Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-18
BARBARA'S GUEST.

1t was a sunshiny day in early July,
with the great cluster of tiger lll9s all
in blossom in the garden, the cherries
beginning to turn crimson on the trees,
and the roses hingiDg their subtle trag-
rance on the air, as if they fancied
themselves blooming in some Persian
vale. The thermometer stood at eighty
in the shade. Squire Dulcim er's
lawmakers were dotting the sides of
the distant upland, and all the windows
of the little cottage were wide open to
admit whatever stray Wills of cool wind
might be roaming athwart the blue
air.
And little Barbara had ripped her
muslin dress apart and was sitting
Turkfashion, on the floor, considering
how best she might combine the breaths
into something more modern, when
Lisette, her sister, came flying tumui-
tuously upstairs, like the wild little
sprite that she was.
Barbara was small and dark, with
blue-black braid of hair, large, solemn
eyes, crimson dot of a mouth, and
the prettiest Of round, dimpled chins.
Lisette was tall and slender--a sort of
human lilly, violet-eyed and tnnspar-
ent-skinned, with shining yellow curls,
gathered into net, and sweet bird
like voice, not unlike that Of 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.
"Dol" repeated Lisette. 1--WE must
go down and see to the table; that's
what we must do
"But there's nothing in the house
for dinner" cried Barbara, tragcally
clasping her hands as she rose out of
the whirlpool of pink muslin on the
floor. "Oh, dear Why don't people
stay at home when they aren't wanted?
Who is it, Lisette, anyhow"
"I'm sure | don't know" answered
Lisette. "Some travelling book agent,
| suppose. or some shabby genteal
medical man. from nobody knows
where, who thinks he is entitled to
come here just because papa is an
M. d. | only caught sight of the back
of his coat, but it hsd dreadfully
seedy look"
II do think papa is to bad sighed
Barbara. 81 was going to have the
whole day for dressmaking, so AZ 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 SO particular about his guests
And sent the last dozen of eggs to
the store to exchange for three
spools of sewing silk and paper of
needles, and told Benny to carry the
pot of chicken soup t poor old Mrs.
Gumbo, who is sick and poor, and all
alone in the world"
Charity begins at home" dolorously
quoted Lisettee. Couldn't we catch
fowl"
GAS well Try to catch savage zebra
of the wilderness" said Barbara. Zone
would think they were every one of
them trained racers by the way they
run"
"a meat pie" suggested Lisette.
There's no meat To make it Of" said
Barbara, brusquely.
"There's the remains of day before
yesterdays steak" said Lisette. eve
might mince it up fine, and"
"Oh, Lisettee-dcar Lisette" cried
Barbara, I'm so sorry, but | gave the
steak to n tramp yesterday, between
two slices of bread and butter He
looked so hungry, and sad he had had
nothing but raw turnips to eat for two
days. And when | was looking for
white roses this morning, ] saw the
two slices, with only one mouthful bit
ten out Of each, flung into the bushes.
And, oh, Lisette. there was black
bottle beside them. And Pm afraid he
wasn't nice, honest tramp"
"rhen that settles the meat.pie bust
ness, y said poor Lisette. Couldn't we
make the white pigeons into fri
Cassee?"
"My white doves into fricassee?"
almost shrie xed Barbara. "OA, YOU
cruel, cruel, heartless, marble-souDed
thing Why d.nt you talk of making
me into fricassee and be done with ii?"
Barbara, don't speak SO loadw said
Llsette, theoretically. "We'll send to
Widow Milletts and borrow her din.
nerl'
Why said Barbara, fairly astound-
ed the magnitude and originality Of
her young sisters idea.
Send Benny" said Lisette. Tell
her we'll return it next week. Write a
note and say that papa has invited a
gentleman to dinner, and that we
haven't mouthlul fit 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 diem
ma"
Yes sighed Barbara; "but there's
my muslin dress. Why couldn't the
man stay away until had modelled it
over, like the plate in the fashion
maeazine?'
"Never mind the fashion magazine"
said Lisette, "but run and set the table