The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-10-28

style.
..Butter. Mr.. Means2 I Iwonder how you
heard as far off as Malburg about my TAX
ing that prize last fall2"
ssrhere 1 despise myself for making
such a Speech" thought the widow, the
moment the words were out. 'tIf I wasn't
so poor and lonely, and if Dorcas wasn't so
terribly trying to live with p
The steel beads under Mr.. Means's eye
brows elittered.
"Wen, now, that's good, that's nice,
that's irs-rste T" he cried heartily. "You
aren't engaged, ma'am, l suppose !"
Mrs. Whalen blushed like Aurora Bo-
reslis.
mot positively" she began. esquire
Linton"
But MIR. Means's cautious spirit again
took ready alarm.
Engaged any where to housekeep, or
the like ?" said he.
ssNo, 1 am not engaged anywhere to
keep house." returned the widow, frigidly,
ssand don't know as I could be spared from
home. NV sister-in-law is subject to sick
spells, and needs me. Besides, added
she, with q look at the garden, which
threatened an early frost to the vegetables;
81 never did such 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 a particular friend of mine, and
he did try to make some kind of an ar
raneement; but 1 haven't quite decided
yet"
The double bow-knot quivered with out
ragged dignity
MIR. Means suddenly had a vision of
handsome Squire Linton stepping in with
a plaintive little family cutting him out
What was to be done must be done quick
ly. He cleared his throat and leaned for
ward in the most insinuating manner.
s.Mrs. Whalen," said he. and again the
tone was portentious-'Mrs.W Whslen, L
consider that 1 have TIE first claim over
you. I don't know how young Pitcher de-
livered his message; but the truth Is, I've
heard you so well spoken of that had a
kind of notion"
Mr.. Means tongue was running away
with him. He bridled it itspeedily, and the
next words were inaudible. A man with
one of the best river farms in the county
might pick up and choose for a wife; it
wasn't best to be in hurry.
al had a kind OF notion" added he, as q
happy thought struck him, ''of asking yon
to come down to Malburg. ma'am, to keep
house for me q spell, and see how you
like it"
81 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. "Gatch me going to MGlburg on
trial 70
ssMy house is two story brick" contin-
ued Reynard softly. door yard all round;
patent clothes-wringer: little fourteen year
old bound girl, my wile set the world by
spry as you please; cistern and pump; one
erown-up son and daughter, amt afraid of
work Ineed somebody to oversee. Come,
say yOqn g."
"a woman in Mount Vernon has been
recommended to me; but l am satisfied I'd
a great deal rather have you"
mo answer, save q perceptible lowering
of the lofty cap-strings. Mrs. Whalen.
this time was having vision herself Just
such house as she longed for, and was
fitted to adorn. And behold a 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 a t'backwoodsy
place as Mount Vernon, and married by
Recommendation.
Mr.. Means saw the softening of the wild
ov's features.
"Call it three dollars; and you won't
have much to do but to oversee"
s'Well. 1 don't know. If it wasn't fol
SQUIRE Linton"
Call it four dollars, and I'll send my
top-bucpy for you tomorrow"
"After ALL" thought Mrs. Whalen, ar
euing the point with her self respect. SO
don't know but I'd better go, just through
the press of heying. But I would nj
pledge myself to stay o day longer, Mr.
Means; for, in case time was set and ell
ther one of us was dissatisfied, it would b
rather embarrassing you see"
She spoketvith such womanly independ
ence and grace that Mr.. Means was on thu
roint of exclaiming heartily. 'sSet thu
time, ma'am, do Set it for life and risl
itr'
But prudence got the better of him, a
usual; and on the whole he left the widow
presence, without committing himself an.
farther than a man with the best farm Il
the county might do with impunity.
Squire Linton had to content himsel
with Nancy Grover, a virago, with faculty
but assured himself meekly that he had nj
right to be disappointed.
'sWeIl, well, Mrs. Whalen, this is com
Portable, now," said Mr.. Means, comiR
into his kitchen one rainy morning. drag
ging couple of old harnesses after him
81 always like to be where the folks are,
he continued, setting himself to the vor
of mending and oiling at one end of tn
wide stone hearth, while at the other en'
Mrs. Whalen pours dipper of boilin
water into the churn she was washing.
''She is smGt See how she steps
said Means to himself, watching her fror
under his palm-leaf hat-brim, with seren
satisfaction. 'What you got cooking here
A soup for dinner, hey ?" he pursued aloud
lifting the lid OF great iron pot on tn
stove, and letting out G fragrant steamiHI
cloud into the room. 'fCallsta was grea
hand for 'em. She used to make the bes
soups with the least meat of any voma
1 ever saw.
Calista was the late Mrs. Means; and
lher husband had praised her in life as
Before Mr.. Means had wiped his fac
ana rubbed up another idea, the wal
widow had united her csp-strings. 81
didn't see the sense of streaking them wit
perspiration for a man that had onl
''dropped in.
"Good weather for cheese, as you wei
remarking, Mr.. Means" said she, in ton
as stiff as icing, but with nearly as muo
reserved sweetness. ''Do you keep larE
dairy, sir ?"
sNot SO very" returned Mr.. Mean
somewhat reassured by this allusion
business. al have only six COWS that
milk this summer, and expect to NAL
beet of one of them come another sprin
Let's s. e-you'ye been used to the care
, milk p
"Oh, yes" said she, capably; 81 vi
! brought up ON farm"
you're cleaning up the grease. Calls
thought there was nothing like pork f
! giving favor"
! There WAS toss of Mrs. Whalen's ca
Strings, but she said nothing as the phi
andering old diplomat brought to light
leathery square of pork-rind. Time to p
it in now, Mrs. Whalen? LIE me sc
; what's o'clock ?"
, "ra get the dinner, Mr.. Means, if i
! all the same to you," said the widow, wa
; ing her dish-cloth as if it had been
! scepter.
? ''Sho, nowi Something's gone vrol
= with her" thought Mr.. Means, in surprit
! wonder if Phebe's been aggrayating he
= If she has, won't put up with it. MI
a Whalen shan't come to my house to be
y