Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-09

sob or a hysterical laugh.
"I--Id rather not" said the Squire
hitching his chair still farther back.
"Joshua, would you break my heart 2"
said she.
al guess it amt so brittle as that" said
the Squire uneasily.
"I love you Joshua DOckWorthy-I have
loved you these ten years." stammered the
lady, still on her knees. "Say-oh say, you
will be my own. Pm good cook, Joshua
I'm master hand with mems shirts, and
anybody knows that place amt no place
without woman to slick it up"
81 know" said the Squire, but"
Miss Arimathea rose to her feet and put
her arms around the Squire's neck.
Joshua, Joshua, you will say yes"
There was a rafting at the door of the
room beyond. The Squire grew scarlet as
the possibility of Ferdinand Apperly break
ing in upen this unexpected tete-a-tete &C.
Cured to his mind.
Take you arms away" said the Squire
nervously. "Please there's dear girl"
mot until you speak the word that is to
seal my future bliss" persisted Miss Jen.
kyns, letting the rusty bonnet droop on her
shoulder.
Quick, gasped our hero, there's some
one coming"
Say yes, then, dearest Joshua"
The footsteps drew nearer. They paused
almost at the door.
YES" gasped the Squire, breaking into
clammy perspiration all over" yes, yes,
only CO."
Miss Arimathea Jenkyns only paused for
parting pressure of her lips to her ancient
lovers lips and hurried away with subdued
rustling of somber draperies while on the
other side Of the door, threatening sounds of
footsteps passed by without anyone entering.
d" Thank goodness for that" said Mr..
Dockworthy to himself g. If that young
rascal Ferdy had happened in Just then.
But what would | have done Engaged my
self to that old maid. l, at FIVE and fifty
years of age. I'd better 60 into q lunatic
asylum at once What will Ferdinand say
l wonder if couldn't go to China, or Cali
fornia, or Japan, or some OF those far away
places Or perhaps it might be better to
swear her over to keep the peace, Or"
And as Squire DOckwOrthY smOte his two
hands despairingly on the bald spot on the
top of his head, he reflected on the futility
of any remedy short of matrimony for this
ailment of leap year.
Yet, as he unused on the past, present and
future, he could not help thinking that many
a man had found a worse helpmate after all
than Miss Arimathea Jenkyns She was
not young to be sure, but then neither was
he. She was fair, fresh and pretty, she was
very handy at a wedding or a funeral she
cOmprchended perfectly the cxigencies of the
needle; and she was just tho element that
he needed to brighten up the old farmhouse.
9" 1t amt bad idea," said the Squire to
himself; a" but | most wish she hadn't been
the one to propose it. Very likely I'd have
thought of it myself if she'd gin me time.
However, leap year is leap year, and l don't
suppose we ought to blame the women fol
takin' whatever advantages the law allows
EN-. won't say nothing to Ferdy, but III
just drop over there in the course of the
morning"
Mr.. Dockworthy was as good as his W ord
Miss Arimathea JenkynS' breakfast dishe:
were hardly washed up when he walked in
How pretty she looked, like a full bios
somed cabbage rose, or dahlia, or any 9th
er mature bloom, in the neat black ginghau
gown and white bib apron she wore, standing
in front of tho kitchen sink. Not a gray
hair in her abundant tresses-not crow
foot at the corner, of her eyes.
"Well, Arimathea," said the Squire,
little sheepishly.
"Well, Squire" said Miss Jenkyns will
nOnchalance, as she wrung on her disclotl
and hung it on nail at the corner of thu
dresser
1--WE come to talk that there little mat
ter over with you
What little matter ?"
"Why, about our being married"
Miss Jenkyns paused with the bib.aprol
half united, and stared at the Squire will
wondering blue eyes.
My sakes alive" she ejacu ated "whO'
8 talking about being married. Nobody ha
asked me yet, and if they did, I'm not b.
any means certain that should say yes.
4" But they've asked me, said the SOUR
beamingy.
Who has2"
why you-haven't you?"
" Joshua Dockworthy, are you crazy ?
demanded Miss JeDkyns with dignity
asked your"
Yes, last night. Don't you remember ?
!, Last night Why, widow Percy too
tea here, and spent the evening, and l neve
went across my own threshold, and if hat
it isn't likely that should go philaudorin
over to your house, to ask you to marry me,
guess !"
"Well, then" said the Squire, A" Its
" trick of that rascally Ferdinand-One of h
- college games
That's probably enough" said Miss Jsl
kyns who looked prettier than ever, vii
Redeemed cheeks and shining eyes.
The Squire's countenancO fell; he wi
more disappointed than he cared to own.
;" Look here Arimathea," said he, don