Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26
The Stntw Teller.
THE SQUIRE'S MISTAKE

THE SQUIRE'S MISTAKE.
Squire Dudley was in his garden, pulling
weeds in his patch of tame strawberries, on
the morning when he took fancy for Ruth
Lees pretty face. She came down the road,
looking fresh as q new-blown rose, in her plain
calico dress and straw hat. Her brown hair,
cut quite short, blew all about her face in
little rings and her blue eyes and bright
cheeks made her as pretty picture as one
often sees. Squire Dudley saw her just as she
came opposite the strawberry-patch, and called
out "Good morning!" in his brisk, CHEEKY
way.
20, good morningw she answered. "You
almost scared me, Squire Dudley. 1 didn't
see you until you spoke"
"Pleasantmorning, ism tit p said thesquire,
coming up to the fence. Ruth had halted in
the road.
"It's beautiful weather." answered Ruth.
II told mother it was too pleasant to stay in
doors, and started off on visit"
care your Strawberries ripe yet 2" asked the
squire, wondering that he never had noticed
what fresh, charming face Widow Lees
daughter had before.
"Our strawberries p laughed Ruth. eve
haven't got one Our old rooster got in one
day, about week ago, and picked all he
could eat, and then coaxed the hens in, and
between them they ruined our strawberry
crop"
''Too bad r' exclaimed the sympathetic
squire. "Have some of these, Ruth. They
are just ripe enough to be good"
He picked some great clusters Of ripe ber-
ries and handed them over the fence to her.
"Thank you," said Ruth, smiling. "How
nice they are. Mother was making great cal
culations on her strawberry jam. She was
terribly vexed when she found out what the
hens had done''
"I've got lots to spare" said the squire.
"1'll send some over to your mother"
"She'd be much obliged to you" said Ruth.
eff you have more than you want"
"Plenty of them," answered the squire !;
"plenty Of them. Can have them just as we'll
as not"
II must be going," said Ruth. "Good
morning"
"Good morning." returned the squire, look
ing after her as she went down the road. 81
declare, there amt a prettier girl in town
than Ruth Lee. wonder some of the young
fellows haven't got her away from the widow.
If was young, now"
Squire Dudley stopped suddenly. An idea
had just flashed across his brain.
'I'm fifty" he said at last, after thinking
quite busily for some minutes. "I'm fifty, but
don't look it, I don't see why shouldn't
try my luck, after all. Girls as young as
Ruth marry men older than l am. I'm sure
she'd make any man a good wife. Her moth
er is one of the finest women in the State, and
she's brought her daughter up to know how
to work, and be saving and prudent. I'm
sure we need a good housekeeper Mrs,
Brown, she's old and fussy and crooked, and
this way of living isn't half living. I do be.
lieve I'll marry her, ifshe'll have me. Maybe
Charley'll say it's foolish, but can't help
that"
The squire fell to wedding out his strawber.
ries again diligently, and kept thinking about
Ruth all the while. Long before dinner was
ready he had fully made up his mind to pro-
pose marriage to Ruth, and bring home new
housekeeper and mistress to the great house
whose mistress has been dead for ten years or
more. Provided, of course, that Ruth didn't
say no, and the squire thought there wasn't
much danger of that; though why he should
be so sure, I can't say.
Don't you think we need a housekeeper%' p
he said to his son Charles that afternoon, as
they sat on the veranda. The Squire evident.
ly saw some new feature in the landscape, for
he kept his face turned away from Charley's
as he spoke.
"a housekeeper ?" asked Charley. "We've
got one. What do we want of more, I should
like to know"
eyes, I know" assented the squire, turning
red in the face, and beginning to get little
uneasy =; "but Mrs. Brown isn't such woman
as we need. She doesn't take an interest in
the work as-as a woman would who-who
had more interest in it."
After which extremely logical argument
the squire got more 6dgetty than ever.
81 understand that" answered Charley
"If she had a personal interest in the place
and in being prudent, and keeping things up
she'd do better than she does now. Now, she
gets her pay for the work, and that's all she
cares for. It's all we can expect Other"
"Just So, said the squire, glad to know that
Charley agreed with him so far. "I've been
thinking this morning that the best thing
could do would be to get some one who would
take personal interest in matters. don't
see as you intend to get married, and if you
won't don't know but I'd better"
Thesquire breathed easier. The worst part
was over with.
"You get married p exclaimed Charley, in
intense surprise. "Why, didn't know that
you ever thought of such thing"
"And haven't till this morning." exclaim
ed the squire. 81 got to thinking about it
this morning, and the more thought about ii
the more 1 thought it good plan. You
haven't any objections?'
"Of course MOI" answered Charley "You
can do as you think best. Ifyou deem it ad
visable to get wife, have nothing to say
further than the hope that you will get some
one who will make you happy"
"She will" said the squire very decidedly
"she will, I am sure"
MAY I ask who It's to be ?" inquired Char
ley.
"I-I haven't asked her vel" answered thu