The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-11-01

l WOIA a0-ao y WOUaA WVUAu WuV-WH$
had more interest il it,
After which extremely logical argu'
nsut the squire got more 6dgetty than
ever.
II understand that" answered
Charley. III she had 4 personal in.
terest in the place, and in being pru.
dent and keeping things up. she'd Dc
better than she does now. Now she
gets her pay for her work, and that's
all she cares for. It's al We can ex.
pect Of her."
! "Ju<t &c." said the squire, glad to
know that Charley agreed with him So
far. "I've been thinking this morning
that the best thing I could d. would be
to get some one who xould take per-
sonal interest in matsstA ! don't see
N you Intend to get .narried, and il
you won't, I don't know but I'd
better" aa ..s..' .. ~s
The squire breathed easier. The
worst part was over with. ~
"You get married - exclaimed
Charley. in intense surprise. "Why,
I didn't know that you ever thought of
such = thing"
| "And l haven't till this morning, -
exclaimed the squire. Il got to
thinking about it this morning, and the
more l thought about it the more l
thought it good plan. You haven't
any objections -
..Of course not," answered Charley.
"You can do rs you think best. If
you deem it advisable to get wife. l
have nothing to say further than the
hope that you viii get some one who
will make you happy"
"She will," said the squire very
decidedly, "she will, I am sure"
MAY I AK who 'tis to be p inquir-
cd Charley.
Ill haven't asked her yet," an
syercd the squire. as red as rose.
"I'd rather wait until I'm sure Of her
before tell who it is. She might say
no, you see, and l should feel rather
cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That af-
tornoon he picked = painful Of his
finest Strawberries. and directly after
tea started of across lots in the direc-
tion of Widow Lees, with the berries
nn his arm. 1t was dusk before he got
to the Widows for he walked slowly.
he had very busy thoughts for compa-
my. He WIS wondering what il were
hes. to do. Should he prop"se ut once
to Ruth, or should he see her mother
first, and talk with her? He concluded
that the lust was the wisest plan. As
he opened the gate noiselessly, be heard
voices in the other corner If tho gar
den. and s.opped . moment to find out
If it was the widow and her daughter.
Il never had any idea If it before" !"
said voice, which be recognized as
Charley's; met the least in the world.
He said he hadn't thought anything
about it until to-day. I couldn't find
out who he had in view. hope it
isn't old Miss Sharp. She'd like to
get somebody"
The squire burst into a profusc
pcrspiratiou at the idea Of having Miss
Sharp for q wife.
"Hc says he didn't see as l ever
intended to get married." went Oh
Charley. Il didn't tell him l had got
me wife picked out, but l wanted to.
I am sure he'd approve my taste in
making a selection"
"What nonsense !" laughed clear,
pleasant voice Ruth's voice, the
squire knew, the moment he heard it.
If l am going to be your wife I want
you to quit laughing at me in that sly
way, pretending you are Aattering me
all the tune" 4...
| "His wife !! Good gracious !"
i The squire was so taken by surprise
that be came near dropping his straw.
berries. So it was all settled between
them. And be bad come near propos.
ing to his sons intended wife. He felt
cold all over At the thought Of it. How
lucky that he did not take Charley into
| his confidence, and tell him who be had
tconcluueo 70 marry: -
j II DECLARE" exclaimed the squire,
i"I'vs made mistake this time, sure
enough. The rascal got the start oi
me. I'd like to know what I'm to do!
i I've told him that I intended to get
married, and If I don't he'll likely al
not mistrust something. Dear me!'
! The squire was in trouble. Another
bright thought occurred to him. There
] was the widow. After all, she would
b more suitable for him than Ruth
would have been. She was somewhere
near his own ago. A fine woman. A
smart woman. She would make fine
mistress for his empty house Why
shouldn't he marry her, since he could
not have her daughter?
] "I'n do it," exclaimed the squire,
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