Sharp County record., 1879-10-02

day." replied Kate, coldly.
"Oh. was I?n stammered Luke, a" but
I've come for a different purpose to-
day -,
"You came to ask the address Of that
man | had to cut wheat for last year, L
believe"
"Yes, wrote to him Yesterday. But,
Kate. don't bluff me off so; I've come to
ask YOU to accept Bower Farm as your
own and he blushed crimson as he
made what he thought a neat speech.
every kind of you, Luke, I'm sure ;
but it isn't yours vet, so | don't see how
| can accept it from you"
81 see YOU won't understand me,
Kate; and I'd better be plain in my
speech. | have had liking for you for
a GOOD many years, and | believe I'd
make YOU as good a husband as you
would find in the county"
Kaui made no reply, and the dropping
curls lncealed her laughing face. En-
couraged by her silence, Luke pro-
ceeded:
'sYOu shall dress equal to any woman
round here, and I'll make you present
of that colt I'm breaking. You know
| ain tpoOr, and YOU shall live as well
as any ybody in these parts"
\" IN sorry to disappoint you, Luke; ;
butt lon't care to marry you. Please
don't tegin to argue, for it would an
swer p purpose"
81 made sure YOU would have me,
Kate. But I'll wait, and try again after
a spelll :" -.
"N,i it would be useless to try again,
interrupted Kate. "The fact is, Luke,
| am going to marry lawyer" she
added, with pucker Of her rosy lips at
Luke's uncOncealed amazement at hear
inc the information.
"a lawyer!" he exclaimed. "WeI,
that does beat all! And | never even
knew YOU were receiving 'tentionS from
any BODY but me and the Squire. l
s'pose you wouldn't tell his name,
Kate?n
"No!" said Kate. you'll know it
in time
Luke bade her ''good afternoon and
went srN, meeting Mrs. Bertram IN the
garden.
81 took your advice" he said, stop
PING in the path, land asked her to
marry me; but she says she's going to
marry some lawyer" and, without wait
inc for a reply, walked rapidly away, his
heart sore with chagrin and disappOint-
ment.
Julia wentintO the kitchen and "spOke
her mind" to Kate very freely. To
throw away a chance Of keeping Bower
Farm in the family, was, in her opinion,
really criminal.
"You are crazy, Kate. Haven't |
warned YOU over and over that you will
q. be left pennileSs, old, and faded at
mothers death? You will be an old
maid, 10 one will have you then, and
0 COOS eavens, what do you expect"
], ~ t my lawyer" cOQlly answer
NJ r,a... ti4;s smooth 70a7Gs Of
Aihat is the craziest notion Of all. |
gave you credit for more cOmmOn-sense,
Kate, than to believe in such trash. 1t
is really too ridiculous to talk about"
"Then don't talk about it," said
Kate. Il am not anxious to hear your
eloquent harangues on my poor daisy's
prophecy" -,
"But YOU can't mean that you will
throw away good chances for the sake
Of silly notion
81 mean that I will wait for my law
ver,n said Kate, still smiling.
"How you cling to that idea! I've
no patience with you at all. If Luke
had been a lawyer, would you have mar
ried him? Come, let's see how much
you really think of that idea
81 didn't say I'd have Gny lawyer"
answered Kate. 81 mean to choose
my lawyer. l pulled every leaf off the
daisy, and it left the last one lawyer;
so a lawyer it will be; and | mean to
wait for my lawyer until my lawyer
cOmes.n
"Horrors!" cried Julia, "dOn't use
that detestable word again. am ut
terly sick of it. hope I'll never more
see one of the profession"
hdIc lduOllctl OuJ IOllO do HCl oloJCl
fled to the parlOr, wOrsted in the battle.
The first week of July came, and one
fine day when the sun was sinking in the
west, Squire Day drove up to the front
gate of Bower Farm, hitched his horses
they were certainly handsome crea-
tures-and entering the house asked to
see Miss Kate. Julia saw the arrival,
and leaning over the railing at the head
of the stairs, heard the question. She
knew at once what was meant by it, she
knew on what crrand the portly Squire
had come, and she prayed that Kate
might not throw away this second
chance ofsettling herself advahtageOusly.
Squire Day was able to buy Bower Farm
three times over and twenty more like
it, as far as money was concerned.
Kate went into the parlor, without
even a glance into the glass to see if her
I Il l l.. L, |.