Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-16

lnent OF n box Of marion glaces for the sup
per table diverted her attention from the
! topic under discussion
At IA Currant court however, the Widow
Ransom was furious
depend upon it, Lucy" said she to her
daughter, who did plain sewing for a live
llhood, this is one Of Madeline Barches-
ter's sly, underhand tricks, and Pve moth
Ing to do with it. You personate Bess Bar
chester indeed You're about us much
like her as pumpkin is like parsnip. II
Bess is ashamed of her cations let her
say so candidly"
But, mother" pleaded meek Lucy.
what can we dor Madeline has got
good deal Of work for me among her grand
friends''-
An that don't make ii your duty to tell
lie, nor to act it, neither TO suit her
whims," said the old lady.
And they're to have great party on
Tuesday evening, you know"
well, suppose they are2 Didn't Bess
and Madeline and the two girls spend all
the summer at Blackford farm three years
agof Uncle Zabdiel didn't make any ex-
cuse for getting rid Of them then, did hep
declare, they've no more hearts than so
many slabs Of granite"
At this moment, however, there was
ring at the bell, and two fair tressed, slim,
young girls rushed breezily into the room,
dragging Il brown faced old farmer be-
them.
TITS Dora and me-" said Honora Bar
chester, breathless and red checked. "And
we have brought Uncle Zabdiel with u.s."
TITS Nora and mep put in Eudora,
crowding herself into the foreground.
How do you do, Cousin Ransom and
Lucyl We went to the depot TO meet him,
and a good job It WAS, for he hadn't the
least idea which way TO 60"
He was heading straight for the Wee
hawken ferry" giggled Honora
Uncle Habdiel's round moon face beamed
all over.
II expect ] be prsty stupid" said he,
but guess | should "a fetched round all
right II these ERE girls hadn't took posses
sion of ms. Where's the bag o hickory
nuts, Honory' Who's got the basket o.
pound sweets, Eudory' Here's the carpet
sack and paper box all right"
He shook hands heartily with Mrs Ran
som and Lucy.
How be you, Phebei" pursued he
And little Lucy tooi Got 10 DO woman,
hain't your Livtn with the judges folks
| SUPPOSE But where's Madeline and my
little tavorite, Besx'"
Lucy and her mother looked hasitatingly
at each other, but Honora plunged intotho
question at onca
TN tell you. Uncle Zabdiei," said she.
Nora and ! aren't fools, nor yet children,
and Madeline and Bsxs have treated us
shamefully. and so we are going TO be ~
venged by telling their secrsta They're
going TO have an at home, and they've In
vited lot Of grand people. and when they
got your letter they decided they didn't
want you"
"Heyp cried Uncle Zabdiel
YES" cried Eudora. taking up the
thread Of the discourse, the mean, un.
grateful thinRs-after all that dear, do
lightful summer Al BLACKBOARD farm, that
saved Bess' good for nothing life, they
laughed at your cowhide boots and chin
whiskers, and Madeline made believe to
cough out loud just 10 you do sometimes
and"-
We'll, declare" said Uncle zabdiei.
relieving his bronchial tubes by the same
identical cough and growing very red.
And So" again chimed in Honortl, you
were to be made TO believe that we lived al
Il Currant court aud kept out OF the way
Of the company"
They needn't put themselves 10 all that
trouble" said old Uncle Zabdiel, letting
his head drop on his two hands. "If they
hadn't wanted me, why didn't they say sol
want no one to peril their souls by telling
falsehoods on my account"
Both the girls flew at Uncle Zabdiel with |
hugs and kisses.
I'VE love you, Uncle ZabP said Dora
I'VE heard it all, even after
Madeline drove us out Of the room. We
listened at the register and we made up |
our minds you shouldn't be"-
Deceived and put uponp Nora struck |
in And please don't be vexed with as |
because we are Madeline's and Bess' little |
sisters! It's quite true what Dora says |
We do love you. We are tired OF being |
scolded by the girls and snubbed by papa. !
Please, Uncle Fab, mayn't we 20 back to |
the farm with you and be dairy girls or |
milkmaids or something Of that kindi Pm |
awful fond Of chickens, and Dora can
weed the onions and shell corn. Please |
Uncle Zabr'
The old man suddenly Strengthened him |
self up and dashed the big drops from his
eyelashes
"No, girls" said he, moi That ain my
notion. I've sold the old farm to a railway 1
and have made good bargain, 80 folks |
say. ! guess Pm what my consin, Judge /
would call rich man, and / |
was coming up scre to end my days with /
my relations and leave 'em my money after
was dead. But everything's different
now. ri hire house here, Phebe Ran
som-bere in New York--and you and |
Lucy shall be my housekeepers. And I'll
adopt Nora and Dora for my own. Yes,
girls, I've no daughters and you shall take
the place 10 me"
"Oh, dear Uncle Zabdielp' ecstatically
shrieked Dora and Nora with one accord.
Bess Barchester's at home" was a
very tame affair. The funny man did not
come at all. Miss Dale had such a cold
that her voice made no impression on the
company The wrong people all came and
The right people staid away. Altogether
Il scored ~ a failure. In spite Of MadeIine's
heroic efforts.