The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-30

"You can do as you think best. IF you
deem it advisable to get q wife, | have
nothing to say further than the hope that
ysu will get some one vho will make ysu
happy"
"Shs WILL" said the squire very de.
cidsdly, "she will, l am sure"
May ask who it is to bs?' in.
quirsd Charley.
II haven't asked her yst," answered
the squire, as red a. rose. I'D rather
wait until I'm sure of her before l tell
you who it is. She might say no. you
see, and should feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That after.
nosn he picked q painful Of his finest
straw berries, and directly after tea started
across lots 10 the direction Of Mrs. Lees,
with the berries On his arm. 1t was
dusk before he got to the widows fer he
walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts for company. He was wonder
ing what 1t were best to do. Should he
propose at once to Ruth or should he see
her mother first, and talk With hcr2 Hs
concluded that the last was the ws0st
plan. As he opened the gate noiselessly 3,
he heard voices in tho other corner OF
the gsrdcu, and stopped moment to find
out i it was the widow and her daughter.
II never had any idea Of it before, y
said a voice, which he recognized as
Charlcy's; mot the least in the wsrld.
He said he hadn't thought anytbin.
about it until to day. l couldn't find
out who he had ia view. | hope it ism t
old Miss Sharp. Shed like to get some
body"
The squire burst into a prsfuss psrspi
ration at the idea Of having Miss Sharp
for wife.
"Hs says he didn't see as l ever in
tended to get married., went on Charley
II didn't tell him l haa got me u wife
picked out, but wanted to. lam sure
he would approve my taste iu making Il
selection"
what nonsense T. laughed q clear,
pleasant voice Ruth's voice, tho squire
knew, the moment he heard it. IF
am going to be your wife | want you to
quit laughing at me in that sly way, pre-
tending you are fattcring me all the
time"
His wife! Good gracious y
The squire was 80 taken by surprise
that he came near dropping his straw
berries. So it was all settled between
them. And he had comc near proposing
to his sons intended wife. Hs felt cold
all over at the thought of it. How
lucky that he did not take Charley into
: his confidence, and tell him who hs had
concluded 10 marry.
, II declare" exclaimed the squire
"I'vs made . 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 married
and if l don't he'll likely as not mistrus
something. Dear me !"
r The squire was in trouble. Another
r bright thought occurred to him. Their,
, was the widow. After ali, she would b.
, more suitable for him than Ruth woul,
have been. She was somewhere near hi
' own age. A fine woman. A smar
!. woman. She would make fine mistres
=. for his empty house. Why shouldn't h
! marry her, since he could not have tn
f daug hter
f "I'll do it," exclaimed the squire
! bound to 90 through with the matte
since he sad get 50 far. "I'll do it,"
: lie knocked. The door was opsns
t by tho widow, round checked, rosy an
smiling.
why, Squire Dudley Good even
y. ing" she exclaimed. II hardly kne,
' YOU at first, you haven't been her
t iu so long Come in; take this rsckin.
r chair, and let me take your hat"
}, Tho widow hustled about and got th
. squire char and deposited his hat OIL
f the table before he happened to think 0
}, his basket.
"Oh Ruth told me your strawberr
!. crop had proved q failure, so | though
It Id run over aud bring you a few
!. Strawberry short cake don't 20 bad thi
" time Of year" .. ... ..,.
10 I'm thousand times obliged to you,
Q said the widow. taking the basket Z"
was SO provoked to think the hens shoul
I. spell mine. Such . nice lot as wouI
Il have had" .... Id. ..... ...
If yeu want any preserves. com. ove
0, and get EN-" said the squire. "Ws',
% plenty Of EN-. Mrs. Brown she won
n do anything with 'em except as We us
70 them 10 the season Of them, l suppose.
- 81 want to knowl" exclaimed tb
70 widow. "You ought to have them don
up. They're 90 nice in the winter.
l. would like to get ssms for jam and
% Mrs. Brown went take care Of them, /
do then up on the shares"
F. II wish yea would" said the squir'
10 "Things are all going to wreck aud rui
"a about my place. 'Taint to be sxpects
IN hired wsman will tsko any interest
y affairs and here hs sighed deeply.
% "Ne that's so."
1t was strange that the squire had NJ
to found out how thiugs we're going
10 wreck and ruin before. Mrs. Brown ha
lg been there ever since Mrs, Dudley die
be The squire and the widow kept Up
r, very brisk conversation, end st the su