The Columbus journal., 1882-11-08
OUT OF

Barclays maid, presenting herself al
the side of the workable, on which
were heaped variously tinted crewels
with which Miss Barclay was executing
q composition in the Kensington outline
work.
"a letter!n repeated Miss Barclay,
taking it into her hand; land from
Cousin Elizabeth, to be sure!"
Then carefully cutting the envelope
for tearing a letter open was not one OF
Miss Barclays habits-she perused the
contents, which, after some prellmi-
naries, ran as follows:
And now, Hester, 1 want you to do me ia
vor. I hope II viii not Inconvenience you: but
I Am very anxious to have my daughter Abby
leave home for awhile, and 1 should be so
In a love affair with a man ! hate. His meme
is Francis Cholmondly. I'd rather have her
marry any other decent man on earth. l do
not know Why I haze him so. except that lac
4. "a puppy. He's not so poor that he could
not take good care of q wife, and he Is rather
handsome. in his nasty, foppish way. People
sit ION is good. i've no doubt I'm unreasona,
bic, hut | won't have Abby marry hum; and II
can yet her away, i can get rid OF him. SO
tell YOU frankly my reasons for asking yon to
invite her, and l know how good natured you
are. il will be a thankless task, for she's ter
ribly sulky just now. but I'll be ever grateful
to YOU.
And then the letter wandered away
again into matters that do not concern
this story, and ended in the signature
Elizabeth Marsh.
"Poor Lizzie! she always had such
strong whims," said Miss Barclay, go
Ing on with the folds of the purple robe
of a thin blonde figure traced upon the
background. ''One of them was to
marry Caleb Marsh. l don't believe
that has turned out quite as well as it
might. However, I'm fond of Lizzie,
and I shouldn't mind having Abby here.
I'll write at once and ask her. And
by the way-Iu invite Brother Rich
ards boy to come down, and bring q
friend with him. Every one is glad of a
weeks country visit In summer They'll
both fall in love with the girl in this
lonesome place; and there's no such
cure for one love affair as another"
Miss Barclay was a lady of prompt
and decisive action. Two letters were
at the office before the next mail ven
out, and three bedrooms were being put
into apple-pie order, and the cook was
instructed as to certain provisions TO be
prepared for the expected guests.
BlotuCl lsalt dEO ulySCi1 Will W uh
the better for having the young people
about U.s." said Miss Barclay; but cook,
an old servant, who prided herself on
being ''free Spoken" was of opinion
that ''peace and %quietness would be
broke up by all sorts of racket, and that
she'd no doubt they'd be obliged to buy
butter"
However, as cook afterward re-
marked, she was we'll aware that was
not her lookout. And on Saturday the
stage paused at the door, and from its
top clambered down two youths; one
big and rough-headed, the other small
and sleek, but both armed with port
m%anteaus, gun-caseS and ~fishing-rods
exactly resembling each other.
"All right, driver" cried the rough
headed youth-''all right, driver"
"This is the young lady's stopping
place, too" shouted the driver. "This
Is Miss Barclays"
But 10y this time the young lady was
getting out.
She was a pretty girl, with a splendid
head of black hair, which, when Miss
Barclay had seen her last, she had worn
in two long braids down her back. Now
Shc WAS "oiiuCiiuAy Sio"h-uo iohSOi
a little girl, but a young lady, with a
couture of puffs, and crimps that was q
mystery 10 prim Miss Barclay. A CO.
quettish hat was set very much on n
side of her head, and instead of the sui
len scowl Miss Barclay had expected,
she greeted the lady with the most beam
ing smiles.
"Dear Cousin Barclay" she ex-
claimed, show good of you to ask me
to this lovely place! l adore the coun-
try, and | am so pleased to see you
again. How sweet you look! 1 must
kiss you. l just feel that l an going to
be perfectly happy all the time I'm
here"
..Is she acting, or does she mean it?"
asked the s~pinster to herself. ats q
comfort to find her so pleasant, any
how" But she answered heartily and
merrily, and sending Sarah to show her
young cousin the way to her room,
that she might refresh herself after her
journey, turned her attentions to the
youths, with whom she had as yet only
shaken hands.
81 am so glad you came at once,
Fred" she said, land SO pleased that
sou brought Mr."
"Mr, Oakley" said Fred. "My COL
lege chum-Frank Oakley. My dear
aunt, we're very much obliged to you,
and father sent his love, and mother
wonders when you intend to come to see
her; and I've a letter, and some pat
terms and things in my bag. And, Aunt
Hester, what a pretty girl that isl She's
travelled all the way with us in the
cars, and from the depot in the stage.
Never saw such a pretty girl before"
"That's cousin Lizzie's daughter,
Abby" replied Miss Barclay. "She
paid q visit TO your house when you
were twelve years old, but you wouldn't
speak to her. You said you hated
girls"
"What a cub l was" repliedthe shock,
head, gravely. swell, / don't know,
Aunt Hester. As for Frank, he adores
them. Don't you, Frank?"
Frank looked modest.
'sThere is so much TO admire in all
VOL mean In all ladies'" he an
swered, with a little lisp.
"What a very polite young .man,"
thought Miss Barclay.
1t was a very merry tea-table. Old
Mr.. Isaac Barclay, to be sure, did very
little but eat, after having solemnly
shaken hands all round; but Fred was
a host in himself, and Miss Barclay chat
tered a. merrily as the young people.
That very night she wrote to her Cousin
Elizabeth:
LIZZIE, MY DEAR:-You'd be delighted to
see the success Of your plan. Abby is as
happy As a queen. She has found two beaux
here. my nephew Fred. and a friend Of his.
Ers.l Saars,s vary nm. taIAr I.~a mn Io.te