Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-02-11

stairs. L must go and see about your
tea, for you will have company to-day
you see, sir y
"'Stop moment, Mrs. Robinson.
| When did you say he came p
"'Soon after five. But | really must
go. sir the old gentleman will want
his tea after all this excitement
''I went back to the kitchen /; but
Mr.. Bsyley did not remain long in the
dining-room, for / soon heard him going
upstairs, two steps at time, as was
usual with him.
"Quite half an hour passed, and there
was no sound from upstairs, so L put
Mrs. Bayley's tea on her tray and car
ried it up.
''The ugly old gentleman had van
ished, and a kind, benevolent-loOking
old man had taken his place he had a
little flush on his cheeks, tender light
in his eyes, and his very voice seemed
changed-it had grown more like my
dear young lady's.
"Mr. Bayley had his boy In his arms,
and glance showed me that our pa
tient had taken no harm happiness
does not often hurt folks, and | meant
to see that she had quiet evening.
Il stood a moment and watched
them /; no one noticed me but Mrs. Bay
ley. who gave NE a bright smile.
''l wish you all happy Christmasp
said L.
1.-The same TO you, Mrs. Robinson,
and many of them = cried. Mr.. Bayley,
shaking my hand till | thought he
would have my arm out of its socket.
"'Whatever did you mean by trying
to frighten me out of my senses?' asked
Mr.. Conder, shaking his head at me,
but with broad smile playing all
round his mouth.
"'NOI out of your senses, sir, but
into theml But please To go down and
get your tea; it's all ready, and 1 do
not want to have Mrs. Bsyley kept
waiting for hers.'
81 fetched in Mrs. Bayley's tray, and
placed it ON her little table, and then
took baby from his fathers arms. They
went down at last, but it was not easy
10 drive them away. When We were
alone, Mrs. Bayley began
"'Oh. my dear Mrs. Robinson, come
herel Heaven bless you for what you
have done Poor papa was so misera-
BILE; and he did want TO be friends. Oh,
you will never know how thankful you
have made US all l'-and she kissed Inc
as have never been kissed since my
mother died.
s'As | looked a. her sweet face, and
heard her speak those glad words, such
a feeling of peace and joy crept into my
deSolate heart. How ] wished that |
had tried to make somebody happy be-
fore, for surely it was the best receipt |
had ever tried for being happy myself
Don't interrupt me child. Any littls
thing that have done for INV husbands
family was my clear duty somehow
this was different.
But baby did not give me much
time to indulge in such thoughts, for he
began to cry; and, by the time | had
pacified him, the gentlemen came back.
II told Mr.. Bayley that his wife must
have a quiet evening. OF We should have
Doctor Stockton finding fault with us I;
also told Mr.. Conder that there was
a bedroom at his service if he could
stay all night.
"'Oh, do stay, papa
=" | should like to do so very much,
Rose, the old gentleman replied, If you
will all have me. know that there is
a telegraph-office here, Mrs. Robinson
and he looked across at me with a
comical face-'so L Will send my house.
keeper a message and then she will not
expect me-
THAT'S right ! exclaimed Mr.. Bay
ley. Il will walk up TO The office with
you
Vincent, said Mrs. Bayley, pull
ing her husbands head down as he
stopped over her.
"'What's that =? What's that you
are saying, my dear?' asked Mr.. Conder
suspiciOusly.
"'Rose wants me to buy goose, re-
piled Mr.. Bayley, laughing.
81 said turkey, Vincent, not
goose
"'Oh, my dear, | will see TO that
Don't concern yourself about such
things. What would you have had if
this excellent woman Mr.. Conder said,
with flourish of his hand towards me,
had not taken the matter into her own
hands?'
"I scarcely know, papa; for, since
| have been upstairs, Mrs. RObinscn
has done all my shopping
"'And good thing too said l, 'for
it Was chops and steaks till you must
have been tired of them =
leone along, Vincent. My dear,
leave it all to me. | will see to it,
"And he did see to it In less than
an hour L had got Mrs. Bayley and baby
comfortably to bed, and, leaving the
bell-rOpe where she could easily reach
it, went downstairs. Then the back
and front doOr-bells went in fine style,
and Betsey Jane was running from one
to the other like child at play.
I" never saw the like, ma'am y de-
clared the girl, as she looked round the
kitchen to see where she could empty
basket the grocer had just sent.
81 had never seen the like either in
my kitchen but OF course L did not
tell Betsy Jane that. When the gentle
men returned, the old one was carrying
a bunch of mistletoe and holly, and Mr..
Bayley had a great bunch of dollhouse
grapes.
.''Well, neverl y exclaimed Betsey
Jane, when she opened the door for
them-for that girl always said what
ever she thought. l often felt that she
would not have done for some lodging
houses; but it did not signify with me.
"Mr. Bayley was of course going
up to his wife's room; but
told him she and baby were sure to he
asleep, and begged him to leave them
alone.
.'Have the things come p asked Mr..
Conder.
"'Yes, sir /; my kitchen looks like a
little market, with the two turkeys, the
fruit, cakes, and parcelsl'
"'May We come and see p asked the
old gentleman.
81 was glad for them To come. for |
didn't know what TO do with all the
things; and, to do Betsey Jane Justice,
you might have eaten off her floor with
fewer qualms than from some of the
neighbors' plates. Mr.. Gender took off
4. q -.