Morris tribune., 1882-08-10
BESS.s

house, and stamped along the hall, and
through all the rooms below stairs, dash
ing open every door he came to and
leaving it so, until he reached the kitch-
en-, which he found deserted like all the
other rooms; for even Black Aunt Peg
had forsaken it, and was out in the back
yard, hanging out the Monday wash. e
HAS everybody evaporated?" de-
manded Mr.. Bayberry, grimly address.
ing space.
Receiving no reply, he banged open
yet another door, which swung back
against precarious and shaky shelf,
thus upsetting the equilibrium of brass
candlestick, fla: iron and three tin cans,
and they went humping down on the
floor together.
Bess was in the pantry, washing of
the shelves with hot soapsuds; for Bess
was busy little body, and insisted on
performing certain part of the house
hold duties every day.
She WIS standing on cheese box dur
ing the present performance-for Bess
was 80 short she could not reach the sec
ond Shetland she had big table cloth
pinned over, her dress, and her silky
hair twisted tight upon the top of her
head and pinned with three great hair
pins, that bristled up and looked like
three pair of budding horns. 81
She heard the rapid footsteps outside,
and smiled.
That's Uncle john" said she, land
he wants somebody likely. But can't
go Just yet. Men always want some
thing or somebody"
And she. went on, calmly removing
row of Jelly glasses, every one dark and
lich with its luscious contents. Then
she was startled by the humping.
Dear mep' said Bess, dropping the
wing with which she had been brushing
the shelf. 81 suppose if some one don't
go, lie won't scruple to tumble the house
over; and where Aunt julie is the man
in the moon couldn't tell"
She jumped of the, cheese box, care.
fully holding up the tahie-cloth to avoid
stepping on it, and opened the pantry
door Aunt julie had also appeared, in
a loose green wrapper, from which a
piece of torn rutfiing 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 me-" interrupted Mr. Bay
berry, ''if this house had legs, it might
run away twenty times over and no one
to prevent. Come out ofthere, Bess, and
both of you listen! I've got some
abominable news. julie your
late lamented's cousin-that tall,
electioneering widow-wants to come
down here and board all summer. with
her daughter, dear Ieonie,' who mod
estly wishes to give her numerous
lovers the slip, and rusticate at 'dera
Meadowlands.' There's no end of 'dear's
in her letter, and string of comph-
ments that are all in her eye, I'll wager
my biggest sQuash!" .-..sE
Mr. Bayberry's sister sat down, look
ing helpless and mournful; but black
eyed Bess, whose ideas and opinions
one could never foresee, favored the
cause of her kinswomen, though they
had made point of ignoring her COM
pletely.
DO let them come, Uncle john said
she. II always did want to see my
stylish cousin awfullyH@
oh answered Mr.. Bayberry, shrug.
ging his broad shoulders, "if you want
to cook, and iron and slave for two fine
city relations, that don't take the trouble
to remember your eXistance, go ahead!
Write to 3em to come, by all means; but
don't expect me to tend to 'em, and hold
their warn, and turn their music while
they squeal sentimental songs into my
ears"
Goodness, Uncle joint" interrupted
Bess; no one would suppose how warm
" you praised Doctor Dare's last SER
mon on charity to hear you take on.''
Hold your tongue, Miss Imperti-
nence!" answered Mr.. Bayberry, as he
stalked away.
But there was flush on 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
dared take the liberty to lecture him.
Bess (who was not his niece at all, but
only the niece of his late brother-in-law)
was one Of the few; and though she
sometimes stood half in awe of him her
SELF there was conscientious straight
forWardness about her which led her to
speak her mind whenever she consid-
cred it her duty to do so.
Perhaps she might, advantage
ously to > herself have
cultivated rather less abrupt
manner, and so have favor in more eyes.
But, nevertheless, it so happened that
wi. JOIlIL WIZ was IdLu6T
peculiar himself, never took real offense
at her words, and occasionally profted
by them. And this perhaps was at least
partly because she had way of popping
out her little sermons in a concise, ep-
lgrammatic manner, and never "harped'
on one subject.
\ week later found the large parlor
at MeadoWIands graced by the presence
of two styfshly arrayed ladies, just from
the city, and INDUCING in series of
rapturous EXPLANATIONS over the charm
OF rural scenes, to the astonishment of
Aunt ) ule, who saw nothing to gush
aoout in fields and vines, and was secret
ly wondering if the grease spot in the
side-breadth of her overskirt was very
noticeable.
And here's Bess, your little country
cousin" said Mr. Baberry, drawing her
forward from the shadow of the window
curtains, from which she had been ad-
mir!ng Miss Leonie.
Dear mep' drawled the elegant Mrs.
Horton. as she gazed down an i'm.
measurable distance at the girl, for Mrs
Horton was very tall, and of lofty car
riage withal, "this is Bess, is it? We
didn't dream of finding you here"
why should we," querried Miss Le-
Ollie, languidly sitting back against the
rlch-colored sofa cushions. "She isn't
any relation of yours, is she, Mr. Bay
herry?"
Not, at ALL returned Mr.. Bayberry
tritie stifiy; but sheis quite as welcome
at Meadowiands as if she were; espe-
cIally as her blood relations choose to ig-
more her existence"
Mrs. Horton flushed little, Miss
Leonie bit her lip; and Bess shook hel
curly head at Uncle John on the sly.
That same evening, Bess was sitting
on the back-door step, peeling velvety
crimson, rare-ripe peaches for supper,
when Ashley Gray came along the clio.
yer-edged path leading from the stile
down in the orchard, which he, as very
intimate friend of the family, whose
home adjoined Meadowlands, found il
convenient now and then to make use
Of, go round to the parlor and see the
ladies" said Bess, as she laid the last
peach, glowing and pink-hearted, in the
Il, Ill 4