Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-22
BEyEDICT's CHOICE.

, | StrOklng the cncstnut-DrOWn WnisheTs
and frowning in a manner quite for
eign to his usual 'haply-go-en dis
position. I used TO think II ever |
fell in love I'd know my own mind ;
but I'll swan III amt plum beat this
time, and no mistake. I'd rather dig
"A hull field of potatoes or cut medder
six weeks i'm succession. than try TO
tell which of them two girls / like
best. I've studied aud studied for
hours nj a time whether I'd ask Selma
Peabody or Delilah Dobbins, an the
more ] study over it. the more befud-
died ] get. Them bein' step-sisters.
too, makes il kind of worse, fur
when go TO the house I'm sure to see
EN- both, and I'm plagued II | can tell
which one I'd rather have. Delilahs
n little the peakedest; but then she's
! got such little, white hands, and such
! black eyes and her cheeks are rs red as
any double hollyhock ever see. And
then Selma, she's plump as wood
! pigeon, and with hair like streaks of
| golden sunshine, and eyes as shy and
blue as wild asters. OF course, follSs'll
/ talk IL marry either of EN-, being as
they're poor and Miss Peabody takes
in washing; but reckon Pm able To
please myself, and amt got to say BY
your leave to nobody
Mr.. Bayberry was certainly able to
please himself, if the best farm in the
county, with cozy dwelling house
and II snug "nest-egg' in the village
bank gave him the right.
And / must marry SOON he con-
tinued, growing more perplexed than
ever; "for Miss Cranebil has limited
pretty strong of late that | may have
to look out for another housekeeper
soon, as filks are beginning to talk.
Strange they never began to talk be-
fore, when she's kept house for me
three years now. | s'pose she has an
eye ON being mistress here from the
way she talks
On the same Saturday afternoon
pretty Selma Peabody had been iron
ing since o'clock in the morning.
The heat in the close kitchen had
crimsoned her cheeks and curled her
hair in little ringlets about her fore
head.
IL do wonder she was thinking to
herself, with happy light in the
shy, blue eyes ~ wonder if he will
be at church tomorrow, and if he will
walk home with us"
AS the acute reader doubtless
guesses, the "hen in this instance
meant Mr.. Bayberry.
81 hope it won't snow tomorrow,
thought Miss Delilah Dobbins, as she
doubled pink satin ribbon into
bow and tried its effect on her com
pleXion. 81 hope it won't snow, for
want to go to church. OF course Mr..
Bayberry will be there, and if | don't
get proposal from him this time it
won't be my fault. Pm tired to death
of working and drudging and being
nobod :, and tomorrow I'll get my |
wits to work, and -
"Delilah!p
Dear me? there's ma calling: what |
do they want now?o
And Miss Delilah founced down
stairs with an impatient shrur of the |
shoulders and a frown between her
black eyes.
"WeIl, what do You want@' she
pouted sulkily.
Her stepmother looked up with a |
pale face from the basket of clothes
over which she was STOPPING.
II thiAk you will have ia carry,
Mrs. Simonson's clothes home, Deli t
lah. Ned has to go to the mill, I
81 won't do any such thing y,
snapped the black-eyed beauty, cross
~. Garry home clothes, indeed as
If was servant girl! Why don't /
Selma go. II anybody must ?''
Selma has been ironing since early (
this morning, and is tired OUT an |
swered Mrs. Peabody mildly, not
daring to venture II stronger remon-
STRANGE.
Well, upon my word, " sneered De-
lilah, "Selina's getting mighty fine of
late, if n little work lays her out. ANY
how, shan't drudge, if Mrs. Simon
son goes without clothes all the DAYS
OF her life, Pm busy fixing my dress
To go to church tomorrow, so YOU
needn't call me any more till supper is
ready.n
And she hastened back to finish the
punk bow and put another ruflle on
the skirt of her cashmere frock.
What shall! we do, Selna?n groau-
ca Mrs. Peabody, despairingly. Mrs.
Simonson' our best customer, and she's
so pertikler about havin' her clothes
carry Saturday afternoon. and
Delllah' S so fractious-n
Never mind sDelilah, ma. I'll
take the clothes home | amt so very
you won't have so much Ia
', w HoPl'0i. paiCheu lnc cOftee IN
the oven while | was ironing, and
there is enough cold biscuit and ap-
ple-sauce."
And Selma hurridly wrapped a
scarlet and ba KIP aid shawl about her
plump shoulders, tied on her blue
worsled hood and started out with
Mrs Simonson's basket of clothes.
Jerusalem! I've got IL nowu, and
the irown disappeared from over Mr.
Bayberry's nose, while his handsome
face frightened perceptibly. III see
my way now, clear as daylight and |
'han't have to marry Miss Cranehill.
or so without n housekee per either.
as she hintei would Pm goin to
leave 1t all TO chnnce--or Providence.
rathcr--an' the first one of them girls
see by herself Pm n goin' To pop the
question To her right straight oil AM
now, that question's settled and Off
my mind, I'll 20 down am see Squire
about trading fur that gray
mare of his'n.p 80
And donning his overcoat and hat.
Mr.. Bayberry strobe down the frosty
road To Squire Simonson's, and also
~ IN - ~ 4