The Mena weekly star., 1897-11-17

'i beard il, she finally snapped through set teeth.
 And there's his girl" pursued Dr. Beebe, bending over to lay his hat down upon the floor with an air of settled de- termination that did not escape Miss Marsh's notice.
 Look here, Dr. Beebe." Miss Marsh turned abruptly about on the old oaken seat. You know I wouldn't have one of Jordan Marsh's children in the house no more'n I'd have so much pizen. When Jordan married that cir GUS girl and went clownin' it washed my hands of him an all that belonged to him fer once am fer all.''
 But we can't wash our hands of duty very we'll" persisted the doctor, brave ly. "Hc was your half-brother."
 Don't I know that? Ain't that what Pm 'shamed of?" she curtly an- swered, reaching forward to let down the warp from the beam and deliber- ately winding up a finished length. Such sin n folly's he followed afterl No, sir; we met jest once after that he took his way, and the words we hadIl stand 'twixt us forever. His circus wife's as good as I was'"
 "But this is his girl. You know nothing of her"
 An what's more I don't want to. an further still 1 ain't going to Whats bred in the bones s born in the flesh. Dr. Beebe, nobody but you'd dare come mentionin' Jordan Marsh to me-"
 II know it" returned the doctor. grimly, struggling his shoulders. That's why l took it upon myself. doctor has good many disagreeable things to do."
 You didn't have this to do, and don't thank you for it." Miss Marsh's words were growing more tart; but she fidgeted under the doctors keen eye as she shifted shut ties.
 Well you'll thank me for recom- mending that you get a girl. anyway, unless you prefer another season of liniment and cotton batting, poultices and hot bricks"
 He arose to go with an air of sudden indifference.
 "If ! could get q decent one that u learn, don't know as I'd mind it, for a spell, anyway. I guess l could reel rags and make quills," she observed, some what notified at the abandonment of the unpleasant theme. I'm not ach- in for another tour of rheumatiz'."
 "I'll send one over, if 1 come across good, strong one" he answered. Nothing in the world keeps you at that but your everlasting will"
 Should earth-against-my soul-engage
 Miss Marsh smiled grimly, as she poured out the second stanza in ierky accompaniment to her labored move ments, and watched the doctor as he strode down to the gate.
 Her spirits rose, too. That stanza was a tower of strength to her. It had borne her up many time, and she felt just now that she must flee to its heroic strain for support. If her voice quavered here and there, the words rang out even defantly as she sang them over and over and attempted to hold herself resolutely to the task be- fore her-and within her.
 Common sense had told her not to undertake this weaving. But common sense and Miss Marsh's will did not always pull in the same traces" Dr. Beebe had often observed to people who inquired after his patient. Had they, she would hardly have hoisted her self again into the old loom seat on his departure to work and, to tell the truth, to think over matters; for, whether she desired it or not, other queries would present themselves aside from the mo- mentous one whether the green and blue rags would hold out for six yards more of stripping. This was the only point where her will exhibited signs of weakness. But she kept stt .nly at work, defying unpleasant thoughts and uncertain shoulder alike, as she crooned the old tune.
 It was not pleasant subject that Dr. Beebe had brought up. Why could he not have left it alone? What right had he to mix in family troubles, if he was a doctor? Jordan Marsh had been wiflful disgrace to the family, and she --the last one of the Marshes--she said to herself, was not going to condone his misdeeds because he happened to be a half-brother.
 She was sure, too, that she was in the right, and as long as she kept her senses she would have nothing to do with them. Catch her giving up now. Let this girl-she had never seen her keep to her spangles and tights. Her lips drew into harder lines as she