Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-01
The Squire's Mistake.

weeds in his patch Of tame strawberries, on
the morning when he took fancy for Ruth
/ Lees pretty face. She came down the road
looking as fresh as new-blown rose. Her
brown hair, cut quite short, blew about her
face in little rings, and her blue eyes and
bright cheeks made her as pretty a picture
as one often sees. Squire Dudley saw her
Just as she came opposite the strawberry
patch, aud he called out "good morning."
in brisk, CHEEKY way.
"Oh, good morning, she answered. You
almost scared me, Squire Dudley; | didn't
see you until you spoke"
Pleasant morning, isn't it2" said the
Squire, coming up to the fence. Ruth had
halted in the road
It's beautiful weather" answered Ruth.
Il told mother it was too pleasant to stay
in doors, and started of on a visit"
Are your strawberries ripe yet ?" asked
the Squire, wondering that he had never
noticed what fresh and charming face
widow Lees daughter had before.
"Our straw wberries ?" laughed Ruth. ave
have got none. Our old rooster got in one
day, about week ago, and picked all he
could eat, and then coaxed the hens in, and
between them they ruined our strawberry
crop"
TOO badw explained the sympathetic
Squire. Have some Of these, Ruth. They
are just ripe enough to be good"
He picked some great clusters of ripe ber-
ries, and handed them over the fence to her
Thank you" said Ruth, smilingly
" How nice they are. Mother was making
great calculations on her strawberry jam
She was terribly vexed when she had found
out what the hens had done"
I've got lots to spare" said the Squire
I"I'l send some over to your mother"
"She'd be much obliged to you," said
Ruth "if you have more than you want
Plenty of them answered the Squire
plenty Of them. Can have them just al
well as not
! al must be going" said Ruth. "Goot
morning"
GOOD morning." returned the Squire
looking after her as she went down the road
t Il declare, there amt prettier girl il
town than Ruth Lee. | wonder some o
the young fellows haven't got her ava,
, from the widow. If was young now"
Squire Dudley stopped suddenly. Al
! idea had just flashed across his mind.
"rm 6fty,' he said at last after thinking
quite busily for some minutes. "Im fifty
G but | don't look it, | don't see why
shouldn't try my luck, after all. Girls a
young as Ruth marry men older than am
I'm sure she will make any man goo
I wife. Her mother is one Of the fines
women in the State, and she's brought he
! daughter up to know how to work, and b
saving and prudent. I'm sure we need
q good housekeeper. Mrs Brown is old
! fussy and crooked, and this way Of Twin,
/ isn't half living. | do believe Ill MARI!
her, if she'll have me. May be Charlie \
say its foolish, but can't help that"
The Squire fell to wedding out his straw
i berries again diligently, and kept thinking
about Ruth all the while. Long befor
dinner was ready he had made up his mini
A to propose marriage to Ruth, and brin
= home new housekeeper and mistress t
+. the great house, whose mistress had bee
r dead ten years or more, provided, Of course
that Ruth didn't say no; and the SPUR
o thought there wasn't much danger Of that
. though why he should be 50 sure, | can't say
y Don't you think we need a housekeeper ?
{, be said to his son Charles that afternoon
as they sat on the veranda. The Squir
~ evidently saw some new feature in the land
scape, for he kept his face turned ava
4, from Charles as he spoke.
/ u ,al Il. A
s have got one. What do we want of mor'
, | should like to know ?"
"Yes, | know" assented the Squir'
d turning red in the face, and beginning
n get little uneasy but Mrs. Brown ism
such woman as we need. She doesn't tax
i any interest in the work; woman woul
who--had more interest in it,"
~ After which extremely logical argumeI
" the Squire got more fdgety than ever.
"A al understand that" answered Charli
n " If she had personal interest in tt
70 place, and in being prudent and in keepil
a things up, she'd do better than she do'
~ now. Now, she gets her pay for her worl
3 and that's all she cares for. Its all we c,
as pect Of her.
:, "Just so, said the Squire, glad to kno
Of that Charlie agreed with him so far ~
been thinking this morning that the be
thing that | could do would be to get sou
one who has personal interest in matter
don't see as you intend to get marie
IL and, as you won't, | don't know but l
IN better"
IS The Squire breathed easier. The wor
-
III part was over with.
en- "You get married !" exclaimed Oharli
Ie ia intense surprise; "why, didn't kno
er you ever thought Of such thing"
ss "And | haven't till this morning" G
m claimed the Squire. Il got to thinkil
at about it this morning, and the more
ut thought about it the more | thought it
in good plan. You have no objectionsW
to "0f course not" answered Charli
he "You can do as you think best. If y
on think it advisable to get wife | have not
i'm ing to say, further than the hope that y
,st will get some one who will make y,
en- happy"
d. "she will" said the Squire, very q
Ice cidedly; "she will, | am sure"
RS, MAY ask who it is to ?" inquir
ms Charlie.
ms I'll haven't asked her yeti answer
nd the Squire, as red as rose. I'd rath
he wait until I'm sure of her, before | t
t." you who it is. She might say no. Y
nd see then | should feel rather cheap"
Prudent Squire Dudley That aft
in- noon he picked painful Of his finest stra
to berries, aud directly after tea started
ow across the lots in the direction of wild
ON Lees with the berries on his arm. 1t "
lot dusk before he got to the widows for
it walked slowly. He had very busy thougl
- for company. He was wondering what
nd was best to do. Should he propose at on
nst to Ruth, or should he see her mother Ii
not and talk with herr He concluded that
: l last was the wisest plan. As he open
tho rota noiaalesslv he heard voices in 1