm sure l don't know" answered Lii
settle. some travelling book agent | sup
Dose, or some shabby -genteel medical man,
rom nobody knows where, who thinks he
is entitled to come here just because papa is
an NJ. ID. l only caught sight of the back
of his coat, but it had a dreadful seedy
look"
81 do think papa is too bad,' sighed Bar
bara. IL was going to have the whole day
for dressmaking, so as to look decent at
Church next Sunday, for Mr.. Dulcimer and
his sister are coming back. and one doesn't
want to look like native Patagonian. And
| was going to give papa bread and cheese,
and glass of homemade roOt-beer. Papa
don't care what he eats. But he's particu-
ar about his guests. And 1 sent the last
dozen OF eggs To the store 10 exchange for
three spOOls of sewing silk and paper of
needles, and told Benny to- carry the pot of
chicken soup to poor old Mrs GumbO, who
is sick and poor, and all alone in the world"
CHARITY begins at home" dOlorously
quoted Lisetle. Couldn't we catch fOwl?'
''As we'll try to catch a savage zebra of the
Wilderness" said Barbara. "One would
think they were every one of em trained
racers by the way they rum"
"A meat pie?" suggested Lisette.
bara, brusguely.
There's the remains of day before yester-
days steak" said Lisette. 1--WE might mince
it up fine, and"
"Oh, Lisette--dear Lisette!" cried Barbara.
I'm SO sorry, but | gave the steak to
tramp yesterday, between two slices of
bread and butter. He looked so hungry,
and he said he had nothing but raw turnips
TO eat for two days. And when | was look
ing for white roses this morning saw the
two slices, with Only'one mouthful bitten
out of each flung into the bushes. And
oh, Lisette, there was black bottle beside
them. And I'm afraid he wasn't nice,
honest tramp"
Then that settles the meat pie business"
said poor Lisette. Couldn't we lake the
my white doves into fricassee" almost
shrieked Barbara. "Oh, you cruel, cruel,
heartless, marble-souled thingl Why don't
you talk of making me into fricasseee and
be done with it?'
Barbara, don't speak so loudr' said Lii
settle, theoretically. We'll send to Widow
Milletts and borrow her dinnerl"
"What?'' said Barbara, fairly astounded
by the magnitude and originality of her
young sisters idea
Send Benny" said Lisette. Tell her
we'll return it next week. Write note and
say that papa has invited gentleman to dir
ner and that we haven't mouthful to eat
in the house, except bread and cheese. Mrs.
Millett is an excellent cook; she always has
something nice. And you will see that this
will help US out of our dilemma"
"Yesp' sighed Barbara; 'but there's my
muslin dress. Why couldn't the man stay
awav until / had modelled it over, like the
lIate in the fashion magazine%
'.Never mind the fashion magazine" said
i.isette, but run and set The table as fast as
you can; and be sure that you put on the
very best cups and remember to turn the
cloth so that the darned spot will come
under the tea tray"
And down stairs sped little Barbara, with
cheeks as rosy red as cherries, and black
braid breaking loose from their pins in a
Oh SHINING JelSj Wtllc tuc SucSt,
sitting composedly out upon the porch, had
had full time and opportunity to compre-
bend the entire situation.
81 seem to have arrived at an inOpportune
season." said he to himself. Il am sorry
now that / accepted good old Dr. Blooms
cordially proffered hospitality; but | am
rather too substantial to vanish down into q
crack, and too real to float up in puff o
vapor like the genii IN the children's story
books, 50 must Just remain rere and abide
until the end of it. But I'm glad they
aren't going to make little Miss barbara
pigeons into fricasse."
Three minutes afterward, when little Ben
the Youngest of the family, rushed whistlinl
out with covered basket, he was deity in
tercepted by the stranger.
where are you going, young manY ques
toned he, in low voice.
ITO the Widow Millett's," said Benny
with a note.
"Don't go there said the stranger. Sc
across the woods to the hall, instead-it il
but few steps further, and give this card t
the old housekeeper there And bark We
Tommy"
Benny, sir, please" explained the lad.
Benny. then-don't let your young ladie
know that you havn't obeyed their orders
I'll make it all right with them, and here
silver dollar for you"
Benny darted away, with his face al
suiles: and Just then up came the old Doc
tor himself, apologizing for having been 81