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

For sending daily bread.
THE sQClRE's MISTAKE.
Squire Dudley was in his garden
pulling weeds in. bis patch Of tam
strawberries, on the morning when b
took fancy for Ruth Lees prett,
face. She came down. the road, lookin,
fresh - . new-blown rose in her plail
calico dress and straw hat. Her brow,
hair, cut quite short. blew al abou
her face in little rings. ata her blu
eyes and bright cheeks made her a
pretty = pisture AZ one often sees. So.
ire Dudley saw her just ~ she cam,
opposite the strawberry patch. and
called out "Good morning!" in hi
brisk, CHEEKY way.
20, good morning!" she answered.
"You almost scared me. Squire Dudley,
I didn't see yon until you spoke. u
pleasant morning, isn't 2" said the
squire, coming up to the fence. Ruth
had halted in the road
"It's beautiful weather." answered
Ruth. II told mot her it was too pleas.
ant to stay in doors, and started Of on
. VISIT
care your strawberries ripe YETI" said
the squire, wondering that he never
had noticed what . fresh, charming
facs widow Lees daughter had before.
"Our strawberries!'' laughed Ruth,
I'VE haven't got one. Our. old rooster
got in one day, about week ago, and
picked al be could eat. and then coaxed
the hens in, and between them they
ruined our strawberry CROP"
"Too bad!" !"cxclaimed the sympathetic
squire '.Have some of these, Ruth
They're just ripe enough to be COED. .
He picked SINE great clusters Of riP<
berries aud handed them over the fence
10 her.
Thank you. said Ruth, smiling. '.Hov
nice they are. Mother was making
great calculations on her strawberry
jam. She was terribly vexed wher
she found out what the hens had done. u
"I've got lots to spare, said the
squire. "I'l send some over to you,
mother"
"She'd be much obliged to you, d
said Ruth; III you have more thar
you want"
"Plenty Of them," answered th<
squire !; "plenty Of them. Can have
them just as we'll ~ not"
Il must be going" said Ruth
STOOD morning
"Good morning." returned the
squire, looking after her ~ she wen
down the road. II declare there ain
= prettier girl in town than Ruth Lee
l vesder come Of the young fellow
haven't got her away from the widow
If I vas young now"
Squire Dudley stopped suddenly. Al
idea had just flashed across his brain
I'm afty." be said st last: afte
thinking quite busily for some minutes
I'm fifty, but l don't look it. I dom
zee Why shouldn't try my luck. afte'
Ill. Girls Is young ~ Ruth MARI!
men older than I am. I'm sure she'.
make any man . good wife. He
mother ID one Of the finest women il
the State. aud she's bropght he
daughter up 70 know how 70 work, Ant
be Aving and prudent. I'm sure "
need good hoaaekeeper. Mn. Brown
she's old and faasy aad crooked. AM
sas WY u nving nus NAN Umg.
d. believe III marry her. Il shs'll hav'
ne. Maybe Charley'll say It's foolish
bat cant help that. ~
The squire fsll 70 wedding ont hi
strswbsrries again diligently. and kep
thinking aheut Ruth Al The while
Long before dinesr was ready be ha'
fully made up hh mind 70 propose nAr
riags 70 Ruth md bring homo > no,
heDekseper and mistaeas 70 the graa
house whose mistress had been dead 70
ten yesrs Or more. provided, Of course
THAI Ruth didn't cay no, and the squir
thought thsrs wasn't much danger Q
that, thosgh, Why he shouAbe .
|ssrs. I can't ny.
"Don't Jon think we need house
keeper? hs aaid 3 his son Charlie
that afternoon, - they at on the ye'
a.dah. Tie sqsirs evidently ssv som
ssw fsatsrs in tho landscape. for b
ksps his face turned away from Cha,
lsy's - he spoke.
IA he.sekssperl" I" asked Charley
"Wa'vs got oas. What Do - Wan
lof npes. ] should Ike TO know I"
"Hes, ! know" asDsnSed the squire
turning rcd In the hos. and besianin
70 get . little unessy; ''bst Mn
Brown int s1sh woman - " reed