Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-12

world. BE said he hadn't thought
anything about it until to-day.
couldn't find out whom he had IN
view. l hope il isn't old Miss
Sharp. She'd like TO get some
body"
The Squire burst into a prOfuse
perspiration at the idea of having
Miss Sharp for q wife.
'fHe says he didn't see as j ever
intended to get married." went on
Charley. 81 didn't tell him had
got me a wife picked out, but /
wanted TO. / am sure he'd approve
my taste in making = selection"
"What nonsense ~ laughed a clear,
pleasant voice; Ruth's voice, the
Squire knew, the moment he heard
It.. '1f / am going to be your wife
want you to quit laughing at me
in that sly way, pretending you are
fiattering me all the time.n
"His wifei Good gracious" !"
The Squire was so taken by sur
prise that he came near dropping
his Strawberries. So IL was settled
between them. And he had come
near proposing to his sons's intend
ed wife. He felt cold all over at the
thought of IL. How lucky that he
did not take Charley into his conf
dence, and tell him whom he had
concluded to marry.
'I declare" exclaimed the Squire,
'SPve made mistake this time,
sure enough. The rascal has got
the start of me. I'd like TO know
what Pm to do? I've told him that
I intended to get married, and If /
don't he'll likely as net mistrust
something. Dear me ~
The Squire was in trouble. Ano-
ther 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 Wo-
man. She would make a 1ne mis-
tress for his empty house. Why
shouldn't he marry her. since he
could not have her daughterP
ssI'n do it,n exclaimed the Squire
bound to 20 through with the mat
ter since he had got so far. ''Pll do
itp I'D
/ He Knocked. The door was
opened by the widow, round-cheek-
ed resy and smiling.
"Why, Squire Dudley Good
| evening" she exclaimed. Il 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" ..s
The widow hustled about and got
the Squire a chair and deposited his
hat on the table before he happened
to think of his basket,
| "Ohl Ruth told me your straw
berry crop had proved 3 failure, so
1 thought I'd run over and bring
you a few. Strawberry short-cake
don't go bad this time Of year."
"I'm a thousand times obliged to
yon,D said the widow, taking the
basket "I was so provoked to
think the hens should spoil mine.
| Such a nice lot as / would have
had"
"Ifyou want any preserves, come
over and get 'em," said the Squire.
3We've plenty of 'em- Mrs. Brown
she wont do anything with 'em,
except as we use them in the season
of them, l suppose"
@I want 70 know 7" exclaimed the
widow. "You ought to have them
done up. They're so nice in the
winter. ] would like to get some
for jam; and IL Mrs Brown won't
take care of them, I'll do them up
on shares"
81 wish you would" said the
Squire. Things are all going 10
wreck and ruin about my place.
'Taint to be expected hired woman
will take any interest in Affairs y
and here he sighed deeply.
NE; that's So"
Itwas strange that the Squire had
not found out how things were 60
ing to wreck and ruin before. Mrs
2 Brown had been there ever since
? Mrs. Dudley had died.
The Squire and widow Kept up {
very brisk conversation, and al thl
end of an hour he was more deeply
E in love with her than her daughter
: and began 10 wonder how he hal
been so blind as TO overlook such
4 delightful woman for 50 long.
By-and-by the widow hustled out
and presently came back with
pitcher of last years cider and
plaka 0f cake. .--
II ssDo have something to eat an'
8 drink" urged the widow. '1fPS
have known you were coming IL
have made cherry pie. i remem
! Der you used to like my cherr
I. pies"
= al wish you'd come and max
8 cherry pies for me all your life,
: blurted out the Squire, turning yer.
red in the face again. IL cam
! down to ask you to marry me, MI
: Lee"
After which innocent falsehooI
: the Squire felt decidedly relieved.
I "I'm sure I'd as lief marry you a
any man." answered the widow
bIushiDg, and looking as pretty as
: rose.
ats all settled, them" cried th
: delighted Squire, and kissed he
plump on the lips just as the doc
s opened and Charley and Ruth cam
in.
"AHow me to make you acquaini
: ed with my new honsekeeper," sal
! the Squire, bOwing very low to hid
= his red face.
"And allow me to present my vii
E that is to be-" answered Charley
: .sYou take the mother and Ill tax
! the daughter"
9 am happy to say that, under th
Y "new administration" things ar
no longer going to wreck and ruiz
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