Connecticut western news., 1889-04-03
THE DRAGONS GIRLS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

'r never saw any one alter so much in my life," said Gran ther Allen. "There wasn't . prettier girl than Deborah Hale all the country through, ten years ago, and now look at her!"
 Gran'ther Allen was smoking his pipe out on the porch, where the morning glories, trained to strings, made a pret- ty stenciling of light and shade on the floor.
 His wife, a hearty old woman, with a complexion like rosy Spitzenberg ap- pie, had just come to the door.
 The Aliens kept the postoffice, but here in Pumpkintown the mail-coach passed through only twice week, and the Thursday letters were all sorte over and dealt out to their owners long ago.
 On the other side of the wide, maple shaded road stretched the we'll painted fences and thrifty out buildings of the Hubbard Farm, and it was of Mrs. Elias Hubbard, the deacon's second wife, that Gran'ther Allen spoke.
 ''I reckon,' said Mrs. Allen, s'tha, she has pretty hard scramble of it. Deacon Hubbard he don't believe iu keeping no hired help, and them three step darters, I sort O reckon they ain't easy to manage"
 "Milly ain't bad-hearted," observed Gran'th Allen.
 'tNo, and no more ain't Abby; and little Esther she loves Mrs. Hubbard as if she had been her own mother. But tho deacon he squeezcs every cent afore he pays it out. If Deborah was a hired help, she'd get wages, but I guess she don't see the color of much money as things is now."
 While the old postmaster and his wife were thus discussing the private affairs of the handsome, white-painted fam house opposite, the dwellers therein were greatly rejoicing over a certain piece ot luck which had befallen them, in tho shape of a bequest froma certain ancient grand uncle, who seemed to have over looked the necessity for dying unti now.
 He had left fifty dollars each to Milli cent, Abigail and Esther Hubbard ant each was discussing how she should spend this financial windfall.
 "Better put it in the savings bank gals, said Deacon Hubbard, sagely.
 ''But it was left to us to spend as w, pleased, father," pleaded Abigail, handsome, red-cheeked girl, with yer, black hair and eyes of the shallow, gilt tering ebon of glass bead. ''I shcult so like crimson cashmere gown"
 '.No, Abby, mo-, said Milliccnt whose style of beauty was decidedly tha of Tltian's Fornar;na. 'A gown in deed, to be worn out and done with Now is the chance, if ever, for piano."
 "A-piano!' Abby uttered th words with gasp. "But fifty dollar wouldn't buy piano."
 GA hundred and fifty would go fa toward it on the instalmcnt plan, ant out of the egg and butter and straw berry money we could easily manage tn rest, {" explained Millicent.
 The deacon stroked his chin thought fully. In his estimation piano wa the most frivolous of all things, ye there was something in Milly's business like way of putting the question iha gratiiied his paternal instincts.
 "The girl knows what she's talking about" he said to himself.
 ''Oh, Milly, wouldn't that be splcn did2' scientifically cried out Abby, danc ing up and down. "Where would yo buy it-at Downes' store?'
 ssNo, I'd send direct to Bridge port, said NIillicent, who was evident | the master spirit of the two. "Downe would have less variety, and he'd charg more into the bargain. l will write tc night if you think best, Abby"
 ''But what does Esther say2"
 '.Esthcr will say just as we do, c course."
 Esther Hubbard, the youngest an quietest of the three, was busy in parin apples for a certain favorite pudding C the deacon's.
 Her eyes were cast down, her cheek flushed
 ''No," she said, in low voice, C can't join in the piano project, girls I'm very sorry, but-I've spent m money"
 Deacon Hubbard dropped his news paper, and stared over the tops of hi spectacle glasses.