The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-10-28
lnder his breath. Mr.. Means looked up

There was an awkward pause.
sLuckily haven't offered myself YET,
thought Mr.. Means, looking at his fascin-
ating uis-d-Uis with pang of remuneration.
She's spry, capable piece. but don't un-
derstand SdUino."
At the same time Mrs. Whalen gazed
ruefully at the genuine silver fork near her
plate, and said to herself:
'Tbe house and furniture are just to my
mind; but there, it's of no use, can't
stand it, OF all men, preserve me from
Bettyr'
The vily host observed that she frowned
into his cup as she passed If, and forgot to
put the sugar in; so with an ingratiating
smile, which was meant to be broad and
deep enough to drown all memory of pork
rinds, he remarked:
sYou do make prime bread Mrs. Whalen.
1 most wish hadn't let my daughter go
visiting this vacation, it would have done
her so much good to take Lessons of you
Mrs. Whalen passed the sugar with re-
newed sweetness.
"But." added Mr.. Means, relapsing into
frugality, s.you needn't be afraid to set on
the small pieces for me. Pity they should
90 to the hens.
This was q crumb too much. Mrs.
Thalen choked. Just as she was clearing
her throat for spirited reply the door
opened, and Moses Pitcher walked IN.
Thought you might be wanting your
mail, )" said he, producing letter some
what the worse for a splash of mud.
'FThe widow took ii, glanced at the su-
nerscription with some surprise, blushed,
rose from the table, and abeently passed
her folded napkin through the handle Of
the teapot.
Handwriting rather agitates her." ex-
plsined Young Pitcher, ss she hurriedly left
the room, and was heard to go up stairs.
ssWhose handwritinR?" demanded Mr..
Means, fercely. "What do you know
about it?"
POSTMASTER said twas Squire Linton's,"
replied Master Paul Pry. "Why, how nice
Won look here. Uncle Means l always
said Mrs. Whalen was just the woman for
so she isl" thought Mr.. Means, with an
inward groan. $50 she is. And economi-
cal enough. always thought Calista was
little grain too saving"
s.But if what hear is true, you wont
keep her long, uncle. The Squire is on
your track"
s.You hear great many things, Moses"
retorted Upcle Means, snappishly, ''and
talk altogether too much for youngster.
Moses retreated. looking back longingly
at the gooseberry tart his cousin Amos was
eating with such preternaturally grave
face. While Mrs. Whalen, seated IN the
sacred solitude of her own chamber, with
the door locked and her back turned upon
it, opened her letter. 1t was very brief
only four lines-yet Mrs. Whalen had not
finished reading it in half an hour.
',Dear Mrs. Whalen," it said, "business
| 4 Molbrrrfr racyf uyoak ThnTS-
day: and if not an intrusion L wish to call
upon you. Please drop me line if this
will not be agreeable to you, or you are
permanently engaged.
Next week on Thursday? Why, to-day
was Thursdayl The letter was dated
week ago, and had been mellowing in some
body's pocket all this time. So it was too
late now 20 decline the call if she had wish
ed to do SO.
Mrs. Whalen went down stairs, feeling as
though her brain was tied in double bow
knot, ike the strings of her best cap. that
she had not neglected to arrange with un-
usual Care.
s.Ob. about that cheeser' said Mr.. Means,
as soon as she appeared. (which one was
Won calculating I'd better sell? I'm going
over to the store, if the rain holds up, be-
tween sundown and dark, and I'll take 1t
along. Brown spoke to me about furnish
ing him with some. Pick out as likely
one as YOU can, for it will be kind OF 3
try-cheese, seeing it's the first I've let EN-
have since Calista's make"
"Yes," replied the relict Of the late Peter
Whalen, still musing on the motheriess
young Lintons; ''there are SIX OF them, oi
all ages, from two to thirteen"
'.What? What do you say?" exclaimed
| II -. n fba QhpeE6G-
Mrs. Whalen's face glowed like maple
tree in October.
'sWhat did you say? guess must have
had nv mind on something else" said she,
in manifest confusion.
s.Why," said Mr.. Means, glsncing at hei
flushed face suspiciously. al was asking
Won to select cheese-one of your besl
ones-for me TO take to the store as specl
men. And you needn't be particular tc
scrape it of, If there's any mold or grease
J or whatever. on the outside. Calista never
: did. 1t will weigh something,' she used tC
/ saw, and every little helps"
All. the mold was heavier than he knew
IL outweiehed six small children; though
, helped in the balance by ''cisteTn, pumI
} and wash-room down cellar"
81 don't believe that letter was from tn
Squire. Moses il master-hand to conlur'
: up things" thought the sanguine MIR
: Means, though rather uneasily; but will
rare delicacy refrained from asking an.
questions,
( .tI'n risk it." concluded he, as he starte'
2 for the village after tea She has q smart
| er turn than Calista, and beats her o.
3 cheeses. 1 intend to mary the woman; bu
I've no notion of coming to the point ye
She's been expecting it for the last 81
\ | ka co4far i
Q you let 'em see that you set by 'em, they T
? ant TO give themselves airs. Get up Dolly
1t NAV be Mr.. Means look of amuse
, condescension would have given place {
3 one of dismay if he had known who wa
t riding up to his door from the Iiyer-road
t No doubt he would have turned bach
q waylaid the widow as she was carrying he
beer down cellar, and proposed on th
4 spot. But, secure in his ignorance an
9 self-complacepcy, he rode away to quit
e nnother fate.
Y At the same time Squire Linton, ringin
e the Means door-bell, was trying to FORTH
b his faint heart, which was not likely to WI
Y fair lady and above all, trying to look 8
If he really had not been aDstracting
g sheep from the neighboring meadow.
e The widow met him with friendly pr
b liteness; but having learned lesson o
q the uncertainty OF mankind, was careful
have it appear that she was not expechn
J, him in the least, and only by the mere
o accident happened to be at home.
ii 81 have been over to the minister's
.e said she, by way of apology for her sil
?. dress, which she had not ventured to dc
IF till Mr.. Means was out of sight (thinkir
il unnecessary to add that she only callt
IS at the minister's for cup of yeast In Il
early part of the day, with calico DIRE
a on and umbrella over her head).
II "I thought it most likely you would tai
fairer weather ior your business to Malbur
D. Ouite a storm to ride in. l am glad 70
l. didn't forget to call and tell me the neV
a from home.
1T This show of indifference was quite III
e; called for. Squire Linton had not notic'
the widows silk dress; and, if he had, W
is not the man to take encouragement fro
W trifes
''She didn't understand my letter,
else doesn't mean to. She isn't the "
lg man to meet a man half way" thought b
g. deje ctedly; and only liked her the bett
7? for it.
s. ssMrs. Whalen, you-you don't mean
g. say you are permanently engaged? ?"
sGNo not at all. I shall leave ne