Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-29
Tho Squlre's Mistake.


Ruth Lees pretty face. She came down
the road, looking fresh as a new-blown rose
in her plain calico dress and straw hat
Her brown hair, cut quite short, blew all
about her face 10 little rings, and her blue
eyes and bright checks made her as pretty
a picture as one often sees. Squire Dudley
saw her just as she came opposite the straw
berry patch, and called out " Good morn
ing" in his briss, choory way.
80, good morning she answered.
'' You almost scared me, Squire Dudley.
| didn't see you until you spoke"
"Polasant morning, isn't it?' said the
Squire coming up to the fence. Ruth had
halted in the road.
It's beautiful weather" answered Ruth.
" told mother it was too pleasant to stay
indoors and started off on a visit"
Are your strawberries ripe YETI" said
the squire, wondering that he never had
noticed what fresh, charming face Widow
Lees daughter had before.
"Our strawberries ~ laughed Ruth
'' We haven't got one. Oar old rooster got
in one day, about a week ago, and picked
all he could eat and then coaxed the hens
in, aud between them they ruined our
strawberry crop
100 bad ~ exclaimed the sympathetic
Squire. Have some of these, Ruth.
They're just ripe enough to be good"
lie picked some great clusters Of ripe
berries, and handed them over the fence to
her.
Thank you, said Ruth, smiling. "IIow
nice they are. Mother was making great
calculations on her strawberry jam. She
vas terribly yexed when sho found out
what the hens had done"
I've got lots to spare" said the Squire.
" III send some over to your mother,'
shed be much obliged to YOU" said
Ruth it you have more than you
want"
Plenty Of them, answered the Squire;
plenty Of them. Can have them just as
well as not
must be going said Ruth. Good
morning
Good morning" said the Squire, look
iug after her as she went down the road
" do declare, there amt prettier girl in
town than Ruth Lee. | wonder some of
the young fellows haven't got her away
from the widow If was young now"
Squire Dudley stopped suddenly An
idea had just flashed across his brain.
"lm ddy," he said at last, after think
ing quite busily for some minutes. I'm
ffly, but don't look it. don't sec why
| shouldn't try my luck, after all. Girls
as young as Ruth marry older men than
am. I'm sure she'd mako any man good
wife. Her mother is one Of the finest wo-
men in the state, and she's brought her
daughter up to knew bow to work, and be
saving aud prudent. I'm suro we need a
good housekeeper Mrs. Brown, she's old
aud fussy and crooked, aud this way Of liv-
ing amt half living. | do believe IN marry
her, if she'll have me. Maybe Charley'd
sry it's foolish, but | can't help it,"
The Squire fell to wedding out his straw
berries again diligently, and kept thinking
about Ruth all the while. Long before
dinner was ready be had fully made up his
mind to propose marriage to Ruth, and
bring home a new housekeeper and mistress
to the great house whose mistress had been
dead for ten long years or more provided
OF course, that Ruth didn't say no, and the
Squire thought there wasn't much danger of
that, though why he was SO sure, can't
say
Don't you think we need housekeep-
er ?" he said to his sou Charles that after
noon, as they sat on the verandah. The
Squire evidently saw some new feature in
the landscape, for he kept his face turned
away from Charley's as he spoke.
\ housekeeper ?' asked Charley
" We've got one. What do we want of
more, should like to know ?"
Yes, know assented the Squire,
turning red in the face, and beginning to
get little uneasy but Mrs. Brown is
not such a woman as We need. She doesn't
take any interest in the work as--as a wo-
man would who-who had more interest
in it.n
After which extremely logical argument
the Squire got more figety than ever.
understand that answered Charley.
" II she had a personal interest in the
place, aud in being prudent and keeping
things up, she'd do better than she does
nov. Now she gets her pay for work, and
that's all she cares for. It's all We can ex-
pect Of her.
just So" said the Squire, glad to know
that Charley agreed with him SO far. I've
been thinking this morning that the best
thing | could do would be to get some ono
who would take a personal interest 10 mat
ters. | don't see as you intend to get mar
ria md b. L,,t
I'd better"
The Squire breathod easier. The worst
part was over with.
You get married J" exclaimed Charley
in intense SURPRISE Why, didn't know
that you ever thought Of such a thing"
Aud haven't till this morning" ex-
claimed the Squire. &" got to thinking
about it this morning, and the more |
thought about it the more | thought it a
a good plan. You haven'tany objections ?"
"Of course not" answered Charlie.
" You can do as you think best. If you
deem it advisable to get a wife | have moth
ing to say further than the hopes that you
will get some one who will make you
happy.
" She will" said the Squire very de-
cidedly, she will, | am sure"
"May ask who lis to be?" inquired
Charley.
Ill haven't asked her yet" answered
the Squire, as-Fed as a rose. "I'd rather
wait until I'm sure Of her before | tell
who it is She might say no, you see, aud
| should feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That afternoon
he picked pailfal Of his finest strawber-
ries, aud directly after tea started of across
lots in the direction Of the Widow Lees,
with the berries on his arm. II was dusk
before be got to tho widows, for he walked
slowly. He had very busy thoughts for
company. lie was wondering what it was
best to DO. Should be propose at once to
Ruth, or should he see her mother first and
talk with her2 He concluded that the last
was the wiser plan. As be opened the gate
noiselessly he heard voices in the oiles