The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-29
The aaaieha naiu Eao ghursaau oruime gunc 20, 1888

a few slight alterations, I will engage
it for my brothers family"
"Very good, ma'an," said Nahum,
rubbing his hands, and seeming a
speedy termination to his trials. Name
EN-"
The door handles must all be gilded,
and should like the house newly pa
pered and reprinted, and the partition
between the parlors taken down and
replaced by an arch, and an extension
diniYg-room built out behind, and bay
wipdow thrown out of the parlor. and
anew style of range in the kitchen,
and a dumb-waiter put in. and new
bron ze chandeliers throughout, and an
other furnace in the sub-cellar, and
Hold on. ma am-just hold on one
minute" said Nahum, gasping 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 trifing
alterations you suggest.
With prim dignity the lady mar
shaled her two charges out, muttering
something about '.the extortionate
ideas of some landlords nowadays
Another lady, but quite different
from the other-a slender, little. cast
down lady, with head that dropped
like ly-of-the-valley, and dress of
brown silk that had been mended and
darned and turned and retrimmed un-
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 hair. and
cheeks tinged with a faint, feeting
color, where the Velvety roses of youth
had once bloomed in vivid carnine.
And the golden-haired little lassies
as tiny lily buds to full bloomed flower
bells.
AS Nahum Briggs stood looking at
her there came back to him the sun
shiny days of his youth-a field Of
clover and blue-eyed girl leaning over
the fence with her 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 an
OAO UdCIlclOT I'LL Ills illt ICllS.
''This house is to let, believer" she
asked, timidly
81 believe it is, Barbara Wylie."
She looked up. starting with a sud-
den flush of recognition.
IF you please, Mr.. Briggs, 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
high?"
''We'l talk about the rent after
wards" said Nahum, swallowing a 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"
Barbara. with her blue eyes still
dropping, went all over the house with
out finding q word of fault, and Nahum
Briggs walked at her side, wondering
if it really was fifteen years since the
June sunshine lay SO brightly on the
clover field.
81 think the house is beautiful"
said meek Barbara. Will you rent it
to me?''
well, yes" said Nahum, thought
fully, III let you have the house if you
want it. Barbara"
with the privilege of keeping few
boarders?"
MOI
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully
at him.
''But I don't think you understand
how very poor am, Mr.. Briggs
"Tn tell you what, Barbara" said
Mr.. Briggs, dictatoially, ''I'll give you
the privilege of keeping just one board
err, 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 sayto me for boarder,
said the old bachelor, TAX
ing both the widows hands in his.
Barbara, III 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?"
''In the summer, perhaps said Mrs.
Barbara. shyly.
''To- morrow," said Nahum, decisive
"; and Tomorrow" it was
The probabilities are that neither Mr.. |
Nahum Briggs nor his brown stone |
house will be in the market again Ito |
let Boston Globe.
She Would Convert Him.