The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-12


was comm to, did he? An he wants me
to sarve a writ on Widow Barney
George! I'll sarve it myself an git in
ahead of him! Big joke it'll be on
Grimpl Ha, ha"
In the main the Square was correct in
his cogitations- To secure the lively,
pretty, sensible young widow as a help
meet in the place of the "late lamented"
was precisely what Mr.. Grimp desired
He had at different times made advances
in that direction, but receiving only neg
ative replies he concluded to try mild
coercion. and bring her to her senses,
as he inwardly called it. Now, siugu-
larly enough, the Squire also was wild
over, and he, too. was matrimonially in
clined toward the Widow Barney. He
had never made any proposition to that
lady, thinking, in his conceit, he had on
ly to offer himself to be accepted at once,
and she be glad Of the opportunity.
But there was incentive TO immediate
action. There was a chance-it might
happen-that the widow, being ignorant
of the Squire's Intentions, might posi-
5ly 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 matter 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 il all through
the day; chuckled over it on his way
home IN the evening, and at tea-time
chuckles interspersed themselves through
out the meal, much to the wondernlent
of the old housekeeper. Indeed her
looks betokened 80 much curiosity that
the Squire noticed it at last, and after
he had swallowed the morsel, and laid
down his knife and fork, he said:
"Mrs. Crandal, Pin goin' to git mar
ried."
"Well, now, :ailly!" exclaimed the olG
woman, dropping the tea-cups in sur
prise. MAY I be so proud as to ask
who she may be?"
"Widow Barney"
"What! Widder Barney? Sakes, nowl
When We goin' to be married."
al 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
terfeld?" exclaimed the Squire, surpris-
ed out of all measure at so extraordina-
ry suggestion. I'D like to see the
woman that wouldn't jest jump at the
chance-jest jump at the chance"
II dunno" said the old woman, shak-
ing her head with mournful credulity;
"these ere widders are very onsartain-
specially the young ones-an' there's no
tellin' what they'll do. Sides, there's
that young lawyer, Tom Harwood.
seein' her about good deal"
ooh, that amounts to nothing" said
the Squire complacently. "He boards
at her house, and takes her to meetin'
an singin' school just out of politeness."
Mrs Crandal made no further remark,
but proceeded to gather up the dishes,
and the Squire went to his room to gath
er himself into his Sunday clothes.
He decided not to call too early upon
the widow, lest she might not be ready
for visitors, and therefore he delayed
| until the clock struck the hour of nine;
then tall hat, drab trowsers, blue,
brass buttoned "swallow-tail," an over
coat-and Squire Butterfeld contained
road. 1t was a clear, cold, moonlight
night; no one was out on the street, and
the bright home-lights from various
windows shone upon face assured and
possessed as he moved along. No
"faint heart" to "win fair lady" did he
carryl Not at ALL But with firm, conf
dent step he passed over the crisp, we'll
trodden snow that creaked loudly under
his feet.
1t was not a very long walk and he soon
reached his destination. The widows
house was a small two-story frame, quite
back from the road, and surrounded by
forest of shrubbery and fruit trees.
From the gate 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 a sitting-room. He saw it was
we'll 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 it Grimp-
and had he got the start of him after
all? Didn't wish TO see Mr.. Grim mp-at
least not then and there. He stepped
back little to get better view, and
waited for 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. If he only knew who the
man was; knew certainly it was not Mr..
Grimp, he would be satisfied. His eye
rested on the low back kitchen, directly
below the end window. If he was only
on that he could look into the room un-
observed by any one. 1t could do no
harm, either; and he did so wish to
know who that man wasl
The more the Squire thought about
it the more convinced was he that it was
Mr.. Grimp-but then may be it wasn't
: He aco,tld find ouH He became more res
olute then, and looked about for some
aid to his purpose. This, after some
search, he found in a small ladder
which he placed against the kitchen and
began 10 ascend. He got up the ladder
without trouble, but found the roof sc
, coated with ice that he had to move