The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-12-04

sY aud crooked, and this way of liv.
, ing isn't half living. I do believe
I'll marry her, if she'll have me.
Maybe Chariie'l! say its foolish, but
| can't help that
The Squire fell to wedding ont
his strawberries again diligently, and
and kept thinking about Ruth ali the
while. Long before dinner was
ready he had fully made up his mind
70 propose marriage to Ruth aud
Dring nome new housekeeper aud
mistress to the great house whose
mistress had been dead ten wears or
more, provided, of course, that Ruth
didn't say no, and the Squire thouoht
there wasn't much danger of that
though why he should be SO sure. I
can't say.
Don't you think we need house
keeper p he said to his son Charles
that afternoon, as they sat on the
veranda. The Squire evidently 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, | should like to know
yes, l know asserted the Squire,
turning red in the face, and begin
ming to get little uneasy; 'but Mrs.
Brown isn't such woman as we
need. She doesn't take any interest
in the work as-a woman would who
had more interest in it.
After which extremely logical ar
gument the Squire got more fidgety
than ever.
Il understand that answered
Charley. IF she had a personal in
terest in the place, and in being pru-
dent and in keeping things up, she'd
do better than she does now. Now
she gets her pay for her work, and
that's all she cares for. It's all we
expect of her.
Just so, said the Squire, glad to
know that Charley agreed with HIM
so iar, 'I've been thinking this morn.
ing that the pest that | could do,
would be to get some one who has
personal inter ~ ia matters l
don't see as you il I'D to get mar
ried, and as you " ont l don't know
but I'd BETTER
The Squire breathed easier. The
worst part was over with.
You get marriedp exclaimed
Charley, in intense surprise, why, I
didn't know you ever thought of
such thing"
'And havn't till this morning."
exclaimed the Squire. ! got to
thinking about it this morning, and
the more l thought about it the more
l thought it good plan. You have
no objections !?
COT course not answered Charley.
You can do as you think best. If
you think it advisable to get wife /
have nothing farther to say further
than the hope that you will get some
one who will make you happy
'Sbe WILL said the Squire very
pecidedly, she will I am sure
May I ask who tits to be?' in
| NndilcJs
IL havn't asked her yet,' an
swered the Squire as red as a rose.
SD rather wait until Pm sure of her
before tell you who it is. She
might say no, you see then should
feel rather cheap
Prudent Squire Dudley! That af-
ternoon he picked painful of his
finest strawberries, and directly after
tea started off across lots in the di-
rection of widow Lees with the
berries on his arm. 1t was dusk be-
fore he got to the widows, for he
walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts for company. He was
wondering 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 wisest 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
daughter.
Il never had any idea of it before,
said voice which he recognised as
Charley's; 'He said he hadn't thO't
anything about it until to-day. l
could not find out whom he had in
view. Ihope it isn't old Miss Sharp.
She'd like to get somebody
The Squire burst into profuse
PRESENTATION at the idea of having
Miss Sharp for a wife.
He said he didn't see as I ever
intended to get married. went on
Charley. Il didn't tell him l had
got me a wife picked out, but !
wanted to. l am sure he approves
my taste in making selection
what nonsense = laughed a clear
pleasant voice. Ruth's voice, the
Squire knew the moment he heard it.
1T l am going to be your wife, 1
want you to quit laughing at me in
that sly way, pretending you are
fattering me all the time
His wife Good gracious =
The Squire was so taken by sur.
prise that he came near dropping his
strawberries. So it was settled be.
tween 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 Charley into his confidence.
and tell him whom he concluded to
marry.
I Declare exclaimed the Squire,
'I've made mistake this time, sure
enough. The rascal has got the start
of me. I'd like to know what I'm to
do? I've told him that l intended to
get married, and if / don't he'll likely
as not mistrust something. Dear
me!'
The Squire was in trouble. An
other 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 woman. She would
make fine mistress for his empty
house. Why shouldn't he marry her
since he could not have her daugh
ter?
'I'll do it, exclaimed the Squire
bound to go through with the matter
since he had got SO far. 'I'll dc
, it,
He knocked. The door was open
ed by the widow, round checked
, ,osr opd op,il;pn