Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-12-24
The MaidenS Ruse;
OK, HOW THE SQUIRE GOT MARRIED.
Chapter 7

traveller, by sturdy growth of maple trees.
They had been planted by the Squirc's grand
father in his boyhood, and were valued bv the
family above all their other worldly goods
Under the shadow of these trees, was a-stramht
wclLkcpt path, that led up through the
grounds; then came terraces, with flights of
stone StcrS, alopim% up to the great hall door
| On either side were beds of briyhthuod flow
crS. NaSturtiuns grew at tho windows, min.
Cling their bright yellow blossoms with the
purple of morning gory's and the creamy
b.dSh of the English rose. Ivy and rood,
bnc moreover shaded each pointed easement,
and even the twisted chmncys were dcckcd
| with vcrdurc, while from the messy caves dc
/ pended scores of swallows rests, that shelter
ed the roiscst bgocdS Imaginable A stone
dp'l stood upon tic upper terrace; it had bcor
| brought from the Old homestead in Wales, and
the sunshine marked the hours upon its sur.
face long after those who had planted it there
were mouldcrng in their graves.
The house itself was as old.fashioncd as its
surroundings. a long hall ran through from
the grounds to the gardcn-on either side
were dining rooms and parlors-at the back
the kitchen and outhouscs In the second
story another lull divided the chambers, and
had been turned to II kind of picture gale.
ry. An oricl window at the front and back,
I let III air and sunshine, aud straight, hair
backed chairs were ranged along the walls,
under the family portraits. Here, in the days
OF the old Squire many merry ball had been
held; but his son, among many other crotch
cts, declined keeping up the custom. So thc
old fashioned pictures were left once moro to
the sunShiny louelucss, whic! darcsay they
pref rcd.
The Squirc's own room opened out of This
gaLcry--so did that of his maiden sister, Miss
Nurciia. Behind these apartments were four
others, large and handsomely turnishcd-hut
quite moccupicd-thc servants rooms being
III the upper story. There was room enough
aud to spare in the old house it was, no doubt
the Squircs duty to marry. But he had some
pcrvcrSc notions on the subject of matrimony
in which his sister shared
"Put bride over my head and bit be-
tween my teeth he used to explain, when
his friends pressed him on the subject. "L
am obliged to you. | never saw stable vet
where the gray marc WASH the better horse
! III have no such cattle about. I'm of opin
ION that women are worse than all the plaques
OF Egypt put togcthcr-that is, women i'm the
/ shape of wivcs-and III have none of them. )"
| Evidently there wasno doug anytling with
the Squire And the men gave him up
But woman 5 wit and ingenuity came To the
| rescue
There were scores of fair mailcns in W
who were ready and willing to punish the
Squire for bis ungallant remarks about them.
Some OF these he knew by sight; but candid
IS contcSSirg that the ways of women were
past lindin% out and that discretion was the
better part of valor, he kent out of their way
as much as possible.
| We sat one evening in solemn conclvc, at
the house of Matte lines, our govcrnoss,
when the gate OF the, cottage garden sprun.
open, and the Squrc's cousin, Maggie Den
bi@h, hurried up the walk, arm in arm with
tall elegant girl OF twenty, " or thereahoutS," )"
IN whose easy movements and animated face
we recognized jennie Howard, an old school
friend and companion of most of us ut the
Acadcmy OF T. The same thought, |
really believe, flashed through every mind
Maggie waved her straw hat triunphantIy,
and dragged our5old friend in amorg rs, with
the announcement, :. see the conqucring hero
cOmcs," and Jennie kissed us all as warmly
and heartily rs if she had but that moment
left school, and then A,,ng herself into IN arm-
chair and began to laugh.
Well girls I am really ashamed of you.-
Io think that after all the hearts you have
broken you should let a country pumpkin out
wit you, and SO be obliged to send for NO.
What is this wonderful creature likc?"
+" Hes not a bumpkin," spoke up little
Harriet Hines, coura@cously Giles very
handsome man--as tall as my father, and with
the most beautiful blue eyes and brown hair
! YOU ever saw
There was a shout of laughter This un-
luckily Harriet, after keeping her secret so
we'll and so long, had divugcd it all in mo-
mcnt Blushing and confused she ran out of
| the room and withdrew herself from the list
of conspiratGrs forever.
One victim" s1id Jennie, coolIy "Is
any one else hit ?"
No. we were hcart-wholc, or rather,
should say, our hearts we're generally bcspo-
ken. " But do punish the squire" we all
pleaded
"What if ] should fail? How you would
roast me 10
"No-honor bright; but "thcre's no such
word as fail, for Jennie Howard" cried out
Maggie Denbigh.
"Wcl! ! how am to get at him ?"
Remember the Widow Wadman," / OK
claimed; " fall down and get something in
| your eye, aud ask him to take it out. It's a
pity he's not dcntist-thc way would then
be very clear"
Have you that famous horse with you?"
asked Maggie.
lie is coming tonight, with the stage
driver"