The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-06-02

York. very shortly; but hs did not
like the way the drawing-rooms
looked"
"a am sure l don't know what ails
EN-" said the aggrieved lady. The
oil paintin's are all lively lookin', and
you wouldn't believe 1t II l should tell
you what the carpets and furniture
cost"
In short, she wanted Miss Bedford
10 .'call around and fix things up In
style"
How Jack would have laughed at
the professional manner his sister rs
sumed. rs she made a prctenSe Of con-
sulting her tablets. and then found
that she could spare the next day for
The service of her visitor! Then the
deeply-gratiied McStuffum was bowed
out of the room. think that same
individual would have been decidedly
astonished, however. could she have
seen the pas seM that Lady Barbara
INDUCED in after carefully closing the
drawing room door. Her worthy an
cestor of Congressional fame looked
down from his picture-frame with
diguifed disapproval, as Barbara
waved and shook the paper contain
ing her advertisement in his very
face.
The next evening, tired and happy.
Barbara glecfully r%ecounted her all
ventures at the McStuifums' to her
brothers and sister.
She had found the drawlng-rooms
such a chaos of gilt frames and
crude colors, with a perfectly hope
less carpet" But she had tried to
make the best she could out of things.
Not without a struggle she had pre-
vailed on Mrs. McStuffum to have
some of the 'lively paintings hun 6
in less conspicuous places, and en-
cravings and etchings hung in their
stead. Curtains had been redraped.
and a few really choice books put
where they could be seen, while vari-
ous cheap and gaudy ornaments had
been. consigned to oblivion. She had
pulled chairs around so that they
would look as if intended to be sat
upon, and, best of all. spread a beau
tiful Persian rug over the obnoxious
carpet. In fact, it was impossible to
describe all the changes she had
wrought, or the delight of both MI.
and Mrs. McStuffum. They had en-
gagged her to come every week 'to see
that things were kept all right" And
then it was 4 proud little Barbara
who exhibited a iive-dollar bill to her
admiring brothers and sister.
This engagement led to Others.
Barbara had q number of friends pos
sessed of ample means, who were only
too glad TO avail themselves of her
weil-known taste and skill in house
decoration. To be sure. they were a
little shocked at first at her new de-
p~arture; but this feeling soon gave
way before her enthusiasm and sue
cess.
She entered into an agreement with
several reliable business establish
ments, by which she received a COM
mission on goods purchased. and in
this way the monthly bills lost their
terror for herself as well as for Jack.
Barbara had been engaged in her
ne enterprise for about four months.
when she one day received an order
for work in the library of a Dr. Wor-
cester. He wrote that he had recently
come into possession of q large num-
Der of valuable books. and, having
had new shelves made, he wished 10
rearrange and classify his whole
library.
Here was work after Barbara's own
heart. She vas passionately fond of
books, an declared she always re-
ceived inspiration from contact even
with their covers. Her fertile imagi-
nation pictured 10 her mind the schol-
arly old gentleman whose ~hcquaint-
ance she va, about to make, to their
mutual benefit.
i know by his lester that he is a
delightful gentleman Of the old school.
Think what a chance l shall have for
improving my mind!' she exclaimed
rapturously to jack.
But, much TO Barbara's disappoint-
m mt, Oh reaching the doctors fine
residence the next day, she was told
BY the comfortable, mothetly house.
keeper. Mrs. Boardman, that DR..
Worcester had been obliged TO leave
home Unexpectedly. However. he
hoped Miss Bedford could work with.
out him, as he was extremely deslrous
of having his books arranged as soon
rs possible, and he had left full dircc,
tons, as to the manner Of classified
ton, etc, in writing.
Having told her this. Mrs. B rdman
lei Barbara into a spacious, richly.
furnished room, which our young
friend inwarl'y pronounced utterly
perfect for n library From the cheer
full wood fire bur ming on the tiled
hearth, to the rich Persian rugs on the
highly polished floor; the rare engrav-
ings and elchings on Me wall, to the
exquisitive draperies. or beautiful and
unique objects of art and antiquity