Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-10-27
under his breath. Mr.. Means looked mo

'You didn't say soap-grease, ma'amr
There was an awkward pause.
sLuckily haven't offered myself vet, "
thought Mr.. Means, looking at his fascin-
stirg uis-d-ris with pang of remuneration.
.'She's a spry, capable piece. but don't un-
derstand SdUin0."
At the same time Mrs. whalen gazed
ruefully at the genuine silver fork near her
plate, and said to herself:
'The 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 a
Bettyr'
The willy host observed that she frowned
into his cup as she passed it, 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
riDds, he remarked:
"You do make prime bread Mrs. Whalen.
/ 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, "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.
Whalen choked. just as che was clearing
her throat for a 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 splash of mud.
1.-The widow took il, glanced at the su-
prescription with some surprise, blushed,
rose from the table, and absently passed
her folded napkin through the handle of
the teapot.
Handwriting rather agitates her," ex-
planned young Pitcher, as she hurriedly left
the room, and was heard to go up stairs.
"Whose handwriting?" demanded Mr.
Means. fiercely. "What do yo1 know
about it?
Postmaster said twas Squire Linton's, Z"
replied Master Paul Pry. "why, how nice
you look here. Uncle Means / always
said Mrs. Whalen was just the woman tor
you"
so she is" thought Mr.. Means, with an
inward groan. 80 she is. And economi-
cal enough. always thought Calista was
little grain too saving"
"But if what / hear is true, you wont
Ike. p her long, uncle. The Squire is on
your track"
"You hear a great many things. Moses,
rets ted Upcle Means, snsppisAly, s'and
talk altogether too much for o youpgster. I"
Moses retreated. looking back longingly
at the gooseberry-tsrt 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 lnes-yet Mrs. Whalen had not
finished reading it in half an hour.
Dear Mrs. Whalen," it said, business
takes me to Malburg next week on Thurs
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 Thursday The letter was dated q
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 10 do so.
thoneh 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.
'.Oh, about that cheesew said Mr.. Means,
40 cOOA 6S el0 a pPcdfcd. w ulCG Ouc Ede
you 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 it
along. Brown spoke to me about furnish
ing him with some. Pick out as likely a
one as you can, for it will be kind of q
try-cheese, seeing it's the first I've let EN-
have since Calista's make"
Yes" replied the relict of the late Peter
yVh.t1w .&,l lhn
young Lintons; ''there are six of them, Of
all ages, from two to thirteen
What? What do you say? exclaimed
the astonished proprietor Of the cheeses.
Mrs. Whalen's tace glowed like maple
tree in October.
What did you say? guess must have
had my mind on something else, said she.
in manifest confusion.
''Why," said Mr.. Means, glancing at her
flushed face suspiciously. II was asking
you to select cheese-one of your best
ones-for me to take to the store as speci-
men. And you needn't be particular to
scrape it off, if there's any mold or grease.
or whatever, ON the outside. Calista never
did. 1t will weigh somsthina.' she used to
say, and every little helps.'"
Ah, the mold was heavier than he knew.
1t outweighed six small children; though
helped in the balance by a scistern, pump
and wash-room down cellar"
81 don't believe that letter was from the
Squire. Moses is a master-hand to conjure
up things" thought the sanguine Mr..
Means, ,hough rather uneasily; but with
rare delicacy refrained from asking any
questions,
I'll risk it, concluded he, as he started
for 4 ftax off <An l,.s.
or turn than Calista, and beats her Oh
cheeses. / intend to mary the woman; but
I've no notion of coming to the point vel
She's been expecting it for the last si1
weeks; but / understand the softer sex; il
you let 'em see that you Sc. by 'em. they're
apt to give themselves airs. Get nv Dollyr
1t may be Mr.. Means look of amused
condescension would have given place Il
one of dismay if he had known who was
riding up to his door from the river road
No doubt he would have turned back
waylaid the widow as she was carrying heI
beer down cellar, and proposed on the
spot. R-t, secure in his ignorance and
self-complacency, he rode away to quite
Cnother fate.
At the same time Squire Linton, ringins
the Means door-bell, was trying to fortify
his faint heart. which was not likely to wiz
fair lady ; and above all, trying to look q,
if he really had not been aostracting
sheep from the neighboring meadow.
The widow met him with friendly po
liteness; but having learned lesson on
the uncertainty of mankind, was carefuI Il
have it appear that she was not expecting
him in the least, and only by the meres
accident happened to be at home.
81 have been over to the minister's,
said she. by way of apology for her sill
dress, which she had not yentured to doI
till Mr.. Means was out of sight (thinkins
it unnecessary to add that she only calles
at the minister's for o cup of yeast in th'
early part OF the day, with a calico dres
on and umbrella over her head).
81 thought 1t most likely you would TAX
fairer weather for your business to Nalbure
Quite q storm to ride in. 1 am glad YOU
didn't forget to call and tell me the new
from home.
This show of indifference was quite un
called for. Squire Linton had not notice,
the widows silk dress; and, if he had, wa
not the man to take encouragement from
trifes.
''She didn't understand nv letter. O
else doesn't mean to. She isn't the wo
man to meet man half way" thought he