The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-11-21

clQeuly, " one Will, am sure.
May ask who tits to bef" inquired
Charley.
"I-I haven't asked her yet" answered
the Squire, as red as q rose. "Td rather
wait until I'm sure of her before tell
who it is. She might say no, you see,
and should feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That after
noon he picked pan of his finest straw
berries, and directly after tea started off
across lots in the direction of the widow
Lees, With the berries on his arm. 1t
was dusk before he got to the widows,
for he walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts for company. He was wonder
ing what it was best to do. Should he
propose at once to Ruth, or should he see
her mother first and talk with her ? He
concluded that the last was the wiser
plan.
As he opened the gate noiselessly he
heard voices in the other corner of the
garden, and stopped moment to find
out if it was the widow and her daugh-
ter.
"I never had any idea of it BEFORE"
said voice, which he recognized as
Charley's, "not the least in the world.
He said he hadn't thought anything
about it until to-day. 1 couldn't find
out who he had in view. I hope it isn't
old Miss Sharp. She'd like to get some
body"
The Squire burst into a profuse per-
spiration at the idea of having Miss
Sharp for wife.
"He said he didn't see as I ever in
tended to get married" went on Charley
al didn't tell him had got me a wife
picked out, but wanted to. I am sure
he'd approve my taste in making Sc
lection"
"What nonsense !" laughed clear,
pleasant voice-Ruth's voice, the Squire
knew the moment he heard it. eff am
going to be your wife want you to quit
laughing at me in that sly way, pre-
tending you are hattering me all the
time !"
"His wife! Goodness gracious !"
The Squire was so taken by surprise
that he came near dropping his straw
berries. So it was all settled between
them. And he had come near proposing
to his sons intended wife. He telt cold
all over at the thought of it, How lucky
that he Cid not take Charley into his
confidence, and tell him who he had con-
cluded to marry.
Il DECLARE" exclaimed the Squire,
"Ive made O mistake this time, sure
enough. The rascal got the start of me.
I'd like to know what I'm to do? I've
told him that intended to get marri ID,
and if don't, he'll likely as not mistrust
something. Dear me !'
The Squire was in trouble. Another
bright thought occurred to him. There
was the widow. After all, she would be
more suitable for him than Ruth would
have been. She was somewhere near his
own age. "A fine woman. A smart wo-
man. She would make fine mistress
for his empty house. Why shouldn't he
marry her, since he could not have her
daughter?
"I'll do it," exclaimed the Squire,
bound to go through with the matter
since he had got SO far. "Tll do it,"
He knocked. The door was opened
by the widow, round checked, rosy and
smiling.
"Why, Squire Dudley! Good even.
ing" she exclaimed. az hardly knew
you at first, you havn't been here in SC
long. Come in, take this rocking g-chair
and let me take your hat"
The widow hustled about and got the
Squire a chair and deposited his hat or
the table before he happened to think o.
his basket.
"Oh Ruth told me your strawberry
crop had proved a failure, SO thought
I'd run over and bring you few. Straw
berry short-cake don't go bad this time
of year"
"I'm thousand times obliged tt
you," said the widow, taking the basket
II was so provoked to think the hen.
should spoil mine. Such nice lot as
would have had"
"If you want any preserves, come
over and get 'em." said the Squire
We've plenty of them. Mrs. Brew1
she won't do anything with 'em, ex
cept as we use them in the season O.
them, suppose"
at want to know~ exclaimed tn,
widow. "You ought to have them done
up. They're so nice in the winter.
would like to get some for JAM and i
Mrs. Brown won't take care of them III
do them up on shares"
al wish you would" said the Squire
Things are all going to wreck ant
ruin about nay place. 'Taint to be ca
pected hired woman will take any in,
terest in affairs" and here he sighed
deeply.
"No; that's So"
1t was strange that the Squire had
not found ous how things were going to
wreck and ruin before. Mrs Brown hat
been there ever since Mrs. Dudley died
The Squire and the widow kept up {
very brisk conversation, and at the enc
of an hour he was more deeply in low,
with the widow than her daughter, snC
began to wonder how he had been 81
blind as to overlook such delightful
woman SO long.
By-and-by the widow hustled out
and presently came back with pitche
of last years cider and a plate of cake.
"Do have something to eat and drink,
urged the widow. "If I'd known yol
were coming I'd have made cherr!
pie. remember you used to like m.
cherry pie"
IL wish yon'd come and max
cherry pies for me all your life" blurteC
out the Squire, turning very red in tn
face again. "I-I came to ask you tt
marry me, Mrs. Lee" ...
After which innocent falsehood tn
Squire felt decidedly relieved.
"pm sure I'd as lieve marry you a
any man." answered the widow, blush
ing, and looking as pretty as rose.
ats all settled then," cried the de