Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-02-20

to it, Brother Butter6eld ?" he said.
"I'll tend to it.n said the Squire.
Then 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 sufli-
cient to cast moral shadow and unhap-
piness over homes and lives around and
about him.
For moment following Mr.. Grimp's
departure the Squirrels face was iull of
conflicting emotions. He arose from his
chair, and his small boot heels clattered
on The office floor as he paced hurriedly
to aad fro.
"The old skinaint !" he muttored,
"Jest rs j" [ didn't see through him Ii ke
book. lie wants to convert The widow
into Mrs. Grimp number two, an if she
ain't willin'-mavbe she's re used him
already-he wants me 10 make her think
she'd better be. That's wha, he wants.
Ha, ha I reckon there's q widower
thai Widow Barney or any Other woman
would jest be proud 20 gil; he's MOI a
thousand miles of, neither"-and The
Squire paused smiling'y before small
mirror, adjusted his collar, and smoo,hed
,he few hairs careiully over ,he bald spo.
on his head. mot so old after all and
q sight better looking than old Gimp
Guess he didn't know who he was comm
TO-, did he ? An he wants me to serve n
wri; on Widow Barney. George /! I'll
sarve it myself an git ahead of him =
Big joke it'll be on Grimp. Ha, hal"
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 tho " 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 hor to her Senses"
as he inwardly called it. Now, singular
ly enough, the Squire was also n widow
er, and he, too, was matrimonially in
clned toward the Widow Barney. lie
had never mado any proposition to that
lady, thinking in his conceit that 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
harpon-that the widow, being ignorant
of the Squiro's intentions, might possibly
throw herself away on Mr.. Grimp. The
Squire did not like the thought, and MS
above intimatcd, determined to serve the
writ and "pop the question" at tho same
time. He would not delay about the
matter either. 1Io would not delay but
would do it that very evcning-that he
would ard then SEQ tho longitude Mr..
Grimp's face would assume. Tho idea
pleased him greatly. He chuckled sovcr
it all through the day, chucklcd over it on
his way home in the evening, and at tea
time chucklcs interspersed themselves
throughout the meal, much to the won
|
her looks betokened SO much curiosity
chat the Squire noticed it at last, and aft
or he had swallowed the last morsel and
laid down his knife and fork, he said :
Mrs. Crandall, Pm a-goin' to get
married."
We'll, now, rally" exclaimed the
old woman, almost dropping the tea-cups
tn surprise. " May I be SO proud as to
asl, who she may be ?"
Widow Barney"
"What Widdor Barney! Sakes,
now! When ye goin' 10 be married ?''
81 don't know yet haven't asked her.
Coin to do it though, tonight"
"Mcbbe she won't have ye." observed
Mrs. Crandall rather doubtfully.
Wont have me? Ne Squire But.
terfe'd ~ exclaimed TIE Squire, surpris-
cd out Of all measure at so extraordinary
a suggestion. ia like to sec tho wo-
man hat wouldn't tjest jump at the chance
Jest JUMP a; The chance"
6 Gunno,' said The Old woman, shak-
in3 her head With mourn.ul incredulitv,
these ere widders arc very ocsartin -
Especially The young olos-ap' there's 30
tel'io' what they'll DO. Sides, ;rcre's
thai yong lawyer, Ton Hardwood, Sec
in her about GOOD deal"
"Cb, ibat amounts 20 1othin," said
The Squi C, coTplacen.ly. lie boards a,
her house, an takes her 10 meetio' an
sin2in' school, jest out o: politeness."
Mrs. CraEdall made no further remark,
but proceeded TO gather u2 the dishes,
and TIE Squire went 70 his room 10 gather
himse' into his Sunday clothes.
tie decided not 10 call too early upor
the widow, lest she might not be ready
10 receive visitors, and therefore be de-
layed until The clock struck the hour OF
nine F; then tall hat, drab trousers, blue
brass-buttoned swalow-tail," an over
coat-and Squire Butterlleld contained
somewhere therein - passed out to the
road. 1t was clear, cold, moonlight
night; no one was out on the street, and
the bright home-lights from various win
dows shone upon face assured and pos
sessed as he moved along. No faint
heart" to swim fair lady" did he carry
Not at all. But with a firm, confident
step he passed over the crisp, well-trod-
den snow that crcaked loudly under his
feet.
1t was not a very long walk and he
soon reached his destination. Tho wild
ow's house was small two-story frame,
quite back from the road, and surround
ed by forest Of shrubbery and fruit
trees. From the gate path wound up
10 the hnnen nndnr fhncn frnne nrd fhn |