The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-02-27

ne squire 1elt 10 Weeulng out MS
strawberries again diligently, and kept
thinking about Ruth all the while. Long
before dinner was ready he had fully
made up his mind to propose marriage to
Ruth, and bring home Il new housekeeper
and mistress to the great house whose
mistress had been dead for ten wears or
more; provided, of course that Ruth
didr't say no, and the Squire thought
there wasn't much danger of that though
why he should be SO sure, | can't say.
''Don'. YOU think we need a house
keeper?' he said to his son Charles that
afternoon, as they sat on the verandah.
The Squire evidently saw some new feat
IRE 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, | know" assented the squire,
turning red in the face, and beginning to
get little uneasy; "but Mrs Brown isn't
such a woman as we need. She doesn' t
take any interest in the work as-as a
woman would who--who had more inter
est in it."
After which extremely logical argument
81 understand that, answered Charley.
IF she had q personal interest in the
place, and in being prudent, and 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
can expect of her.
know that Charley agreed with him 50
far. 'I've been thinking this morning
that the best thing | could do would
a personal interest in matters | don't
you won't don't know but I'd better"
The Squire breathed easier. The worst
part was over with
you get married I" exclaimed Charley
in intense surprise ;''Why, didn't know
that you ever thought of such u thing"
| and | haven't till this morning." ex-
claimed the Squire. Il cot to thinking
about it this morning, and the more |
thought about it the more I thought it q
/ good plan. You haven't any objections2"
| "Of course not" answered Charley.
you can do as you think best. If you
deem it advisable to get a wife. have
nothing to say further than the hope that
| YOU w III Stt SpiIlS tHt VINO Will MAKE you
happy
She will said the Squire very de-
cidedly, "she WILL am sure"
May | ask who It's TO be ?'' inquired
| Charley.
II haven't asked her yet" answered
the squire, as red as a rose. I'D rather
wait until I'm sure of her before I tell
who it is. She might say no, YOU see, and
| should feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley. That after
noon he picked a painful OF his finest
Strawberries, and directly after tea start
| ed Oft across lots IN the direction OF the
Widow Lees with the berries on his arm.
| II was dusk before he got 10 the widows,
for he walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts for company. He was wonder
| inc what it We're best to do. Should he
| propose at once to Ruth, OF should he see
her mother first, and talk with her =? He
concluded that the last was the wSeSt
plan As he opened the gate .loiSelesslv,
he heard voices inShe other corner Of the
garden, and stopped a moment TO find out
if it was the widow and her daughter.
Il never had any IDEA OF it before, "
| said " voice, which he recognized as
Charey's; mot the least in the world
| He said he hadn't thought ANYTHING about
! it until to-day, 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 intoa prniuse perspira-
| ton at the idea of having Miss Sharp for
a wife.
| He said he didn't see as | ever intend
ed to get married" went on Charley Il
didn't tell him | had GOT me a wife picked
out, but | wanted to. am sure he'd APP
prove my taste in making selection"
| "What nonsense !" laughed A clear,
| pleasant voice; Ruth's voice, the Squire
| knew the moment he heard it. IF | am
| going to he your wife / want You To quit
| laughing at me IN that sly way. pretend
inc Won are flattering me all he time !"
His wife Good gracious"
The Squire was 50 taken by surprise
that he came near dropping his strawher-
! rirs SO it was all settled between them
Aud he had come near proposing to his
| sons intended wife. He fell cold all over,
Al the thought Of if How lucky that he
did not take Charley into his confidence.
and tell him who he mad concluded to
marry.
Il declare" exclaimed the squire, I've
made mistake this time. sure enough
! The rascal got the start OF me T., like
10 know what I'm to do? I've told him
that | intended to get married. and If |
don't he'll likely as not mistrust soma
thing. Dear me
The squire was in trouble Another
! bright thought occurred to him There
| was the widow. After al, she would
be more suitable Tor him than Ruth would
! have been. She was somewhere near his
own age. A fine woman. A smart wo-
man. She would make a fine mistress for
his empty house Why shouldn't he marry
her since he could not have her dtugh-
ter?
IN do it, exclaimed the squire, bound
to 90 through with the matter since he
had got SO far I'm do it.
He knocked The door was opened NV
! the widow. round checked, rosy and smil-
ing.
why. Squire Dudley Good evening""
she exclaimed Il hardly knew YOU at
| first, YOU haven't been herc in so long
Come IN; take this roching-chair and let
me take your hat"
The widow hu5tled about and got the
squire a chair and deposited his hat on the
table before he happened to think Of his
| basket
go Ruth told ne your strawberry crop
| had proved a failure, so though I'd run
over and bring you a few. Strawberry
shot-cake don't 90 bad this time of year"
I'm u thousand times obliged to you, y
| said the widow, taking the basket 81
was so provoked to think the hens should
| spoil mine. Such a nice lot as would
have had"
IF you want any preserves, come over
and get EN-" said the squire We've
plenty of em. Mrs, Brown-she won't
do anything with EN-, except as we use
them in the season OF them, | suppose -
II want to known exclaimed the widow
g You ought to have them done up
They're so nice in the winter I would
like to get some for lam; and il Mrs.
Brown won't take care of them, Tll do
them up on shares"
II wish you would,' said the Squire
Things are all going TO wreck and ruin