The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-04-29

re 10 nave PIE every uhy,
chuckled Moses who liked good things
to eat and drink.
"And I'm to lay up the berry
money for blue muslin frock all of
my own," added Adelina, who never
had worn anything but her mothers
faded old calico gowns scantily cut
over.
'I'm to have bran.fre new tool
chest if / raise the red heifer cali"
exulted George, the tallest boy.
And Leroy, the eldest, who had
been scolded, snubbed and kept down
all his life, felt, with thrill of hap
piness, that his new stepmother Sc
cretly sympathizod with his efforts to
rise in the world.
snow she's here" thought Leroy,
81 feel as if l could do most any
thing"
Mr.. Blidgefeld had scarcely been
married week when he came home
on a raw, rainy night, with the pack
cts of groceries under his arms, and
dissatisfied frown between his brows.
"Two Candles" he said, peeping
gloomily under the ball llfringed win
dow curtain. "And chicken for sup
per-and apple.sass, and cheesel And
every one settin' round, and nobody
doin' no work. This won't do. Nancy
must learn better than this.
He opened the door and walked
grimly in.
Dead silence fell upon the children
at the wet-blanketing apparition of
"father." But Nancy looked cheer
fully up.
"You're late, aren't you, Benja.
min?" said she.
"What's this?" said Mr.. Blidge-
field, ignoring her query, as he glared
around.
"It's supper" said Nancy. ''Sit
down, my dear, and help yourself. D."
"Chicken!" croaked the farmer, and
spring chicken at that, when they're
a-fetchin' 60 cents n pair at the hotel !
Sweet cake, sass, and the best knives |!
Moses, put them fowls back in the
cupboard. There's plenty o. cold
pork left from yesterday, 1 calculate.
Ad'liny, blow out one o. them candles.
The way we burn candles is redick-
lous-and store candles, tool Why, we
never thought o usin' anything but
dip candles when"
"AToses, let the chickens alone, "
said Mrs. Blidgefield, in softly delib-
crate accents. "Adelina, don't med
die with the candles"
"What," roared Mr.. Blidgefeld,
banging the package of sugar down
on the table, and rattling the candles
beside them like small spark of ar
tilery.
81 thought perhaps you had for
gotten that was housekeeper here
said Nancy.
The children turned as many colors
as the rainbow Moses, who was con-
stitutionally nervous, got behind his
stepmother; Simeon edged little
nearer to the poker Marion swallowed
her last morsel of cake with Such
precipitation as nearly to choke her
self; AdeIina began to sob any snive
under her breath.
"Mrs. Blidgetield,' said the irat,
farmer, "will you be SO good as tc
explain yourself?
"Oh certaiuly!" said the late Mis-
Nancy Bloom. "Asj long as I an
mistres, here / intend to consult m,
own inclinations! shall unlertak,
to give you good food, and to keel
yourself and your children comfort
ably clothed; but shall choose m.
own method of doing it.
"Madam," said Mr.. Blidgefield
loosening The folds of his cravat. as i
there came an apoplectic pressure
there, "you will obey me, or you will
leave my house. "
"Oh no; guess notl" said Name,
serenely. ''It's my house now. Yol
put it in my name the day after w
were married, to escape tax alton. Blu
you were mistaken then. intend t.
pay the taxes regularly on it myself
1t is no part OF my policy to evad
my just debts. And I've none,
enough saved from school-te ching t.
run the farm very nicely, with th
help OF Leroy and George"
"They shan't stay here!" shoute'
Mr.. Blidgefield, the veins starting ou
on his temples like ragged whip