Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-10-27

been considered as very becoming to her
style
..Butter. Mr.. Meansp wonder how you
heard as far of as Malburg about my TAX
ing that prize last fall?"
There / despise myself for making
such q speech, thought the widow, the
moment the words were out. eff / wasn't
so poor and lonely, and if Dorcas wasn't SO
terribly trying TO live with r
The steel beads under Mr.. Means's eye
brows glittered.
"Wen, now. that's good, that's nice,
that's frs'-rate r. he cried heartily. "You
aren't engaged, ma'am, 1 suppose
Mrs. Whalen blushed like Aurora Bo-
realis
mot positively" she began. Squire
Linton"
But Mr.. Means's cautious spirit again
took ready alarm.
Engaged any where to houseke sp, or
the like? said he.
"No, / am not engaged anywhere to
keep house" returned the widow, frigidly,
''and don't know as could be spared from
home. My sister-in-law is subject to sick
spells, and needs me. Besides, added
she, with look at the garden, which
threatened an early frost to the vegetables;
81 never did such q thing in my life as to
work in anybody's kitchen, outside of my
own family and friends. Squire Linton,
poor man, is left with six children. His
wife was q particular friend of mine. and
he did try to make some kind of an ar
raneement; but / haven't quite decided
yet"
The double bow-knot quivered with out
ragged dignity
Mr.. Means suddenly had q vision of
handsome Squire Linton stepping in with
a plaintive little family cutting him ont.
What was to be done must be done quick
iy. He cleared his throat and leaned for
ward IN The most insinuating manner.
''Mrs. Whalen," said he, and again the
tone was portentious-"Mrs. Whalen. /
consider that / have the first claim over
you. ! don't know how young Pitcher de-
livered his message; but the truth is, I've
heard you so well spoken of that / had
kind of notion"
Mr.. Means tongue was running away
with him. He bridled it speedily, and the
next words were inaudible. A man with
one of the best river farms in the county
might pick up and choose for q wife; it
wasn't best to be in hurry.
81 lad kind OF notion" added he, as a
happy thought struck him, s'of asking yon
to come down to Malburg. ms'am, to keep
house for me o spell, and see how you
like it"
II just remarked to you, sir"
'And see how we both like it, you know.
It's always lest to start fair"
sly old fox" thought the widow,
testify. Catch me going to Mslburg on
trial l'
MY house is a two story brick" contin-
ued Reynard softly. "Door yard all round;
pateut clothes-wringer: little fourteen year
old bound girl, my wile set the world by
spry as you please; cistern and pump; one
grown-up son and daughter, amt afraid of
work Ineed somebody to oversee. Come,
say y.f f0gn 60
"a woman in Mount Vernon has been
recommended to me; but am satisfied I'D
a great deal rather have YOU"
mo answer, save a perceptible lowering
of the lofty cap-strings. Mrs. Whalen.
this time was having vision herself. Just
fitted to adorn. And behold Mount Yer
non woman walking into it. and making
herself at home. How cheated the man
was likely to be 1t could hardly be other
wise if he went to such ''backwoodsy"
place as Mount Vernon, and married by
recon mendation."
Mr.. Means saw the softening of the Wild
ow's features.
''Ca!l it three dollars; and you won't
have much to do but to oversee"
"Well. / don't know. If it wasn't for
Squire Linton"
Call it four dollars, and I'll send my
top buggy for you tomorrow"
''After all, thought Mrs. Whalen, ar
guing the point with her self respect. 81
don't know but I'd better go, Just through
the press OF hsying. But I wouldn't
pledge myself to stay a day longer, Mr.
Means; for, IN case time was set aud Ell
ther one of us was dissatisfied, it would be
rather embarrassing you see."
She spoketwith such womanly independ-
ence and grace that Mr.. Means was on the
point of exclaiming heartily 'Set the
time, ma'am, do ! Set it for life and risk
Iitr
But prudence got the better of him, as
usual; and on the whole he left the widows
presence, without committing himself any
farther than a man with the best farm in
the county might do with impunity.
Squire Linton had to content himself
with Nancy Grover, q virago, with faculty.
bat assured himself saeekly that he had no
right to be disappointed.
swell, well, lIrs. Whalen, this is COM
Portable, now" said Mr.. Means. coming
into bis kitchen one rainy morning, drag
ging q couple of old harnesses after him.
81 always like to De where the folks are, {"
he continued, setting himself to the work
of mendipg and oiiing at one end of the
wide stone hearth, while at the other end
Mrs. Whaleu pours q dipper of boiling
water into the churn she was washing.
She is smart See how she steps r.
said Means to himself, Watching her from
under his palm-leaf hat-brim, with serene
satisfaction: "Whst you got cooking here
A soup for dinner, hey ?" he pursued aloud,
lifting the lid OF great iron pot on the
stove, and letting out fragrant steaming
cloud into the room. "Calista was a great
hand for EN- She used to make the best
soups with the least meat of any woman
/ ever saw"
Calists wss the late Mrs. Means; and if
her husband had praised her in life as he
Before Mr.. Means had wiped his face
and rubbed up another idea, the wary
widow had united her cap-strings. She
didn't see the sense Of streakipg them with
perspiration for q man that had only
dropped in.
"Good weather for cheese, as you were
remarking, Mr.. Means" said she, in a tone
as stiff as icing, but with nearly as much
reserved sweetness. "Do you keep large
dairy, sir p
mot SO very" returned Mr.. Means,
somewhat reassured by this allusion to
business. 81 have only six COWS that
milk this summer, and / expect to make
beef of one Of them come another spring.
Let's $. s.e-you've been used to the care Of
milk p
'Oh, yes, said she, capably; II was
brought up on farm"
you're cleaning up the grease. Calista
thought there was nothing like pork for
giving flavor"
There was q toss of Mrs. Whalen's cap
strings. but she said nothing as the phil
andering old diplomat brought to light q
leathery square of pork-rind- Time to put
it in now, Mrs. Whalen? Le' me see;
what's o'clock ?"
IN get the dinner. Mr.. Means, If it's
all the same to you." said the widow, wav-
ing her dish-cloth as if it had been q
scepter.
''Sho, now! Something's gone wrong