The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-09-05
EVAN AND The SQUIRE,
An Old Lady's Story.

sat spinning at my little wheel in the
sun, for 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 | rose and made him a courN
tesy,
He was a handsome gentleman, the
Squire, and the hand from which he
pulled 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 l courtesied he bowed, making
his curls dance over his shoulders, and
said he, "Pve spoiled one pretty picture
that l could have looked at all day, but
I've made another as pretty, SO Pll not
grieve. May | come in?
"And welcome sir" said /; and 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
compliments than / was used to, for
grandmother, who brought me up, al
ways said, Handsome is as handsome
does," and "beauty ID but skin deep"
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell the
truth. / had done wrong about one
thing Neither of the old folks knew
that wore Evan Docke's ring in my
bosom, or that we'd taken VOW to each
other under the hawthorn that grew in
the church lane. / never i ant to de.
ceive, but Grannie was ole and little
hard of hearing, 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
a poor, struggling surgeon. | thought
I'd wait awhile until | could sweeten
the news with the fact that he'd begun
tc 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 Il
keyhole to the door, and | guess she
heard them.
That night we had something else to
think Of Misfortuues had come upon
grandfather; but I didn't toresee that
when the half years rent should come
due not penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and | had
been as fond as ever of each other, and
he came as often as before to talk with
sgrandpa, on the winter nights; and yet
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, | 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 l did not
desire that Evan should be angry with
me. But ne was. En-, so high and
mighty, and spoke as though one like
the 'sqire could mean no good by coming
to so psor 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" I"
said I. He thinks more of me than
you DO just now"
Maybe you like him better" said
Evan.
81 don't say that" replied l. "But
bad temper and jealousy scarce make me
over fond of another. | pray | may
never have a 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,
thought, and / did not see him for more
than a week. / was troubled much
though. / knew he would come around
again, and mayhap 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,
DOR quite snub Squire Turner, who
liked me more than ever. But one night
grandfather came in from a lonely ride,
and stutting the door, stood between
grandma and me, looking at me, and SO
strangely that we beth grew frightened.
At last he said:
"Pve 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, and they are
right who call thee pretty. Say, couldst
thee like the squire well enough to wed
him T' he said.
"Ehp cried grandma. "Sure, you
ara not wandering ?"
esquire Turner asked me for thi,
lass of ours, tonight. Of all women in