The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-10


"Well, squirrel"
"sirs Brown there aint doubt Of It
There's petroleum spring on your farm
and il has broken out IN your we'll"
elan d sakes squire, who would hav,
thought II! And there amt another Petro
leurn well in town."
"No, that is none has appeared yet
though have reason to think some may
be found on my farm"
at is 30 unexpected SQUIRE" said the
widow, meditatively. "l really don't know
what to do about Il. What would you nd,
vise3 You've always been q friend, and
can depend on your advice" -.
"Wcll," said the squire, clearing his
throat, and speaking in q cautious tone
81 think I'd sell the fann."
"Sell the farm" calculated the widow.
eyes," continued her adviser, more con.
fidenily. Being lone woman, you cam
sink wells, and work the petroleum your
self"
"I,ut Squire rogum, ought to get the
benefit OF It."
"Cer,ainly the farm Is worth moro than
il was. ! shouldn't mind givin' two, we'll
three thousand dollars for il, ind that's
morn three times what IL would have
fetched BEFORE"
II don't hardly think want to sell il
for that, squire. get my livin' of it."
"Yes, widder, but consider what would
be the interest of,hree thousand dollars IN
vested in gov'nent bonds-seven.thirties
for instance. Why II would be more'n
two hundred dollars u year"
ayes, squire, but that wouldn't hardly
support me-" 90,
three thousand dollars, and you shalt live
in the house, rent free, as long asyou choose.
"Comc, that's sayin' fair isn't ili'
"On tho whole, SQUIRE" said the willy
widow, 81 don't think Ill decide just yet.
Seems to mo the farm ought TO hiring
moron three thousand dollars. I'm oblig.
ed to you for your friendly offer, but guess
Id better take time to consider. and per.
haps consult some other friends"
"Widder," said Squire Pogram, feeling
that the rich prize was in danger Of slip.
ping from his grasp, an tell ye what,
know IT'S foolish, but rs you're an old
friend, l won't mind saying four thousand
dollars. II may DO my loss. but it'll be
your GAIN"
"lm sure you're very kind, Squire Po.
gram, and hope l'm properly grateful for
your kind interest, but / hope you won't 30
offended II ! don't decide just yet. think
I'd better go and see lawyer Norcross."
"Dont 90 and see him whatever you do"
said Squire Pogrum hastily, for he feared
that the lawyer would over.bid him. Prom.
ise me to consider my offer till afternoon,
and until then not TO tell livin' soul about
what you 've found in the we'll"
"Very we'll, squire, Ill agree to that. IT
s'nt long to wait till them
"l'll call again ut three" said Squire Po.
gram.
"Don't forget your promise"
III won't," said the widow.
The squire drove out ofthe yard, and the
widow with smile Of Triumph, looked nf.
ter him.
"l'm pretty sure ofbeing Mrs. Pogram,
Il work my cards right" she thought.
Meanwhile the squire drove AWAY In a
brown study. To think that tho prize for
which he had sought should after all have
fallen to the lot OF the widow with her ten
poor acres. II was certainly strange. Now
row should he find his own profit in Il IL
be could buy the farm even at five thou.
,and dollars, he could readily make II pay
him fifty thousand. The indications were
hat the oil spring was rich ono. At any
rute the water he drank smacked strongly
enough Of the oil.
But would the widow sell ? That was nn
important question. The more time she
had for thought, the higher probably would
,er price advance. Ifshe consulted Nor
,ross ho might as well give 1t up US a lost
,hance, for the lawyer would be rs anxious
70 secure it as himself. That was not to
10 thought OF Tor moment. But whut IL
Mrs. Brown declined his offer Was there
10 other way.
Il was Just at this moment that the other
way suggested itself. He was widower
Mrs. Brown a widow. BY marrying her
he would secure the farm, aud not bc coin.
elled to pay down a dollar, beyond the
minister's fec for uniting them. Mrs. Brown
was not exactly the woman he had intend
ID for his second wife; she certainly was
,ot handsome, but Squire Pogram was q
practical man, and he know that sho was
smart, practical woman, and would keep
,is household in good order. Perhaps 1t
would not be a lad plan. At my ruie he
,ould hold IL In reserve.
Punctually at three, the Squire rode up
o the door Of the cottage.
allow about the we'll, widder? 7" he asked
Does il ,aste rs strong as ever2"
"Wuss and wuss, Squire. Here's some
yuter Just drawed up"
The Squire did not need to taste Il. He
.ould see for himself that the proportion OF
Ill was greater than in the morning or day
,eforo.
"Well, widder have you decided to take
he four thousand dollars I offered you
1ou SEQ that II will save you all trouble.
md you can live comfortable tho remainder
,f your days"
ssThank you, Squire" said the widow.
but I've about made up In my mind to
end for some man that knows about these
hings, aud get him TO attend TO il for me.
m SEQ Mr.. Norcross irst, and"
This was enough. The squire had made
up his mind.
"Widder," said he, al've got another
,lan to propose. Il may seem Kind Of sud.
len 10 you, but I've been ihinkin' of Il for
,oms time, [bow long Squire u and that Is,
hat need . wife. Things is getting slack
Il homo, and Il Doods woman to straight.
N en- out ANITA man ofworia Wild.
Ter. will you become Mrs. Pogram ~
10, squire, said the widow, it's % un.
,xpected thar II quite illustrates me. But
I'm free to say that Two always respected
,our character and thought you man that
my woman might be proud to marry"
aYou consent. thenr'
eel do" said tho widow promptly, ''spd
In glad to have this now burden o6 my
ayes, wiider, u ought to be attended to
Il once. think we'd better marry to-
morrow % - TO Iose no tin,e."
"Just as you say, squire. TN be ready
The next day the clergy,nan's services
we're called In rcquision, and TO the aston.
shment and anger or all the sspirants to
,ou;rc po0ram'a hand tbe v,r;ya yvna car.