The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-30
THE SQUlRE's MISTAKE.

|
ries, on the morning when he took q
fancy for Ruth Lees pretty face. She
came dswu the road, looking fresh %
new blewn rose in her plain calico dress
and straw hat. Her brown hair, cut
quite short, blew all about her face 10
little risgs, and her blue eyes aud bright
cheeks made her as pretty picture a. enc
often sees. Squire Dudley saw her just
as she came opposite the strawberry
pa,ch, and called out "Gsod morning r.
iu his brisk, CHEEKY way.
30, good morning u she answered.
"You almost scared me, Squire Dudley.
l didn't see ysu until ysu spoke"
"Plsassnt morning, isn't it?' said the
squire coming up to the fence. Ruth
had halted in the road.
"It's beautiful weather." answered
Ruth. II told mother it was too pleas.
ant to stay in doors, aud started off on q
visit"
"Are your strawberries ripe yet ?" said
the squire, wondering that he never had
noticed what o fresh, charming face
Widow Lees daughter had before.
"Our strawbsrriss?" laughed Ruth.
1--WE haven't eas. Our old rooster got
in one day about week ago, and picked
all he could eat, asd then coaxsd the
hens 10, and between them they ruined
our strawberry crop"
TOO bad II exclaimed the sympa
thytic squire. "Have seme Of these,
Ruth. They are just ripe enough to b.
good"
He picked some great clusters of ripe
berries and handed them over the fence
to her.
"Thank YOU" said Ruth, smiling.
"How nics they are. Mother was max
ing great calculations on her strawberry
jam. Sho was terribly vexsd when she
found out what the hens had done"
i've gots lots to spare" said the
squire. "I'll send some over to yeur
mother
"She'd be much obliged to you" said
Ruth "if you have mere than ysu
want"
PLENTY of them" answered the
sqsirs "plenty Of them. Can have
them just as we'll as not"
II must bo geins," said Ruth
Good morning"
Good morning" returned the squire,
locking after her as she went dswn the
read. II declare there amt prsttisr
girl in town than Ruth Lee. wonder
some of the young fellows haven't 60,
her away from the widow. If l wa'
young now"
Squire Dudley stopped suddenly. Al
idea had just flashed across his brain.
"Tm fifty" he said at last, after think
ing quite brusquely for some minutes
I'm fifty, but l dent look it. | don
see why l shouldn't try my luck afts1
all. Girls as young as Ruth marry olde1
men than l am. I'm sure she'd make
any man a good wifo. Her mother il
one of the finest women in the state. ant
she has brought her daughter up to know
how to work, and bs saving and prudent
I'm sure We need q good housskeepsr
Mrs. Brown, she's old and fussy anC
crooked, and this way of living isn't bal
living. do believe III marry her, i
she'll have me. Maybe CharI.y'll SC!
its foolish, but I cant help that"
The squire fell to wedding out hi'
strawberries again diligently, and ksp
thinking about Ruth all the while
Long before dinner was ready be ha'
fully made up his mind to propose mar
riags to Ruth aud bring homo a nov
housekesper and mistress to the grea
house whose mistress had been dead 70
ten years or more. provided, of course
that Ruth didn't say no, and the squir
thought there wasn't much danger o
that, though, why he should BE- - sure
| can't say.
Don't you think We need = house
kssper?" he said to bis son Charley tha
Afternoon, as he sat on the vsrandat
The squire evidently saw some ne,
feature in the landscape, for be kept hi
face turned away from Charleys as b
spoke.
"A houssksspsr ?" asked Charley
; "Ws'vs got one. What do We want {
more, l shslld like to knew?"
"Yss, I know" asssntsd the squire
turning red in the face, and beginning I
get . little uneasy; "but Mrs. Brow
isn't euch a woman as We need. Sh
doesn't take any interest in the work I
AS Q woman would who-had moi
interest in it,"
After which extremely logical argr
ment the squire got more 6dgstty tina
ever.
III understand that" answered Cha
" Icy. "if she had q personal interest
the place, and in being prudent %
kesp ping things up, she'd do better th'
she does now. Now she gets her pa
for her work, aud that is all she car
for. It's oil W can expect Of her.
"Jnst so," said the squire, glad
> know that Charley agreed With him
fay. "l'vs been thinking this moroiI
that the best thing / could do would
10 get some enc who would take pc
g sopal interest il matters. l don't see
YOU intend to get married, sbd it y
won't, I dent know but I'd better -
The squIrs brsathsd sssisr. III