The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-06-03

beverage can scarcely be regarded a
pleasant even when largely diluted will
fresh well water.
well. Squir,?"
"Mrs. Brown there amt doubt of it
There's pctcroieum spring on your farm
and il has broken cut IN your we'll "
Land sakes, Squire, who would have
thought il And there ain another pctro
leum well in towuY'
No. that is none has appeared Yet,
though have reason to think some may be
found on my farm.
Its so unexpected, squire" said the
widow, medilativply II really don't know
what to do about it. What would you ad-
wise? You've always been a friend, and !
can depend on your advice
"Well, said the Squire clearing his
throat, and speaking in a cautious tone, /,
think I'd sell The farm, y
"Sen the farm" calculated the Hidow.
"Ycs," continued her adviser, more con
| fidently "B ing lone woman, you can't
sink wells, and work the petroleum your
self"
But, SQUIRE Pogranl, I'd ought to get
the benefit of it, "
"Certainy the farm is worth more than
it was. Isl loudnt mind given" two well,
| three thousand dollars for il, and that Is
NOR n three times whatit would have fetch
| ed before F"
Il don't hardly think I want to sell it
for that Squire. get my Twin" otf it. "
''Yes, wilder, but consider what would
be the interest of three thousand dollars
invested in Gov 'ment honds-sevcnthrtics,
for instance Why, it would be more two
hundred dollars year"
Yes, Squire, that wouldn't hardly sup
port me- ="
"Ill you what wilder, I'll give you
three thousand dollars, and you sha live
in the house rent free as long as you choose.
Come, thas's sayin" fair isn't it?"
''On the whole, Squire, y said the willy
widow, II don't think III decide just yet.
Seems to me the farm ought to bring more'n
three thousand dollars. I'm obliged to you
for your friendly offer, but | guess I'd bet
ter take TIM to consider, and perhaps con-
suit some other friends"
"Widder," said Squire Pogram, telling
that the rich prize was in danger Of slipping
from his grasp, II Il tell ye what, | know
it's foolish, but, as you re an old friend, |
won't mind sayin'' four thousand dollars. Ii
may he my loss, but 1t Il heyour gain.
Il IN sure you re very kind. Squire P0-
gram, and | hope | m properly grateful for
your kind interest, but hope you won't
be offe ded if | don't decide jest yet. l
think I'd better go see lawyer Norcross."
Don't go and see him whatever you
do, said Squire Pogram hastily, for he
feared Il at the lawyer would ovcl-hid i'm.
promise me to consider my offer till after>
Noon, and until then not tell a livin' soul
about what you've found in the we'll "
Very wci Squire, III agree to that
Tisn't long to wait till then.
III call agin at three, said the Squire.
Don't forget your promise.
I won't, said the widow.
The Squire drove out OF the yard, and
the widow with a smile Of triumph, look
ed after him.
L m pretty sure of being Mrs Poeram,
if [ work my cards right, she thought,
Near time the Squire drove away in
brown study. To think that the prize for
which he had >ought should after all have
fallen to the lot of the widow with her ten
poor acres. II was certainly strange. Now
how should he find his own profit in it? III
he could buy the farm at even five thousand
lollar$, he co,Ild readily make it pay him
fifty thousand. The indications were that
the water he drank smacked strongly
enough Of the oil. -..
But would the widow sell? That was an
important question. The more time she had
for thought, the higher probably would her
price advance If she consulted. Norcros,,
he might as well give itup fora lost chance,
for the lawyer would be as anHous to Secnre
it as himself That was not to be thought
Of for moment. But what if Mrs. Brown
declined his offer! Was there no other way?
1t was just at this moment that the other
way suggested itself. lie was a widower,
Mrs. Brown was widow. BY marrying
her he would secure the farm, and not be
compelled to pay down dollar, beyond the
minister's fee for uniting them. Mrs
Brown was not exactly the woman be in
tended to marry for his second wife she
certainly was not handsome, but Squire
Pogram was a practical man, and he knew
that she was smart, practical woman, and
would keep his household in good order
Perhaps it woud not be a bad plan. At
any rate he could hold it in reserve.
Punctua|ly at three the Squire rode up
to the door of the cottage.
How about the WELL widder?" he asked |
Does it taste as strong as ever?
''W uss and wuss, Squire. j ere some
water Just drawea up.
The Squire did not need TO taste it. lie
could see for himself that the proportion OF
oil was greater than in the morning.
"Wel, wdder," he SAID, have you de-
cided to take the four thousand dollars |
offered you? You see that it will save all
trouble, and you can live comfortable the
rest Of your days.
Thank you Squire said the widow,
but I've about made up my mind to send
for some man that knows about thc Sc things,
and get him to attend to it for me. LII see
Mr. NOrtross first, and
This was enough. The Squire had made
up his mind
"Widder," said he, Give got another
plan to propose. 1t may seem kind OF sud |
den to you, but I've been tRinkin' Of it tor
some time, (how long, Squire?) and that is,
that need a wife. Things is gettin' slack
at home. and it needs woman to straight |
en- em out. | amt man of words -
Widder will you become Mrs. Pogram2"
80 Squire, said the widow, it's so I'M
expected that it quite illustrates Iffe. But
I'm free to say that I've always respected
your character, and thought you man that
any woman might be proud to marry.
You consent, then?'
81 do, " said the widow promptly, and I
am glad to have this new burden Of my
shoulders
"Yes, widder, it ought to be attended to
at once. | think we'd better marry to-
morrow so Us to lose no time. :"
Just you say, Squire. I'll be ready"
The next day the clergymans services
were called in requisition, and to the us
tonishment end anger of all the aspirants
to Squire Pogram''ss, hand the prize was
carried off by the Widow Brown, who's
as ugly as sin; goodness knows what he
saw in her.