Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-11-18
The BEEBES' PROTECTOR.

@&g@0 ~ GOA Wis
FIFTY. you act sillier every day.
Here we've lived till we're getting well
on into the Sos. and alwuz been safe
enough"
Yes" protested Miss Hltty, "but
there never was such doin's until late
w.. Think o. old Mrs. Owens murder
ed right in her own house, ana not q
half mile away. It gives me the creeps
and | can't sleep nights"
"As for me, l trust in Providence"
went on Miss Rachel; land BESIDES"
she added, with increasing conviction,
show could any one git in the house?
I alwuz see to 1t that the cellar door
and the front door is barred, and
there's a big nail over every one OF
the downstairs winders."
ut appears to me-" replied Kitty,
shat we might as well stretch our
trust in providence a leetle mite fur
ther and make il, take in a male pro-
tector We'd orter hire a boy. We
would afford it."
I'm not undertaken to work for a
boy" said Rachel sharply; "you new
er can git 'em filed up. Their legs
Is holler clean to their heels. Mrs.
Owens had that $1,000 to pay off the
mortgage, and Tom was so glad he'd
got 1t like as not he'd told some one.
There's nOthin' in this house to tempt
any one" And Miss Rachel, who had.
been looking aslant over her glasses
at Miss Hitty, raised her head and
looked through them, carefully laying
together the next row Of orange and
scarlet blocks in her sunrise quilt
with the air of having settled the mat
ter.
But it didn't stay settles. Miss
RachePs courage was rapidly under
mined Her sisters Oft-repeated fears,
her nervous, wakeful nights, the con-
slant talk In the neighborhood Of the
horrible murder, the futile search for
the murderer. all added to the effect
Of the shock OF her neighDor's sad
death and burial, and she was rather
glad when day or two later Kitty
urged that they ask Valentine Ches-
hire to sleep at their house.
$50 you're scared" laughed ValeR-
blame you. Yes, I'll come. One roosts
amt over and above lively since Mol
lie died, and yourn's near enough for
me to look after my critters"
Except for the comfort of knowing
he was there at night, his coming and
of the sisters for week or so. Then
came a morning when Rachel went
down into the cold, dark, kitchen to
find NToT hric nd I'm bot
tie singing merrily Valentine was
just putting on his great coat prepare
tory to going across the road to his
own home. 81 was up early" he ex-
planned. land it seemed so cold down
here just builtAup the fire."
OF course Miss Rachel was prOfuse
In thanks and insisted that breakfast
was as easy gotten for three as two,
so Valentine stayed. After that it
came to be understood that he would
light the fire and eat with them before
starting for work. Then it came about
that often of stormy or cold evenings,
when it didn't seem worth while to
start up fire in his own kitchen, Val
entine would come over early and sit
at the Beebe fireSide while the sisters
fluttered around and got the simple
evening meal.
"Widder Owens murders made a
soft bunk for Valentine" laughed a
neighbor, who had come in one morn
ing just as the three had finished
breakfast
Miss Rachel drew herself up
straight. She wanted no meddling in
Beebe affairs. Valentine amt one to |
push himself forward" she said stiff |
ly; she does no end O. chores for Hit |
ty and me, and it's only becoming we
should want to favor him a little |
Folks SEE he's grumpy-mebbe so-all |
say is like his discourse full as well |
as other mems"
: 1t was true Rachel and Hitty did |
favor Valentine Cheshire and he took |
kindly and quietly to the favoring, be- |
ing strictly careful to let every little |
innovation be suggested by the sisters, |
and If he did contrive to help it along, |
as in the first place by kindly light, |
ing the fire, who shall blame him? II |
is pleasanter to sleep in clean and |
comfortable room, to eat of savory. |
well-cooked food and have ones cloth |
ing carefully looked after than to live |
along in the haphazard fashion that |
had been his so long. Life had not |
been easy with Valentine, even his
marriage had turned out unhappily |
and he was known as grumpy among
the neighbors, but with, the Beebe sis
tiers he seemed to be getting on very |
well, indeed. In appearance he became
as sleek and well-kept as a favorite
cat, and to Rachel and Hitty living
was so much more worth while with
some one special to look after and
care about. 1t was they who proposed
that he should rent his own poor lit
tie farm and undertake the supervi-
sion of the Beebe place, and he accept
ed with a manner which gave them
the impression Of having received a
very great favor at his hands.
One fine morning in early spring
Miss Rachel returned from the village
fun Of news. Dinner was on the table
and only stopping to put bonnet and
wrap In the hall she sat down and
commenced to talk
'sTheys sNX 4heYsyAagot track OF Mrs
owens murderer at Last"
Valentine gave a short laugh. TITS
bout the tenth time, amt itr' he ask
ed.
"well. I'm sure hope so,' said
BETTY, ''for I sha'n't breathe real free
till he's caught and punished. I al
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