Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-06-27
A NOBLE GENTLEMAN.
The story of an old Lady.

sun, Tor the autumn day was cold, when
heard some one whistling, and, looking
up, there was young Squire Turner, with
his arms folded on the gate, looking over.
When he caught my eye he laughed and
blushed; and I rose and made him a
courtesy.
He was a handsome gentleman, the
Squire, and the hand from which he pull
ed 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 I courtesied he bowed, making
his curls dance over his shoulders, and,
said he, 'FI've spoiled one pretty picture
that Icould have looked at all day, but
I've made another as pretty, so I'll not
grieve. May 1 come in?"
"And welcome, sir,'' said I; and l sat
chair for him, for he was my grand
fathers landlord; but for all that felt
uncomfortable, for I was not used to fine
company.
He talked away, paying me more
compliments than 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'l tell the
truth. 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 a vow to each other beside the
hawthorn that grew in the church lane.
I never meant to deceive, but grannie was
old and a little hard, and that love of
mine was such 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 I 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. I didn't tell
her ofthe fine speeches, but there was
keyhole to the door she came through,
and have guessed she heard them.
That night we had something else to
think of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather; but l didn't forsee that,
when the half years rent should come
due, not penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and l 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 flushed with wine, and over
bold, for he tried to kiss me. But Squire
or no, I boxed his ears for his pains, and
no softer than I could help either.
could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and did not de-
serve that Evan should be angry with me.
But he was. Eli, so high and mighty, and
spoke as though one like the Squire could
meanno good by coming to so poor a
place as the schoolmaster's.
He made me angry, and I spoke up.
ssFOr that matter, the Squire would be
glad to have me promise to marry him -
said I. ''He thinks more of me than you
do just now.''
''May be you like him BETTER" said
Evan.
''I don't say that" replied 1. ''But
bad temper and jealousy scarce make me
over fond of another. 1 pray may never
have d husband who will 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, I
thought-and did not see him for more
than a week. 1 was troubled much,
though. l knew he would come round
again, and mayhap ask my pardon. Fo1
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 grand
father came in from lonely ride, an6
shutting the door, stood between grand
mamma and me, looking at me, and Sc
strangely that we both grew frightened
At last he spoke:
"I've been to the Squire's," said he
For the first time had to tell him tina
[ could not pay his rent when due.''
I opened my lips. Grandmamma'
hand covered them. Grandpa drew M
to him.
''Thou art young, lass" he said, ''an'
they are right who call the pretty. Say
eould'st like the Squire well enough t
wed him ?''
'Eh?" cried grandma. ''Sure, you
not wandering?"
esquire Turner asked me for this las
of ours tonight. Of all women in tn
world there is but one he loves as h
should his wife, and that is our Agatha.
81 dreamt of golden rings and bunc
of white roses on Christmas eve," erie
grannie. 81 knew the lass would /
lucky"
But put my head on grandfather
shoulder and hid my face. The trut
must out, knew.
ssWilt have him, and be rich lady
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an al
swer, burst out ''No" and a sob togetl
9 er.
sShe's frightened" said grandmamm
= ssNay, we must all wed once in our live
= my child"
y Then grandpa talked to me. He to
q me how poor they had grown, and no
:, kind the Squire was, and had but
# marry him to make my grandparents fr
from debt and poverty their lives throug
If refused and vexed the Squire, heav
d only knew what might happen.
E'She'll never ruin her poor grandE
. pa,' sobbed grandmamma.
All! it was hard to bear-bitter har
but now there was no help for it. to
IN the ring from my bosom and laid it in l
is palm, and told them it was Evan Locke
SIS and that had plighted my troth to hi
rs And grandmamma called me a deceit1
s. wench, and grandfather looked as thou