Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-18

on his way home in the evening, and at tea
time chuckles interspersed themselves through
out the meal, much to the wonderment of the
old housekeeper. Indeed, her looks betoken.
ed 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 married"
"Well, now, really" exclaimed the old
woman, almost dropping the tea.cups in sur
prise. "May I be 50 proud as to ask who she
may be ="
"Widow Barney"
"What! Widder Barney? Sakes, now
When ye goin' to be married p
Il 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.
"Won't have me2 Me Squire Butter
field ?" exclaimed the Squire, surprised out
of all measure at so extraordinary sugges-
ton. "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, shaking
her head with mournful credulity; "these ere
widders are very onsartin-speclally the
Young ones-an' there's no tellin' what they'll
do. Sides, there's that young lawyer, Tom
Harwood, seeing her about good DEAL"
"Oh that amounts to nothin'," said the
Squire, complacently. ."He boards at her
house, an takes her to meetin' an singln''
school jest out of polteness."
Mrs. Crandal made no further remark, but
proceeded to gather up the dishes, and the
Squire went to his room to gather himself
into his Sunday clothes. .a.,"
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
trousers, blue, -buttoned Swallow.
TAIL" an overcoat-and Squire Butter6eld
contained somewhere within-passed out to
the road. 1t was a clear, cold, moonlight
night; no one was out on the street, and
the bright home.lights from various win
dows shone upon a face assured and pos
sessed as he moved along. No "faint heart"
to "win fair lady" did he carry! Not at all.
But with a firm, confident step, he passed over
the crisp, well-trodden snow that creaked
loudly under bis feet
1t was not very long walk, and he soon
reached his destination. The widow 9 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 cautious
ly, as the moon gave but faint light through
the foliage. ..f. :,
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. Hesaw it was we'll lighted,
the window. curtains not yet down, and ne
was about turning toward the door wheI
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? He didn't wish to see Mr..
Grimp-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
that it was not Grimp, he would be satisfied.
His eye rested on the low back-kitchen, d.
rectly below the end window. If he was on
" on that, he could look into the room unob-
served by anyone. 1t could do no harm,
either; and he did 80 wish to know who that
man was
The more the Squire thought about it, the
more convinced was he that it was Mr..
Grimp-but then, maybe it wasn't. He
,uould find out! He became more resolute
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 to ascend. He got up
the ladder without trouble, but found the
roof 80 coated with ice, that he had to move
with extreme caution. However, the window
was reached at last, and, looking in, he saw
only the widow and Tom Harwood sitting by
the fire.
There |" muttered the Squire in disgust,
after making the discovery; never thought
of him! Why in Sam Hill didn't remem:
ber he was here, and saved all this trouble ?
Nearly spilled my best clothes, too" ..
He turned about and was preparing to 60
back, when a movement down in the shrub
berry arrested his attention and downward
progress at the same time. For minute or
two be remained perfectly still ; then he peer
cd carefully over the roofs edge. He saw
man standing below among the trees, but who
he was the Squire couldn't make out. How
belt, whoever he might be, he seemed to be
scanning the upper front window very close
". Indeed, this view did not seem to satisfy
him, and like his "ilustrious predecessor" he
too, passed round back of the little kitchen.
The Squire became alarmed. He would be
discovered now, certainly! What should he
do2 He glanced about hopelessly until be
caught sight of the chimney-a large, old
fashioned one, running up from the kitchen,
close against and on the outside of the main
building With quick movement he scram-
bled to his feet into the shadow Of its deep
corner and stood close against the wall.
Maybe" he thought, "the man will 60
away pretty soon confound him !"
But the stranger seemed in no hurry to
leave. On the contrary, he moved about a
few minutes and then, to the CONSERVATION of
our friend on the roof, he began to ascend the
ladder. Ifever Squire Butter6eld perspired
in his life he did then. Although it was
cold night, he was in protuse sweat from
head to foot. He grtted his teeth, clenched
his hands, bit his lips until the blood came,
but nevertheless the intruder made his way
slowly, but surely, up the slippery incline:
"Goodness gracious! What in Sam Hill
shall do ?" murmured the Squire in his des
perate fear. Idgve anything, yes, anything.
if was safe at home. wish that all the
widows were in Guinea. wish"
But the sentence never was completed
The ice-alas, the treacherous ice on the roof! !!
Unexpectedly, suddenly, without premedita.