Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-10-27
Selected MISCELLANY.
GOING on TRIAL,

GOING On TRIAL.
"Well. don't know, Squire Linton, I'd
be willing to go and keep house for you a
few days." said the widow, playing ner-
vously with the gate-latch. 81 know you're
in a pitiful plight with SO many young
children, and no head. I'd be willing to 90
for few days to accommodate you; but, to
tell the plain truth, / am expecting q call
tonight from MIR. Means, of Malburg,
and"
'.Indeed-oh, wasn't aware. Don't let
me detain you another minute, said squire
Linton. hurriedIy. "Tve too much of your
time already"
''No, indeed" returned the widow.
twisting her handkerchief; II was onIy
going to say promised to see MIR. Means
to-day; but I-that is to say can tell
you better tomorrow"
mo, no; it is too great favor. ought
not to ask i'll won't ask il. Mrs. whalen. 4"
sighed Squire Linton, wondering secretly
what business should bring the wealthy
Mr.. Means, of Malburg, all the way to
Durham
But he was such a meek, self-renouncinp
man that he never dreamed of pressing his
own claim any farther and hastily draw
ing up his reins. drove away, reproachins
himself for intruding his forlorn necessity
and making drsught upon the widows
sympathy.
"Poor, dear soul, thought Mrs. Whalen,
gazing after him half-regretfully: IF he
had said another word should have gone:
I couldn't have held out against his plead
ing. But there, it's just as well, suppose.
Mr.. Means will be along soon. wonder
what he looks like. They say he stands
very high; but, as never saw the man. of
course 1 can't make up my mind what to
say to him yet"
Before Souire Linter was ,.aif vsv back
to his ''headless' home with his loaves of
bakers bread and ginger bread, ard Jumps
of frovy butter. the widow was standing
opposite the little square window in her
bedroom, tying foe strings of her new Law
ender cap. What she had remarked to
herself was perfectly true; she had not made
up her mind What she would say to Mr..
Means; great deal would depend upon
what he should say to her.
"Ahem ]" CALCULATED he, as he entered
the little sitting-room down stairs. Mrs
Whalen, i suppose? / am Israel Means.
of Malburg. Hope / see you well, ma am p
''Rather good-looking man, now, l am
ing him a chair. "a little centrifed, per-
haps. but what of that p
'.Middlin warm weather, ma'am, added
Mr.. Means, with an admiring glance at
his hostess. whose personal charms rather
exceeded his expectations "Just the
weather for cheese and no weather at all
for butter"
$50 / should think sir. Have a fan %
said Mrs. Whalen, her mouth looking as
n butter wouldn't melt in it even in dog
days.
Mrs. Whalen r. said Mr.. Means. ac-
cepting the fan, and with it the rleht
thumb of the embarrassed lady-.Mrs
Whalen y
The words were nothing, but the tone
was portentous. The widow wished she
had kept the fan; she began to feel the
need of q breath of air.
Mrs. Whalen, 1 suppose you may be
aware. ma'sr. that I-ahem-called with
q view to"
MIR. Means made double period, looked
up to the ceiling for the rest of the sen.
tence, and not findiug it fiashing-out there
as In the days of Beh bazaar, bent an ap-
pealing glance at the widow. who was GER
taialy in no state to help him out.
"Ah Oh y she faitered, while her come
ly brunette face showsd a very fine combi-
nation of solferino and bismarck. ssOh
All
Mr.. Means saw the betraying color with
his quick gray eyes.
'Hang it tr' said he to himself; 'the wo-
man needn't take me mp before get the
words out of my mouth" J" Mrs. Whalen,
1 suppose you may be aware, ma'am. that
calsd-any body with pair of eyes in
ftcSp k<u1
hope? 1 was coming up this way, and
Moses; my nephew, kind o. put it in my
head that I'd better drop in"
"Yes sir" was the FAINT reply.
Was that all he meant then? And here
she had been expecting- Oh Moses
Pitcher the black-eyed imp of mischief
Couldn't he be in better business than
going round to widows houses, making be-
llevs old uncies were coming to offer them
selves? Moses vas pitcher with large
ears and a very large mouth. He had
heard more than his uncle had ever saidl
and told great deal more than he had
heard And now, deceived by his specious
hints, she had gone and bought lavender
ribbon and hem-stitched handkerchief
Would she ever hear the last of it from SIS
ter Dorcas
did in death, she must have been blessed
among women.
81 always like plenty to do when cook, "
returned the widow Whalen, whirling the
churn-handie with energy enough to start
the Great Eastern.
A shadow rippled over Mr.. Means face.
''Calista cooked as good as anybody; but
she was always 9 very saving woman, said
ne regretfully.
The he sprang up 30 briskly that he
overset his skillet of grease.
"What! Tnerel there that's too bad.
nowl I'd no idea that plaguy skillet ham
die was turned round right In my way
But just happened to remember there's q
good sided junk of pork-rind set away on
the top shelf of the cheese-safs. It has
been overlooked till it's almost really to
take hurt I'll res ,h il down f.r7ou while
"Want to kHowi Then you understand
all about the work. How do you like il %
asked Mr.. Means. moving his chair little
nearer the window overlooking the veqeta-
ble garden, by which Mrs. wbalen sat
"Work is work. always like anything
that / have to do" returned the widow,
curtlv.
Ever made any cbeese?"
Mrs. Whalen laughed at the weakness
Of the question.
''Cheess is rather my strong point, said
she. with dignity.
ssAh no : is it about butter? Generally
had p retty good luck with that?" contin-
ned b er cstechist, taking up his chair, and
bringi ne it over BY the window.