Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-15
Barbara'S Guest.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.
~~~~~~~~~~

! with the great clusters of tiger lilies
all in blossom in the garden, the cher
| ries beginning to turn crimson on the
trees, and the roses ainging their SUBJ
tie fragrance on the air, as if they fan
cied themselves blooming in some Per-
sian vale. The thermometer stood at
| so in the shade. Squire Dulcimer's
! haymakers were dotting the sides of
| the distant upland, and all the WIN
dows of the little cottage were wide
| open, to admit whatever stray whiffs
of cool wind might be roaming athwart
the blue air. And little Barbara had
ripped her muslin dress apart, and was
sitting, Turk-fashion. on the floor, con-
sidering how best she might combine
| the breadths into something more
modern, when Lisette. her sister, came
flying unanimously up stairs, like the
wild little spr.te that she was.
| Barbara was small and dark, with
blue-black braids of hair, solemn eyes,
a crimson dot of a mouth, and the
prettiest of round. dimpled chins. Lis
ette was tell and slender-a sort of
human lily, violet-eyed and transpar-
ent-skinned with shining yellow curls,
gathered into a net, with a sweet, bird
like voice, not unlike that of a linnet
And these two girls, with their little
brother Benny, were all that the old
doctor had.
He had married late in life, this odd
eccentric disciple of Galen, and lost his
wife when Benny was baby; and ever
since the young things had grown up
by themselves, like the wild roses on
the edge of the woods.
DOT" repeated Lisette. 1--WE must go
down and set the table; that's what we
must do"
But there's nothing in the house for
iinner." cried Barbara, tragically
,lasping her hands, as she rose out of
The whirlpool of pink muslin on the
aoor "Oh, dear; oh, dear. Why don't
people stay at home when they aren't
wanted? Who is it, Lisette, anyhow"
r---'t T---~v-'' noewnred
Lisette. "Some travelling book agent
suppose, or some shabby-genteel
medical man, from nobody knows
where, who thinks he is entitled to
come here just because papa is an M.
ID. l only caught sight of the back of
his coat, but it had dreadfully seedy
look"
81 do think papa is too bad" sighed
Barbara. II was going to have the
whole day for dressmaking, so as to
look decent at church next Sunday,
for Mr.. Dulcimer and his sister are
coming back and one doesn't want to
look like a native Patagonian. | was
going to give papa bread and cheese
| and glass of home made root beer
Papa don't care what he eats. But he's
so particular about his guests. And
sent the last half dozen of eggs
to the store to exchange for
three spools of sewing silk and
paper of needles. and told Benny
to carry the pot of chicken soup
to poor old Mrs. Gumbo, who is sick
and poor and all alone in the world"
Charity begins at home" dolorous-
ly quoted Lisette Couldn't we catch
a fowl?"
"As well try to catch a wild zebra
of the wilderness" said Barbara. "One
would think they were every one of
'em trained racers by the way they
rum"
"a meat pie?" suggested Lisette.
There's no meat to make it Of"
said Barbara, brusquely.
There's the remains of day before
yesterdays steak" said Lisette. I'VE
might mince it up fine"
"Oh, Lisette-dear Lisette!" cried
Barbara. I'm so sorry, but | gave the
steak to a tramp yesterday, between
two slices of bread and butter. He
looked so hungry, and he said he had
had nothing but raw turnips to eat for
two days. And when | was looking
for white roses this morning I saw
the two slices, with only one mouthful
bitten ont of each, flung into the
bushes. And, oh, Lisette, there was a
black bottle beside them. And I'm
afraid he wasn't nice, honest tramp"
Then that settles the meat pie busi-
ness" said poor Lisette. Couldn't
we make the white pigeons into fricas-
see?"
MY white doves into a fricassee?"
almost shrieked Barbara. ooh, you
cruel, cruel heartless, marble-souled
thing. Why don't you talk of making
me into fricassee and be done with
IT."
Barbara, don't speak so loud," said
Lisette. energetically. We'll send to
Widow Millett's and borrow for din
ner!"
"What?" said Barbara, fairly as
founded by the magnitude and origi-
nality of her young sisters idea
Send Benny" said Lsette. "Tell
her We'll return it next week. Write
note, and say that papa has invited
a gentleman to dinner, and that we
haven't mouthful INT to eat in the
house. Mrs. Millett is an excellent
cook; she always has something nice,
and you will see that this will help us
out Of our dilemma"
"Yes!" sighed Barbara, "but there's