Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-09-09

strawberries again diligently, and KEEP
thinking about Ruth all the while. Long
before dinner was ready he had fully
made up his mind TO propose marriage tc
Ruth and bring home new house. keep
er and mistress to the great house whose
mistress had been dead fourteen years oil
more, provided, Of course, that Ruth
didn't say no, and the Squire thought
there wasn't much danger OF that, though
why he should be so sue can't say.
Don't you think VIC need house
keeper >" he said to his son Charles that
afternoon. IS they sat ON the veranda.
The Squire evidently SAW some new
feature in tho landscape, for he kept his
face turned away from Chailey's as he
spoke.
a housckccper ?" asked Charlie.
1--WE have 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 rs we need She
doesn't take any interest in the work as
a woman would who-had mole interest
in it,"
Alter which extremely logical argu
ment the Squire got more fijgetty than
ever.
understand that. answered Charley.
Ill she had personal interest in the
place, and in being prudent and in keep.
ius things up, she'd do better than she
does now. Now she gets her pay Tor
her work and that's all she cares for. It's
all We can expect OF her"
Just So" sand tue Squire, glad to
know that Charlie agreed with him so
TAR. I've been thinking this morning
that the best thing could do, would be
tu .ct some one who would Lake Il per
sou.,l interest in matters don't see us
/ YOU intend to get married, and ii you
won't don't know bu, I'll better"
The Squire breaihed easier. The
worst part was over with.
"You get married." exclaimed Char.
/ lev, in intense surpgisc. "Why. ! didn't
Soo~ you oycr thought ol sucha thing"
] and haven't Iil this morning." ex
claimed the Squire. Il got TO thinking
about it this morning, and the more !
thought about it tho more though. it n
good plan. You have no objcctionS?'
'Oi ceurse not" answered Charlie
'.You can do As you think best II YOU
think it advisable TO get . wife, have
nothing to say further than the hope that
you will get some one who will make
YOU happy"
"She will" said the Squire very dcoid.
cdly. she will, am sure"
May ask who It's to he ?" inquired
Charley.
IL haven't asked her yet" answered
the Squire. As red rs rose. I'D rather
wait until I'm sure Of her before l tell
YOU who il il. she might say no. YOU
see, and l should leel rather cheap
Prudent Squire Dudley That after
noon he picked painful oi the ripcst
Strawberries. and directly alter tea start.
ed of acros, the lo,s in the direction OF
Wii)v Lees with The berries on his arm.
II WAS dusk before he got to the widows
Tor hc walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts Tor company. He was wonder
/ iug what il was best To do. Should he
| propose nj once to Ruth. or should he see
| her mother first, and talk with her He
concluded that the last was the wiSest
/ .IaE. As he opened the gate noiseIeSs
/ Is. he heard voices in the other corner OF
The garden, and stopped u moment to find
out if it was the widow and her daughter.
Il uever had any idea of it before, &"
said IA voice which he recognized as
Challey's; mot the least in the world.
lie said he hadn't thought anything about
it until TO day. couldn't find out whom
he had in view. hope it isn't old Miss
Sharp. She'd like 10 get somebody
The Squire burst into a proluse per-
Spira,ion, at the idea Of having Miss
Sharp for 4 wife.
"Ile says he didn't see rs lever intend
ed to get married. went on Charley. Il
didn't tell him had got u wife picked
out, but wanted to. am sure he APP
proves my taste in making a selection"
What nonsense - laughed clear
pleasant voice. Ruth's voice. the Squire
knew the moment he heard it. eli | am
going TO be your wife, | want you 10 quit
laughing at me in that sly way, pretend
ing you are 1altering me all the time"
"His-wiIe? Good gracious" !"
The Squire was so taken by surprise
that he came near dropping his straw
berries. So it was settled between them.
And he had came near proposing 10 his
sons intended wife. lie felt cold all
over at the thought OF it. How lucky
that he did not take Charley into his con.
fidence, and tell him whom he had con.
cluded TO marry.
IL declare" exclaimed the Squire,
1--WE made a mistake this time, sure
enough. The rascal has got The start Of
me. Id like to know what I'm to do p
I've told him that intended to get mar
ried, and if | don't he'll likely as not
mistrust something Dear me ~
Tho So,,;ro ,,,os ;n trouhla Anothar