The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-27


cially for those of his own house, he hath de
: MED the faith and is worse than an infdel.
. Better had some kecr for other folks or
phans as WELL muttered the Squire; but Mr.
Grimp did not hear, and proceeded:
well. at the sale Of Mr.. Barney's place
bought it in, and since then | have let Mrs
Barney have it at nominal rent-at a mere
nominal rent assure you, Brother Butter
field. And it is about that have called
THE long and short ont ii is, she hain't pai(
the rent and you want her put out?'
'Well-yes and no. wish steps taken il
that direction, but not to extremes. would
like process issued, but have final measure
kept In allegiance, as think the matter may
be amlcably arranged
That is, you want some scarecrow to hoit
over her to bring her to terms? suggested The
Seuire, looking keenly at his visitor
Mr. Grmp nodded. You will attend to il
Brother Butterfieldr he said
I'll tend to it, said the Squire.
Then Mr.. Grimp bowed solemnly, said
Farewell, Brother Butteriicld,' and passed
out into the sunshine-his figure almost too
thin and dried up to cast a shadow in the
bright sunlight, yet sufficient to cast moral
shadow and unhappiness over homes ana
lives around and about him.
For moment following Mr., Grimp's de-
parture the Squire's face was full OF conflict,
ing 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 sknflintr he muttered, Jest as If |
didn't see through him like u book! He
wants TO convert the widow into Mrs. Grimps
number two, an ii she amt wlllin'-maybe
she's refused him already-he wants me to
make her think she d better be. That's what
4 \ hot i nlyn, v,
over that Widow Barney or any other widow
would Jest be proud to git; he's not a thou
sand miles off neither'-aud the Squire paHs
ed smillngly before small mirror, adjusted
his collar, and smoothed the few hairs care
| fully over the bald spot on his head. Not so
old after all and a sight better looking than
old Grmp. Guess he didn't know who he
was comm TO, did he? An he wants me to
sarve writ on Widow Barney. George! I'll
sarvc 1t myself an git in ahead Of him Big
joke it'll be on Grimp! Ila ha"
In the main the Squire was correct in his
cogltations To secure the lively, pretty, sen.
siblc young widow as help.meet in the place
of the late lamonted' was precisely what Mr..
Grimp desired. He had at different times
inade advances IN that direction, but receiving
only negative replies he concluded to try a
mild coercion, and bring her to her senses,
as he inwardly called it. Now, sIngularly
enough, the Squire also was a widower, and
he, too, was marimonialy inclined toward the
Widow Barney. He had never made any
proposition to that lady, thinking, in his con
cet, he had only to offer himself to be ac-
cepted at once, and she be glad Of the oppor
tunity.
But there was incentive to immediate ac.
ton. There was a chance--it might happen
that the widow, being ignorant Of the
Squire's intentions, might possibly throw
herself away on Mr.. Grlmp. The Squire
did not like the thought, and, as above init |
mated, he resolved TO serve the writ and pop
the question at the same time He would
not delay about the matter neither. He
would do it that very evening-that he
would; and then see the longitude Mr.
Grimp's iace would assume. The idea pleas |
ed him greatly. He chuckled over It all
through the day chucklei over it all the way
home Ia the evening, and at teatimc chuck
les intcrsperscd themselves throughout the |
meal, much to the wonderment of the old |
housekeeper Indeed her looks betokened |
so much curiosity that the Squire noticed 1t
at last, and after he had swallowed the last
morse, and laid down his knife and fork, he |
said
Mrs. Crandal, I'm goin' to git married
We'll, now, really exclaimed the old
woman, almost dropping the tea.cups in sur
prise. May be so proud as TO ask you who
she may be"
sWidow Barney
What! Wilder Barney, Sakcs now
When ye gon' to be married.
i don't know yet haven't asked her. Coin
to do it, though, tonight
'Mebbe she won't have yc, observed Mrs
Crandal rather dOubtfillly
Won't have met Me! Squire Buttcrfcld?
exclaimed the Squire, surprised out of all
measure at so extraordinary suggestion.
I'd like to see the woman that couldn't Jest
Jump at the chanCe-jest jump at the chance
Il dunno, said the woman, shaking her
head with nournful incredibly; these ere
wdders are very onsartln-'specally the {
young ones--an' there's no telin' what they'll
do. Sides there's that young lawyer, Tom
Hardwood, seem her about good deal
Oh, that amounts to nothin', said the
Squire complacenily. lie boards at her
house, an takes her to mectin an sngin'
school just out of poIicness'
Mrs Crandal made no further remark, but
proceeded to gather up the dishes, and the !
squire went to his room 10 gather himself
nto his Sunday clothes. Il
lie decided not 10 call too early upon the
Hluo"i ltSt slic lhlSht NOT DC ready Tor visit =
IFS, and therefore he delayed until Tic clock
struck the hour Of nine then a tall hat drab G
rowsers, a blue, brass buttoncd 'swallow.tail' t
IN oycrcoat-and Squire Butcrleld contain. I
d somewhere wlthn-passcd on, to the road. 4
L was u clear cold, moonlight night 10 one !
vas out ON the street, and the bright home v
lights of the various windows shonc upon
nan assured and possessed as he moved along d
40 faint hear, 10 win fair lady did he car a
y! Not at all, But with firm, confident step I
&c passed over the crisp, welltrodden snow a
hat crcakcd loudly under his feet d
1t was not n very long walk and he soon
cached MS destination. The widows house Z,
vas small two-story frame, quite back from
he road, and surrounded by forest OF shrub
'ery and fruit trees. From the gate path q
wound up to the house under these trees, and
he Squire had to move cautiously. as the
noon gave but faint light through the fol. Q
age. h
lie reached the house safely, however, and v
glanced up at the second story, the corner
Dom oil which was used by the widow as Il 8
EN.aNNNN