The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-08-20
WINNING A TREASURE.

And she glanced around her
breakfast table, quite as though an
awful tragedy had taken place, and
the two pretty girls who sat there,
evidently engrossed with the morn
ing meal, were in some dark and
dreadful manner, responsible for 1t.
"And so, l say" went on the
madam, with growing resolution,
and seeing that she was going to re-
ceive no comment or reply from the
others, II say, that the sooner 1t IS
begun, the sooner it will be done. =
"Rose, quoth bright eyed Barbara
Arden. soto voce, "did You ever
suspect the matter Of dabbling in
logic before? ] confess | begin to
entertain foul suspicion"
But fair, stately Rose did net
deign a reply, and Mrs. Arden went
on resolutely, warming with her sub
iect as she continued:
After breakfast, Rose will 60 10
the postoffice. and you, Barbara,
will get the stepladders and dust the
shelves in the library-the very top
most ones have not seen a duster In
SO long-I don't like to think of it,
Barbara groaned aloud in tragic
despair.
Can such things be and overcome
us like summer cloud, without our
special wonder ?" she quoted, lugu-
briously. Mamma, you drive me
to the verge of distraction. But first
inform us, have you decided to take
the gentleman to board this sum-
mer who applied for the room And
if SO, who is he, and what is he like +?
Since Rose and | are to contribute so
extensively to the order and we'll
being of the Arden household, we
must know something OF the new
member of the family"
He is good enough looking, .
commented Mrs. Arden, carelessly /;
zone of those blonde, sleepy-lookiDg
men, with languid grace; be is
"A perfect dude" interpolated
Barbara, saucily. "I'll venture TO
predict that he'll be taken down a
peg or two before he is here long.
And what is his name, mamma? ?
We are dying to hear the particu-
lars"
Barbara, you are getting too old
to exhibit such frivolity and foolish
ness !" reprimanded Mrs. Arden,
sharply.
Barbara shrugged her shoulder
with an expressive grimace.
"Yts, am getting along in years,
she returned, thoughtfully. Il shall
be half century old in just thirty
years, if l live so long. But do re-
lieve our curiosity, mamma, will you
not ?"
Mrs. Arden smiled in spite of the
fact that she was always lecturing
Barbara, and lived in constant ter
ror of the girl committing some rash
or unheard of action. | think she
loved Barbara better than any one
else in the world. We are so apt to
care most for whatever gives Us the
greatest anxiety aud trouble. Re
member the prodigal son.
His name is Walter Norton, she
returned. land be is a professor in
Madison College-a very young pro-
fessor, it is true, not overthirty; but
he has been very highly recommend
ed to me, and is considered the most
competent instructor geology is his
forte, | believe) that was ever en-
ployed at Madison. A very superior
young man, l should judge, from my
limited interview with him yesteT-
day"
"Oh, yes" supplemented Barbara,
her lip curling, Il know all about
that sort of person. Parts his hair
(what there is of it, in the middle
wears an eyeglass always, speaks
with an affected drawl. and is very
sure to treat you to the tertiary for
nation, always a favorite subject,
you know, its clay beds, limestones,
etc, and constantly refers to Hugh
Miller. Mamma, | must read the
Old Red Sandstone over again, and
brush up my fragmentary knowl-
edge of the different strata of the
earth's formation, but | warn you
now, seriously, l had as soon have a
fossil in the house, or q petrification,
as this young exponent OF geology.
But, my dear Barbara, we need
the money. His board bill will help
us greatly. Don't encourage a fool
ish prejudice against a person v hom
you have never met. He Will be
here tomorrow, and in the mean
time the east room must be put in
order for his coming. The windows
must be washed and the"
Il will do it." cried Barbara, aris-
ing from the table at last, when |
finish the library shelves. Jane will
carry the ladder up stairs for me,
and then she can assist you here, on
the lower floor. Yes, mamma, |
know that l can do it creditably,
and Jane is SO busy, and-well,
there is no one else, you know"
For everybody understood intui-
lively that hard work never by any
possibility devolved upon pretty
Rose. The home of the Ardens was
in small country town, and as la
Dor was difficult to procure, Mrs. Ar
den, Notwithstanding the help of
Jane, was often compelled to call up
on willing Barbara. The girl was
strong and active, fond of work, and
better than all, she was willing to do
it. SO her mother resigned much of
the household care to Barbara's COM
petent management, and felt quite
secure in the experiment. One thing
certain, whoever won Barbara Arden
for wife, would gain a thorough
housekeeper as well as a cultured
woman. True, Rose could perform
the most bewildering iantasias upon
the piano, and execute marvellous
wonders in the embroidery line, but
Barbara knew how to make home
home-like, and upon this knowledge
hangs the whole secret of domes tic
happiness.