Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26

is. She might say no, you see, and L should
feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That afternoon he
picked painful of his finest strawberries, 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 were best to do. Should he pro-
pose at once to Ruth, or should he see her
mother first, and talk with her? He concu-
ded that the last was the wisest plan. AS he
opened the gate noiselessly, he heard voices in
the other corner ofthe garden, and stopped
moment to find out ifit was the widow and. her
daughter.
Fl never had any idea of it BEFORE" said a
voice, which he recognized as Charley's; "not
the least in the world. He said he hadn't
thought about it until to-day. I couldn't find
out who he had in view. hope it isn't old
Miss Sharp. She'd like to get somebody"
The squire burst into a profuse perspiration
at the idea of having Miss Sharp for wife.
"He said he didn't see as I ever intended to
pet married" went on Charley. 81 didn' t tell
him had got me wife picked out, but l
wanted to. I'm sure he'd approve my taste
in making selection
"What nonsensew laughed clear, pleasant
voice Ruth's voice, the squire knew, the mo-
ment he heard it. eff I'm going to be your
wife want you to quit laughing at me in that
sly way, pretending you're fatterlng me all
the timew
"His wife! Good gracious"
The squire was so taken by surprise that
he came near dropping his strawberries. So
it was all settled between them? And he
had come near proposing to his sons intended
wife! He felt cold all over, at the thought
of it, How lucky that he did not take Char
ley into his confidence, and tell him who he
had concluded to marry!
81 DECLARE" exclaimed the squire, '1've
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 inten-
ded to get married, 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 wo-
man. A smart woman. She would make a
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
90 through with the matter, since he had got
so far. "I'll do it"
He knocked. The door was opened by the
widow, round-cheeked, rosy, and smiling.
"Why, Squire Dudleyl Good evening"
she exclaimed. "I hardly knew you at first,
you haven't been here in so long. Come in !;
take this rocking chair, and let me take your
hat"
The widow hustled about and got the squire
a chair, and deposited his hat on the table be-
fore he happened to think Of his basket.
20, Ruth told me your strawberry crop
proved failure, so I thought I'd run over
and bring you few. Strawberry short-cake
don't 90 bad, this time of year."
"I'm thousand times obliged to you" said
the widow, taking the basket. 81 was so pro-
voked to think the hens should spoil mine
Such nice lot as I would have had"
and get 'em," said the squire "Weve plenty
of 'em. Mrs. Brown-she won't do anything
with 'em, except as we use them in the sea-
son OF them, suppose"
"You ought to have 'em done up. They're
so nice in the winter. I would like to get
some for jam; and if Mrs. Brown won't take
care of them, I'll do them up on shares"
II wish you would" said the squire
"Things are all going to wreck and ruin about
my place. 'Tain't to be expected q hired
woman will take any interest in affairs )" and
here he sighed deeply.
"No that's so !' responded the widow.
1t was strange that thesquire had not found
out how things were going to wreck and ruin
before. Mrs. Brown had been there ever
since Mrs. Dudley died.
The squire and the widow kept up a brisk
conversation, and at the end Of an hour he
was more deeply in love with the widow than
he had been with her daughter, and began to
wonder how he had been so blind as to over
look such delightful woman for so long.
By-and-by the widow hustled out, and pres
emily came back with pitcher of last years
cider and plate of cake.
"Do have something to eat and drink"
urged the widow. eff I'd known you were
coming I'd have made cherry pie; l remem-
Der you used to like my cherry pies"
"I-I wish you'd come and make cherry
pies for me all your life" blurted out the
squire, turning very red in the face again.
I'll came down to ask you to marry me,
Mrs. Lee"
After which innocent falsehood the squire
felt decidedly relieved.
"Im sure Pdas lief marry you as any man, y
answered the widow, blushing and looking as
pretty as rose.
"It's all settled, then," cried the delighted
squire, and kissed her plump on the lips just
as the door opened and Charley and Ruth
came in.
Allow me to make you acquainted with my
new housekeeper," said the squire, bowing
very low to hide his red face.
"And allow me to present my wife-that is
to be-" answered Charley. "You take the
mother and I'll take the daughter"
l am happy to say that, under the "new ad-
ministration," things are no longer going to
wreck and ruin.
ONLY A FARMERS WIFE.
Two women sat together at sunset in the
porch door of white cottage that stood un-
der its ancestral tree" and among its fields
of wheat and corn, like poets vision Of a
quiet resting place for some weary, suffering
human soul.
And one Of these two women had eyes to
see, ears to hear, and heart to feel and ap-
III L.. all eSo ofnlx