Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-12

Accordingly, when they were siitinB
on ahe piazza after supper, tho squire
began:
"rve been thinking some OF getting
new housokeeper, he announced,
feeling his face getting uncomfortably
hot.
won't Aunt Sarah stay asked
Charley.
"I-I meant housekeeper OF an
other kind" said the squire. wiping his
face vigorously.
Charley gave whistle of surprise
and stared hard at his father.
"Who is it to be, il may ask such
a question:" he said.
"Down the road" said the squire,
jerking his thumb over his shoulder in
the direction of tho Widow Keene's.
He couldn't muster up courage to
say Lucy.
"Aha that's the way the wiud
blows, is il p lau ghed Charley. "I'm
glad to hear IL. You couldn't do bet
ter"
I'm glad to hear you say so" said
the squire. much relieved. 81 felt
sure you'd like to have Lucy as IA
member OF the family"
81 haven't any objections, il she
hasn't" said Charley.
$50 that's over" said the squire,
much relieved, as Charley strolled
down the road in the early evening.
i wonder he never took fancy to
her. s'pose folks'll say I'm an old
fool, but don't care"
While he sat there Charley was
telling Lucy that his father had keeuer
eyes than he had given him credit for,
for he seemed to understand how mat
ters stood perfectly. And what he told
her after that is mono of your business
or mine, though I will say that 1 feel
sure it had something to do with Lucy's
becoming Zone of the family"
About four o'clock Saturday after
noon the squire. in his best coat and
with a pail of strawberries on his arm,
knocked at Mrs. Keene's door.
"Good-afternoon," said the widow,
as she let him in, with q charming
suspicion of blush in her face, which,
he had TO admit, was almost as fair
as it had been fiveand-twenty years
ago.
Here's some berries" said the
squire, awkwardly presenting his offer.
ing. "Lucy said the hens d played
the mischief with yours"
"Tm n thousand times Obliged to
you I" said the widow.
By that time the squire had got to
the s:tting-room door. Who should he
see there but Charley, seemingly very
much at home, as he held worsted for
Lucy to wind7
81 managed to get an invitation to
tea, too" laughed Charley. "You kept
il pretty sly, but wasn't to be cheated
out OF my share Of strawberry pre-.
serves"
Then Charley and Lucy looked at
each other and laughed; and the squire
felt his face grow red.
"Just see what he has brought usi"
said the widow, displaying the berries.
off you'll help hull 'em, Lucy, we'll
have shoTtcake for tea. I remember
how fond you used TO be of strawberry
shortcake years ago." and the widow
smiled at the squire till there was .
dimple in each cheek.
"I remember, too" responded the
squire.
Then Lucy and her mother went ont.
1--WE spoken to her about being one
Of the family, and she's willing" said
Charley.
ell don't understand |" said the
squire, in great bcwilderment, growing
hot then cold.
"Why, you know what ron said the
other night when you told me you
thought Of getting her mother for
housekeeper," explained Charley. "I
supposed you understood, from what
you said, that Lucy and I intended to
be married. 1t's ell settled"
The squire sat speechlcsa. What he
thought OF in the next five minutes
could not be condensed into q column
of this paper.
I'll hope you'll be happyr he
stammered at last, feeling that some
thing was expected Of him.
I" I'm sure We will" said Charley. SCI
hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
"The short-cake's baking" abe said.
90 ,ucv said aha'd bull tha baYrfoa and