The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-05

place I bought it in, and since then I
have let Mrs. Barney have it at a nomi-
nal rent-at mere nominal rent, as
sure you Brother Butterfield. And it is
about that Ihave called
'sThe long and short ont is she hain't
paid the rent and you want her put
outs"
Well--yes and no. I wish steps
taken in that direction, but not to ex-
tremes. / would like process issued,
but have final measures kept in abeyance.
as think the matter may be amicably
arranged"
That Is, you want some scarecrow to
hold over her to bring her to terms -
suggested the Squire, looking keenly at
his visitor.
Mr.. Grimp nodded. ssYou will at
tend to it, Brother Butterfeld2" he said.
"I'n tend to it, :" said the Squire.
TheC Mr.. Grimp bowed solemnly, said
Farewell, Brother Butterfeld," and
passed out intO the sunshine-his figure
almost too thin and dried up to cast a
shadow in the bright sunlight, yet suffi-
cient to cast moral shadow and unhap-
piNess over homes and lives around and
| about him.
For a moment following Mr.. Grimp's
| departure the Squire's face was full of
conflicting emotions. He arose from his
chair, and his small boot-heels clattered
on the Office floor as he paced hurriedly
to and fro.
'The old skinhint' he muttered,
"Jest as if didn't see through him like
book! He wants to convert the widow
| into Mrs. Grimp number two, an if she
amt willin'-maybe she's refused him
already-he wants me to make her think
she'd better be. That's what he wants.
| Ha, hal / reckon there's O widower
that Widow Barney sr any other woman
would jest be proud to git he's net a
| thousand miles off neither" the
Squire paused smilingly before small
mirror, adjusted his collar, and smoothed
the few hairs carefully over the bald spot
on his head. g Not so old after all and
| a sight better looking than old Grimp !
Guess he didn't know who he was comm
| to, did he2 An he wants me to sarve a
writ on Widow Barney. Georgel I'll
sarve it myself an git In ahead of him
Big joke it'n be on Grimp! Ha, hap
In the main the Squire was correct in
his cogitations. To secure the lively,
pretty, sensible young widow as help
meet in the place of the late 1amented -
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, singu-
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 only to offer himself to be accepted
at once, and she be glad of the oppor-
tunity.
But there was incentive to immediate
action. There was chance-it might
happen-that the widow, being ignorant
of the Squire's intentions, might posi-,
bly, throw herself away on Mr.. Grimp 2
The Squire did not like the thought, and,
as above intimated, no resolved to serve
the writ and 'spop the question :" at the
same time. He would not delay about
the matter either. He would do it that
very evening he would and then
see the longitude Mr.. Grimp's face would
assume. The idea pleased him greatly.
He chuckled over it all through the day ;
chuckled over It on his way home In the
evening, and at tea-G 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
ried."
/ sWeu, now, rally !'' exclaimed the
old woman, almost dropping the tea-cups
IN surprise. :s May I be so proud as to
ask who she may be 2"
Widow Barney
ssWhat Widder Barney? Sakes, now
| When ye goin' to be married? p
81 don't know yet haven't asked her.
Coin to do. it, though, tonight. T"
Mebbe she won't have ye," observed
Mrs. Crandal rather doubHully.
'EWon't have me2 Me Squire But
terfeld 2" exclaimed the Squire, sur
prised out of all measure at so extraor-
| dinary a suggestion. 'tI'd like to see
the woman that wouldn't jest jump at the
chance-jest jump at the chance"
"I Dunno" said the old woman, shak-
| ing her head with mournful credulity
tsthese 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 Hardwood,
seein' her about good deal.
tOh, that amounts to nothin'," said
the Squire complacently. 'tHe boards
at her house, an takes her to meetin' an
| aingin' school just ont of poIiteness. %
Mrs. Cranda1 made no further remark,
but proceeded to gather up the dishes,
4
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 un-
til the clock struck the hour Of nine !;
then q tall hat, drab trowsers, blue,
| brass -buttoned swallow-tail," an over
| coat-and Squire Butterfeld contained
somewhere witEin-pa passed ont to the
road It was q clear, cold, moonlight
night no one was out on the street, and
the bright home-ights from various win
| dows shone upon face assured and pos
sessed as he moved along. No "faint
heart" to sswin fair lady" did he carry !!
| Not at all. But with firm, confident step
he passed over the crisp, well l-trodden
snow that creaked loudly under his feet.
It WAS not very long walk and he soon
| reached his destination. The widows
house was small two-story frame, quite
back from the road, and surrounded by q
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, IS the moon gave
but faint light through the foliage.
BE reached the house safely, however,
y IL. A. 4