The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-04
seIr& strry.
A NOBLE GENTLEMAN.
THE STORY OF AN OLD LADY.

heard some one WnlStllhg, anu loohihe
up, there was young Squire Turner, with
his arms folded on the gate, looking
over. When he caught my eye he laugh
ed and blushed; and l rose and made him
courtesy.
He was a handsome gentleman, the
SQUIRE, and the hand from which he pull
cd the glove shimmered in the sun with
pearls and diamonds; and he was bonny
to look at with his hair like spun gold in
the October sunlight.
When courtesied he bowed, making
his curls dance over his shoulders, and,
said he, "Tve spoiled one pretty picture
that could have looked at all day, but
I've made another as pretty, 80 I'll not
Erieve. May I come inH"
"And welcome, sir" said l and l sat a
chair for him, for he was grandfather's
landlord but for all that felt uncom'
Portable, for was not used to fine com
pany.
He talked away, paying me more com.
pliments than l was used to, for grand
mother, who brought me up, always said,
@Handsome is as handsome does," and
"Beauty is but skin Deep"
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell the
truth. l had done wrong about one
thing. Neither of the old folks knew
that wore Evan Locke's ring in my
bosom, or that we'd taken vow to each
other beside the hawthorn that grew in
the church lane. l never meant to de-
ceive, but grannie was old and little
hard, and that love Of mine was such a
sweet secret. Besides, money seems to
outweigh all else when people have
struggled all their lives through to turn a
penny, and they knew Evan was poor
struggling surgeon. thought I'd wait a
while until could sweeten the news
with the fact that he'd begun to make his
fortune.
Grannie came in from the dairy five
minutes after the Squire was gone. and
heard he had been there. didn't tell
her of the fine speeches, but there was a
keyhole to the door she came through,
and have guess she heard them.
That night we had something else to
think Of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather; but didn't foresee that,
when the half years rent should come
due, not penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and 1 had
been as fond as ever of each other, and he
came as often as before to talk with grand
pa on the winter nights; and still every
little while our young landlord, Squire
Turner, would drop in and sit in his lazy
way watching me knit or spin. Once or
twice he was flush with wine, and lover
bold, for he tried to kiss me. But, Squire
or no, l boxed his ears for his pains, and
no softer than could help either.
could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and did not
deserve that Evan should be angry with
me. But he was. Eh, 30 high and mighty
and spoke as though one like the Squire
could mean no good by coming to 90 poor
q place as the schoolmaster's.
He made me angry, and ! spoke up.
"For that matter, the Squire would be
glad to have me promise to marry him"
said l. HE thinks more of me than you
do just now."
"May be you like him BETTER" said
Evan.
II don't say that" replied l. "But bad
temper and Jealousy scarce make me over
fond of another. Ipray | may never have
q husband who will not sCold me-"
For he had been scolding me. There
was no other name for it.
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart deep, though,
thought, and did not see him for more
than a week l was troubled much though.
! knew he would come round again, and
nnayhap ask my pardon. For before you
are wed you can bring your lover to his
senses when you will.
So | did not fret after Evans absence,
nor quite snub Squire Turner, who liked
me more than ever.
But one night grandfather came in
from lonely ride, and shutting the door
stood between grandmamma and me,
looking at me, and 30 strangely that
we both grew frightened. At last he
spoke:
ave been to the squire's," said he.
"For the first time had to tell him
that / could not pay his rent when
due."
opened my lips. Grandmamma's
hand covered them. Grandpa drew me
to him.
"Thou art young, lass" he said, "and |
they are right who call you pretty. Say,
eOuld'st like the Squire well enough to
wed him2"
"Eh2" said grandma "sure, your not
Wandering2"
Squire Turner asked me for this lass
Of ours tonight. Of all women in the
world there is but one he loves as he
should his wife, and that one is our
Agatha"
81 dreamt Of golden rings and bunch
Of white roses on Christmas eVe," cried
grannie. II knew the lass would be
lucky"
Bot put my head on grandfather's
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, knew.
"Wilt have him, and be a rich lady ?"
uAid grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an.
Bwer, burat out with mo-" and a sob
together.
"she's frightened" said grandmamma.
Nay, we must all wed once in our lives,
child"
Then grandpa talked to me. He told
me how poor they had grown, and how
kind the Squire was, and bad but to
marry him to make my grandparents free
from debt and poverty their lives
through. If l refused and veXed the
Squire, heaven only knew what might
happen
She'll never ruin her poor grandpa"
Bobbed grandmamma.
Ali it was hard to bear-bitter hard
but now there was no help for it. Itook
the ring from my bosom and laid it in lny
palm and told them it was Evan Locke's
and that l had plighted my troth to him.
And grandmamma called me deceitful
uanah and 0ro N dfathar lookad 10 thouoh |