Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-06-12
ON glrls, ii it should be me, win you save

on girls, il it should be me, will you save
met"
'We'H all drown ourselves together, like
the seven sisters in the ballad, by what's
his name, " vaguely sobbed Myra.
We'll run away and live on wild cher
ries," said Flossy, the youngest.
But Bella recovered herself first.
Let US disgust him, - she cries, bravely
''Let US frighten him away. Let US show
him what it would be for an old man to
marry young girl who didn't care for
him.
my darlings, here Is Mr. Partridge,
come, hope, to make US a delightfully."-
long visit" said the mother to her dauRh-
ters hve minutes after, but the daughters
shook hands with the Partridge In limp
and unenthusiastic fashion, and retrestinR
TO sofa, began giggling together In q way
that Mortified their mother.
Generally they were so charming. Why,
when a fortune might be lost by it, would
they appear at their worst nowl The fact
that Dominick Partridge intended to look
for wife in her home had been communi-
Gated to her by Simon Millet, who had man
aged to get himself sent over with pres
ent of poultry.
"He's sort o. backward, on account Of
gettinkon in life," the old man had said;
"but you kin encourage him; and know
how solid he is and what he's worth"
With which recommendation he departed.
And now the middle-aged man sat looking
at the giggling girls, who might have been
his daughters; and their mother, in despair
1T their conduct, famed herself on her sofa.
and did her best to place them in favora-
BILE light. But when she sent Bella to the
piano, instead of playing ga Cascade of
Pearls," or ''The Rippling Waterfall" nice.
ly, pretended to forget her notes, and she
dared not bid Flossy bring her portfolio Of
drawings, because the girl had been max
ing caricaturcs of Mr.. Partridge on his
knees to babies in long frocks all day, and
was capable of producing those. And Myra
was dangerous when vexed; and she felt
pleased when Mr. Partridge declared that
he must see how the garden looked, and.
rising, sauntered out into it. Then, indeed.
she could scold her girls in whispers.
Domlnick Partridge did not linger to
listen, nor did he pause to look at the flow
ers he passed as he skirted the house, and
stopped at low window beside which a
woman sat peeling peaches. She was
dressed in black nuns vailiug, and wore
white linen collar and a little, dark GRIM
son bow at her throat. Over her dress was
tied q check apron. She bore traces of
great beauty in her face, but was fifty years
old, and looked it.
"Cousin Bee," said Dominlck Partridge,
Show are youf'
She looked up and smiled at him.
"Pm very WE'LL" she said. 'pm never
any thing else; and l suppose you aren't
SICK, or you wouldn't be flynn round after
the girls. hear you're goin' to marry?"
I'm generally refused, you know" he
answered; $50 shan't count my chickens
before they're hatched, this time.,'
She blushed
good"
He took one.
They don't hold candle to some of
mine," he said, as he ate it. ''pve kent up
my orchards. The place is a sight to be-
hold for beauty, Bee. The house wants
fxin'"
"For bridel" added Bee.
YES" said Dominick, ''for BRIDE. She
should hev her own way about things.
could afford it. How do you like being Mrs.
squire Dooson's housekeeper, Beer"
''Likep' repeated Bee. "Oh, l don't ex-
pect to Ike nowadays; Just put up with
things. can do l don't mind doin'. She
likes that. She calls me housekeeper. Pm
mere because she does; but do hard work
Tor very little pay. The other servant
they put cap on and call a maid Maid
and housekeeper. Well, as l said. eff
wasn't called housekeeper couldn't STAY.
and tried to sew at starvation prices aft
err
AFTER your husband died." said Domi-
nick.
"After he went off," said Bee. sternlv.
"But he has been dead three years.p
"And I've had enough fur two all this
while" said Dominick Partridge, softly.
"Well, I've no doubt one of the Misses
Dobson will share it," said Bee. "When
81 Millet told Mrs. Dobson, she was set
up, can tell you. I'd have Bella eff were
you. She's got the most sense. They
haven't any of them got too much, but
they're pretty"
"Pshaww said Dominick Partridge.
"Bee, did you believe Simon Millet when
ne SAID was such an old fool as to want
one OF those little girlsi I'm not an old
man. I've got years before me. feel
strong and feel prosperous, and ! feel
hadn't orter be alone, but / don't want a
dressy baby to bring up. What 1 want.
Bee, is you. You're dear, darling little
woman, and I've hankered after Won all
my life When heard for sure that your
Count
"He was Baron" said Bee.
"Well, that your Baron was dead. made
up my mind that I'd never left of LOVING
you; and jest four days ago said to INV.
sen: IN go over to Squire Dobson's and
ask Bee again. P'raps she'n hev me thfs
time.'"
~ don't know what you want of an old
thing like me-" said Bee; but she laughed.
and he kissed her.
Three young girls" peeping through
the hedge hard by, saw him, and clapping
their hands softly, ran away to tell their
mother.
"And he is awfully nice, and she is awful.
ly NICE" they cried, in q musical chorus;
land 1t was all mistake of that ridiculous
Simon; and you ought to be glad, ma, that
you didn't let him find out what you thought
One OF US and Mr.. PartridgeI Absurd. But
IT'S splendid for Bee, and romantic, for thev
were old lovers. IN. Y. Ledger.