Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-04

" Jest as if didn't see through him like
a book! He wants to convart the widow
into Mrs. Grimp number two, an if she
amt wilIin'-maybe she's refused him al
wants me to make her think
she'd better be. That's what he wants.
Ha, ha! / reckon there's widower that
Widow Barney or any other woman
would jest be proud to git; he's not a
thousand miles off, neither"-and the
Squire paused smilingly before small
mirror, adjusted his collar and smoothed
the few hairs carefully over the bald spot
on his head. mot SO old, after all; and
sight better looking than old Grimp!
Guess he didn't know who he was comm
to, did he? An he wants me to sarve
writ on Widow Barney. Georgel I'll
sarve it myself an git in ahead OF him!
Big joke it'll be on Grimp! Ha, hap
In the main the Squire was correct in
his cogitations. To secure the lively,
pretty, sensible young widow as an help
meet in place of the late lamentedn was
precisely what Mr.. Grimp desired. He
had at different times made advances in
that direction, but receiving only mega
tive replies he concluded to try little
mild coercion and airing her to- her
Senses" as he inwardly called it. Now,
singularly enough, the Squire also was a
widower, and he, too, was matrimoniallv
inclined toward the widow Barney. He
had never made any propositions to that
lady, thinking in his conceit he had only
to offer. himself to be accepted at once
and she be glad of the opportunity.
But there was incentive to immediate
action. There was chance-it might
happen that the widow, being ignorant
OF the 'Squire's intentions, might possibly
throw herself away on Mr.. Grimp? The
Squire did not like the thought, and as
above intimated he resolved to serve the
writ and "pop the question" at the same
time. He would not delay about the matt
ter either. He would do it that very
evening-that he would; and then see
the longitude Mr.. Grimp's face would
assume. The idea pleased him greatly.
He chuckled over 1t all through the day
ehuckled over 1t on his way home in the
evening and at tea-time chuckles inter
spersed themselves throughout the meal,
much to the wonderment of the old
housekeeper. Indeed, her looks be-
tokened so much curiosity that the
Squire noticed it at last, and after he had
swallowed the last morsel and laid down
his knife and fork he said:
Mrs. Crandal, I'm goin' to git mar.
RED"
"Well, now, railly!" exclaimed the old
woman, almost dropping the tea-cups in
surprise. May be so proud as to ask
who she may be-"
Widow Barney"
"What! Widder Barney? Sakes, now
When We goin' to be married?"
L" ! don't know yet; haven't asked her
Coin to do it, though, tonight
Mebbe she won't have ye," observed
| Mrs. Crandal, rather doubtfully.
Wont have me? Mel Squire But
terfield?" exclaimed the Squire, surprised
out of all measure at SO extraordinary 8
| suggestion. "rd like to see the woman
that wouldn't jest jump at the chance
jest jump at the chancew
dunno" said the old woman, shak
ing her head with mournful credulity
these ERE widders are very onsartin-
specially the young ones-an' there's M
tellin' what they'll do. Sides, there's
that young lawyer, Tom HARDWOOD, seem
her about good deal"
"Oh, that amounts to nothin'," said tn
Squire, complacently. He boards a
her house, an takes her to meetin' ar
singin'-school jest out of politeness."
| Mrs. Crandal ma de no further remark
but proceeded to gather up the dishes
and the Squire went to his room {
gather himself into his Sunday clothes
He decided net to call too early upo
the widow, lest she might not be read
for visitors, and therefore he delayed un
til the clock struck the hour of nine
then tall hat, drab trousers, blue
-buttoned "swallow-tail," an over
coat-and Squire Butterfield containe,
somewhere wilhin-passedo out to the roac
1t was clear, cold, moonlight njhSrigb
one was out on the street, and sbon,
home-lights from vari6h;d possessed as h,
upon a face asNio5 faint heart" to "wir
moved Wv did he carryl Not at all. Blu
/ With firm, confident step he passed owe
the crisp, well-trodden snow that creakec
loudly under his feet.
1t was not very long walk and III
soon reached his destination. The wild
owls house was small two-story frame
quite back from the road, and surrounded
by a forest of shrubbery and fruit trees.
From the gate a path wound up to the
house under these trees, and the Squire
had to move cautiously, as the moon gave
but faint light through the foliage.
He reached the house safely, however,
and glanced up at the second story, the
corner room of which was used by the
widow as sittin groom. He saw it was
well lighted, the window-curtains not YET
down, and he was about turning toward
the door when some one-a man-came to
the window and looked out. For the
first time the Squire paused irresolutely
Who was that man? Was 1t Grimp-and
had he got the start of him after ally de
didn't wish to see Mr.. Grimp-at least
not then and there He stepped back a
little to get a better view, aud waited fol
the face to appear again. But it did not
Then he moved round to the end OF the
house and looked up at the window on
that side, but with no better result. ii
he only knew who the man was; knew
certainly it was not Mr.. Gri.np, he would
be satisfied. His eye rested on the low
i back kitchen, directly below the END
window. If he was only on that be
could look into the room unobserved by
anyone. 1t could do no harm, either
and he did SO wish to know who that
man wasl :.
The more the Squire thought about II
the more convinced was he that 1T was
/ Mr.. Grimp-but then, maybe it wasn't
He aoo,,ld find ont! He became more res,