The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-07
MISS BASHBY.
A $500 PRIZE STORY.

The old Beehive is a-goin' to be
tore down." said Keturah, as she
placed plate of buckwheat CAKES on
the breakfast table.
"The Beehive torn down {" said
mother. why, Keturah, who told
you?"
"Jones's boy, when he KEN to
borrer the wheel barrer. He says,
'ays he, There a-goin' 20 tear down
the old Beehive ; and time enough,
too, says 1t hain't been fit for hu-
man creetors to live in this long
time"
Edward" said mother, g have
you heard anything of this ?"
Father slowly emerged from the
depth of his morning paper. What
Oh, the old Weatherbee place Yes,
| believe the town has decided that
it is unsafe to live in, and so better
be torn down"
Poor Miss Bashbyp p said moth
er. What will become of her? ?"
Poorhouse, most likely" ans wer-
ed father, dreamily, again absorbed
in the stock list.
The old Weatherbee house, or the
Bee hive, as it was called, stood on
a hill just at the outskirts of the viii
lage A winding lane led up to it
from the main street, lane that in
summer was a tangle of blackberry
and sweet-brier bushes, with here
and there a gnarled oak tree leaning
against the old stone wall. People
said that it was once a pretty avenue
that led up in gradual windings TO
the fine house on the hill.
But the once fine house was now
a dilapidated old building, and only
cart track wound up the hill
among the tangle of neglected trees
and SHRUBS. 1t was a two-storied,
squarely built house, with huge
chimneys and small diamond paned
windows. A flight of stone steps
led up to the front door, and long
/ connected the main house with
huge barns and outhouses.
But the windows were broken, a
part Of the main roof had fallen in.
and only two rooms in the l. had
been habiiable for many years.
There Miss Bathsbeba and her IN
valid sister. Miss Patience, had lived,
dependent for their daily bread on
the pittance tie two earned by plain
sewing and the kindly charity o: the
neighbors.
Miss Patience, who, Miss Bashby
often scornfully declared, hadn't a
DIT of Weatherbee pride in her, re-
ceiveG gratefully the assistance of
friends, but Miss Bashby could not
forget that she was a Weatherbee.
and accepted what was given her
more as her right than as gift.
Often mother sent US children up
the long lane to the old house, with
some little delicacy to tempt the ap-
petite Of the invalid. | dreaded, vet
was half glad to go. The old house,
and the two tall women with their
queer. old-time ways, had a strong
fascination for me-
As | stood on the worn steps,
knocking at the door, and heard the
slow tread of Miss Basnby echoing
down the long passage, | felt like |
placing my basket on the door-sill |
and running away.
What do you want, child ?"
please Miss-Miss Weatherbee
mother sent you this"
"Ohl" said Miss Bashby, calmly, !
as she lifted the snowy napkin, |
Jelly 1t looks nice ! nope it will
taste as good as it looks. Tell your
mother that the last she sent was a
little too strong of lemon | hope
this is better" !"
Then the soft voice of Miss Patience
Hoated out through the doorway
is that you, Sadie Allen? Tell your
mother, dear, that we are very
for her kindness" Then
Miss Bashby shut the door with an
emphatic bang, and l knew, as well
as if had heard it, that Miss Pa
tience vas receiving lecture, repeat
ed for the five hundreth time, on her
want of pride.
At last one day, poor Miss Pa
tience, weary of life, slipped out
quietly. and was laid to sleep with /
the rest of her grand family in the
great Weatherbee tomb.
| have 10 doubt Miss Bashby sor-
rowed long and bitterly for her SIS
ter, but the tears she shed, if any,
10 secret; no one ever saw her weep I
An extra bow of black on the old
fashioned bonnet; a sterner set to
the thin lips; few added crows
feet under the cold gray eyes-that
was all.
And now this house was TO be
torn down-not fit to live in-but
what could be done with poor Miss
Not many of the neigh
bors had any sympathy for her, but
mothers tender heart was touched.
"If she has to go to the poorhouse,
;. ~, a. l1u,b of barT eha "a