The Van Buren press., 1893-07-08

- / should like The house newly par
psrsd and repainted, snd the partition
between the parlors taken down and
replaced BY an arch. and IN extension
dininR-room built out behind, and . bay
window thrown out Of the parlor. and
. new style of range h the kitchen.
and dumb-waitef pat In. and new
bron re chandeliers throughout, and an
other furnace In the sub-cellar, and"
Hold on, ma'am-just hold ON ono
minute" said Nahum, gsspinR for
breath. Wouldn't you like the old
house carted away and new one put
in its place? think It would be rather
less trouble than to make the triding
alterations you suggest
With prim dignity the lady mar
shaled her two charges out, muttering
something about 1.-THE extortionate
ideas Of some landlords nowadays"
Another lady. but quite different
from the other-a slender. little. cast
down lady, with . head that drooped
like ly-of-the-valley, and dress OF
brown silk that had been mended and
darned and turned and retrimmed nm
til even Nahum Briggs, man and bach
elor that he was. could see how very
shabby it was.
Yet she was pretty. with big blue
eyes and shining brown bsir, and
cheeks tinged with = faint, heeting
color, where the velvety roses of youth
had once bloomed in vivid carmine.
And the golden-haired little lassies
who clung to her dress were - like her
Is tiny lily-buds to full-bloomed flower
bells.
As Nahum Briggs stood looking ut
her there came back to him the sum
shiny days Of his youth field Of
clover and blue-eyed girl leaning over
the fence. with hsr bright hair barred
with sunset gold, and he knew that
he was standing face to face with the
girl whose blue eyes had kept him IN
old bachelor all his life long
'sThis house in to let, believer" she
asked, timidly.
81 believe it Is, Barbara Wylie.r
She looked up. starting with . sud-
den flush Of recognition.
"If you please, Mr.. Briggs, I will
look at the house. l am widow now,
and very poor, and-and l think of
keeping boarding house to earn my
bread. hope the rent Is not very
highr'
"Well talk about the rent after
wards" said Nahum, swallowing big
lump in his throat. ''Come here, little
girls, and kiss me; used to know your
mamma when she wasn't much bigger
than you are"
Bsrbara, with her blue eyes still
dropping, went all over the house with
out finding . word of fault, and Nahum
Briggs walked 1t her side, wondering
il it really was fifteen years since the
June sunshine lay 30 brightly on the
clover field.
II think the house is beautiful" !"
said meek barbara will you rent II
to me?''
well, yes" said Nahum. Thought
fully, I'm let you have the house if you
want It, Barbara
"with ths privilege Of keeping few
boardcrs?"
"No!"
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully
at him.
''But don't think you understand
how very poor am, Mr.. Briggs"
''I'll tell you what, Barbara" said
Mr.. Briggs, dictatorially, sIll give you
the privilege of keeping just one board
er, and him you've got to keep all your
life, if you once take him."
Il don't think / quite understand you,
Mr.. Briggs" said Barbara. but one is
rather inclined to think she told lit
tie fib.
What do you say TO me for boarder,
Barbara" said the old bachelor, TAX
ing both the widows hands in his
Barbara, I'll do my best to be good
husband to you if you'll be my wife"
Barbara blushed again, and hesitated,
but Nahum was not to be eluded.
''Shall take down the to let, Bar
bara?"
"Yes," she murmured, almost under
her breath.
''And when shall we be married, Bar
bara?'
I'm the summer. perhaps" said Mrs.
Barbara, shyly.
Tomorrow" said Nahum, decisive
ly; and tomorrow" 1t was.
The probabilities are that neither Mr.
Nahum Briggs nor his brown stone
house will be in the market again ITO
let. Boston Globe.