The Red Cloud chief., 1882-08-25
BESS.

Mr.. John Bayberry strode into tn
house. and stamped along the hall. an
through all the rooms below stairs. dash
ing open every door he came to an,
leaving it SO. until he reached the kitch
en-. which he found deserted like all tn
other rooms; for even black Aunt Pc;
had forsaken il, and was out in the bacl
yard, hanging out the Monday wash.
HAS ererybody e~vaporated9" de
manded Mr.. Bayberry, grimly address
ing space.
Receiving no reply. be banged opel
yet another door. which swung bacl
against a prccarious and shaky shelf
thus upsetting the equilibrium OF q bras
c~andlestick, q flat-iron and three tin
cans, and they all went humping down
on TO the floor together.
Bess was in the pantry. washing OF
the shelves with hot soapsuds: for Bes
was a busy little body. and insisted OF
performing a certain part Of the house
hold duties every day.
She was standing on a cheese-box dur
ing the present performance-for Bes'
was so short she could not reach tn,
second shetland she had q big table
cloth pinned over her dress, and hel
silky hair twisted tight upon the top o
her head and pinned with three greal
hair-pins, that bristled up and looked
like three pair of budding horns.
She heard the rapid footsteps outside
and smiled.
That's Uncle john" said she. ''ant
he wants somebody likely. But l can't
go just yet. Men always want some
thing or somebody"
And she went on. calmly removing q
row Of Eyeglasses. every one dark and
rich with its luscious contents. Then
she was startled by the humping.
'.Dcar met" said Bess. dropping the
wing with which she had been brushing
the shelf. IL suppose il some one dom
60, he won't scruple 10 tumble the
house over; and where Aunt julie is,
the man in the moon couldn't tell"
She jumped of the cheese-b box. care
fully holding up the table-cloth to avoid
stepping on it. and opened the pantry.
door. Aunt julie had also appeared. In
n loose, green wrapper. from which a
piece of torn rufiing, two yards in
length. was dragging on the floor. with
an old magazine, minus its covers, in
her hand.
'.Dear me, John" began Aunt julie.
looking injured.
"And dear mc!c' interrupted Mr..
Bayberry. IF this house had legs, il
might u away twenty times over and
no one to prevent. Come out of there.
Bess, and both Of you listen! Fve got
some abominable news. julie. your late
lamented's cousin, that tall. electioneer-
ing widow. wants TO come down here
and board all summer. with her
daughter. dear Leonie.' who modestly
wishes to give her numerous lovers the
slip. and rusticate at dear Meadow
lands There's no end of 'dears' in her
letter. and a string OF compliments that
arc all in her eye. rllwager my biggest
SQUASH"
Mr.. Bayberry's sister sat down. look
ing helpless and msurnful; but black
eyed Bess. whose ideas and opinions one
could never foresee. favored the cause
Of her kinswoman, though they had
made a point of ignoring her CON-
pletely.
'.Do let them come. Uncle Johnr'
said she. II always did want to see nv
stylish cousins awfully!"
''Oh." answered Mr.. Bayberry, shrug-
ging his broad shoulders, elf you want
to cook. and iron. and slave for two fine
city relations that don't take the trouble
to remember your existence, 90 ahead,
Write to 'em to come. by all means; but
don't expect me to tend to 'em and
hold their yarn and turn their music
while they squeal sentimental songs into
my ears"
Goodness, Uncle joint" inter.
ruptcd Bess; mo one would suppose
how warmly you praised DR.. Darefs last
sermon on charity, to hear You take on!'
Hold -FOUR tongue. Miss lmperti-
nence.' answered Mr.. Baybery. Is he
stalked away.
But there was q flush or his cheek.
and perhaps his conscience echoed Bess'
reproof. For Mr.. Bayberry's words
and manners occasionally expressed
more harshness than was in his heart
and, owing to his rather irascible tenn.
fbW dared to take the liberty to
him.
BesA who was not his niece at ali.
ut Gully the niece of his late brother-in-
law, was one of the few; and though
she sometimes stood half in W. of him
herself. there was . conscientious
Btrsightforwardness about her which
led her TO speak her mind whenever che
i her duty to do 50.
Perhaps she might advantageously to |
have cultivated Q rather less Alb |
rupt manner. and 50 have found favor
In moro eyes. But nevertheless IL 40 |
happened that Mr.. John Bayberry, who
Vas rather peculiar himself, never took
'eal offense 1t her words and OCCASION
lily proited BY them. And this perhaps
wss at least partly because she had
ray Of popping out her little sermons
. concise. epigfammafic manner. and
lover .sAarped' on = subject
A week later found The largo parlor !
{ Headowlands graced BY the prssencs
Z two stylishly-&rrayed ladies' just
RON The city, and indulging IN series
{ r1pturous exclamaf300S over the
harm of rural scenes. 70 the astOnish-
rent u Aunt julie, who saw nothing TO
ush about in fields and vines. and Was
wondering II the grease spot In
he side-breadth 81 her over-skir was
cry noticeable.
"And heFefs Bess, your Ett3e country
Onsin." said NE. BAyberry. drawing her
inward iron H. shadow Of the vim
ow-curtainx ftOm which sAe hAd been
amirin8t Miss Leonie. +
Dear mers drawled the elegant
IN Horfnn- N sfA nnn6 6nw1 -
'. Aoasurable distance ot d I'D. foe
q Horton WAS vssy tn. AID a 81,
esglearIiage Withai. sthis = Bed, g.
: dat dream a lading you
elo1Id wegs qusrisd Nln
snEuidly seeding bsck aGainst
o,,t-cosofed eofa cu1hioaA ssShe
ISvbTy ssaaa6'a ct yourA i shs, III. (