Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-24

eleven, tits our house. And pa and ma
are helping unpack the cart at the south
door. And I've got red bird, and john
nys got brood of brahma chickens IN a
basket, and Pierre has monkey"
But, boys" said Miss Briggs, with a
little hysterical laugh, ''this is my house. -
mo, it amt" said the three Masters
Bellairs in chorus; ''it's ours. We've rem
ted it for year, and pa and ma are un-
packing down stairs.
els that your PAP" said Miss Briggs,
with sudden inspiration, as she pointed
to the old gentleman in the garden, who
stood stock still, like the Egyptian obellsk.
''No, indeed, said Pierre, contemptu-
ously.
Nothing of the sort,'' said Johnny.
e'Our pa amt such a guy as that
chuckled Bruce.
II think must be asleep and dream
ing," said Miss Briggs, as the door opened
and stout, blooming matron entered upon
the scene, with kerosene lamp in one
hand and basket of carefully packed
china in the other, while from her finger
depended bird cage.
INV good woman" said the Reverend
Mrs. Bellairs, II suppose you have come
here to see about situation. If you can
bring good reference as to character-''
"You are entirely mistaken, madam, ;"
said Miss Briggs with energy. II am here
BECAUSE
But at that moment Mrs. Ripple herself,
with Dorcas her maid. entered the ROOM
She was tall, handsome woman, dressed
in elegant mourning, and she used an eye
glass as she talked. and somehow she
seemed to take up good deal more room
than anybody else Mrs. Bellairs set
down the kerosene lamp and the bird cage,
Mrs. Briggs terrier stopped barking, and
the three boys instinctively retired behind
the starch box.
"Who are you all ?" said Mrs. Ripple,
surveying the scene through her eyeglass.
''And how came you to be here?"
81 have taken this house, said Miss
Briggs, with dignity.
$50 have we,'' said Mrs. Bellairs.
$50 have - declared the bald-headed
old gentleman, who had by this time made
his way up into the ruby light of Miss.
Briggs fire, and stood there, closely hug
ging his fiat travelling case.
''Dear me said Mrs. Ripple; ssthis is
very singular. And have come here be-
cause the house wasn't rented at all.''
And then ensued general chorus of
explanations, laughter and depreciation,
whose general effect was heightened by a
single combat between Master Pierre Bel
lair's monkey and Miss Briggs terrier.
''What are we to do.'' said Miss Briggs,
plaintively looking at the hair trunks
studded with brass nails.
"Do ?" said Mrs. Ripple, briskly- "why,
there is but one thing to do that I see; the
house is big enough for us, and half a do
zen families to boot. Let US all live here
together"
81 am sure have no objection at ALL
said Mrs. Bellairs.
''Neither have T. said the gentleman,
setting down his fiat travelling case with
a sigh of relief.
"'Birds in their little nest agree quo
ted the Reverend Mr.. Bellairs, who had
by this time entered upon the scene, with
one joint of bedstead balanced across his
shoulder. "And it really seems to me as
if we might do the same thing.''
So Ripple Grange was let, and in good,
earnest Mrs. Ripple and Dorcas establish
ed themselves in two sunny rooms giving
to the south, where the apple boughs brush
ed against the lozenge-shaped panes of the
easement. The Bellairs family settled
down all over the rest of the first floor in
miscellaneous, cosmopolitan sort of way,
mixing up birds, old china. sermon-paper,
patchwork, and theology in manner
which amazed the precise soul of gentle
himself on the top floor, where he could
have good outlook with his telescope,
and set up his cases of specimens without
let OF hinderance. And Miss Briggs her.
self made home-like little home in the
second story, and devoted her whole ener-
gy--and not without some degree of sue
cess-to keeping the peace between Chico,
the monkey, and Nip, the terrier.
Mrs. Ripple, however, got tired of rural
felicity, and returned to the city in the
autumn.
Mr. Bellairs received call to Della
ware parish, where peaches were thicker
than blackberries, and the climate was as
that of Italy, and he accepted it promptly.
'What shall we do now ?" said Miss
Briggs, who was disposed to take timo-
rous view of things.
Mr.. Hyde pushed his spectacles on to
the top of his head. ''Don't you like the
house 20 said he
eyes," Miss Briggs admitted. 81 like
the house,
''And don't you consider the situation
?"
"Certainly," said Miss Briggs.
'sThen," said Mr.. Hyde, looking at the
edge of his geological hammer, "why don't
you stay here ?"
'sWhat, all alone by myself ?' said Miss
Briggs.
NO." said the scientific gentleman;
with me -
''Good gracious !" cried Miss Briggs.
1--WE both like the place." said Mr.. Hyde
''We like the situation, and we like each
other. Why shouldn't we settle down
here for life p
'sBut l never have thought of such a
thing" said Miss Briggs, in trepidation.
"Think of it now,' said Mr.. Hyde. |
in accents of scientific persuasion, as he
laid down his hammer and took her black !
hand tenderly in his.
he went away, and Ripple Grange has