Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-29
Talfs aud Sketehes.
BARBARA.

"Oh. look, Ida, what gem OF a pic
ture!"
1t hung in the best place in Mr.. Burney's
shop, where the slanting sunset light gave
a glimmer of positive reality 20 the green
waves breaking on the strand and touched
the tiny rose-colored shells with yet
piuker CLEAN; and Ida Maurice's eyes
rested upon it with instructive admiration.
"Yes - she said. sit is very lovely.
should like to buv it if we were rich. But
come, Barbara, we shalt be late"
And the two girls hurried away.
Clarence Charters, who had been care
lessly turning over portfolio of engrav-
ings at the back of the shop. his dark,
handsome face hidden by the brim of his
Panama bat, came forward as they left
the little place.
1.-Two very pretty faces he said indif-
ferently. What is the price of this crys-
tai paper weight Pr
Seventy cents. SIR" the shopman made
answer promptly. Eyes, sir; they are
beautiful young ladies, and there is quite
little romance connected with their his
tory"
"a romance, eh ?" Clarence raised his
large, dark eyes to the face of the dapper
little tradesman. who, delighted to obtain
a new ear, went on glibly:
you've noticed that large gray stone
house on the cliff. built after the fashion
of castle Eagles Nest. sir, it is called
hereabouts,''
"Yes. have seen it,"
well. sir, those young ladies were
born and brought up there oy an Uncle
brought up, sir, not to touch their hands
| 10 oh lra yn~l-
al princesses. So it went on until just the
very month before the old gentleman's
death. when overhauling lot of old let
tiers, he found one written by the young
ladies' father-his sisters husband, sir, a
careless letter such as young men will
write, making fun of him and taking off
some of his weak points-he had plenty
of 'em sir. had old Moses Barchester. So
he was towering mad. and natural enough
too! And never stopped to consider that
the hand that wrote that letter-and the
eyes that read it too,-had been moulder-
ing in the grave for Is years, he goes and
alters his will, and leaves all his property
away from the young girls, as had been
brought up to consider themselves his
heiresses, to a far away cousin up in
Maine! And you can guess the shock it
was when the will was read, and Miss Ida
and Miss Barbara Maurice found they'd
got 10 turn to work for living. Just like
other folks!'
81 should think likely" said Mr.. Char
teris. How did they take the revela-
tionp"
Like heroines, sir. Miss Ida is giving
music lessons to the young ladies that
come to Seacliff, this season. for ocean air
and sea bathing. Miss Barbara-the young
est, sir, and you can't imagine what pet
she used to be with the old gentleman
does fine embroidery for fancy store in
New York. Put together their incomes
amt what they used to spend for kid
gloves and cologne water. But they 60
about as brave and smiling as if the
ground hadn't been cut away from under
their feet. as one may say"
Yes" said Mr.. Charters, "Quite ro-
nance, as you remark. Well, Mr.. Bur-
ney, if you will send for that book, III
call in again in day or two"
Certainly, sir. certainly" said the
bookseller, and he looked after Charters
tall figure, never once mistrusting that he
had been telling the history of the orphan
maidens to the heir of Eagles nest.
Give music lessons, ehp" said Clar-
ence to himself. "And work fine needle
work! There are two sides, it seems, to
every mundane question. And they never
told me, when | received the notification
that old Barchester had willed this fine
estate to me, that | was about to make
beggers of two girls with faces like
Guido's angels. | must manage to see
them again.