The Worthington advance., 1882-02-02
MRS. CLA6GET'S CONQUEST.
Yes, I've certainly made an impress.

sion.
The widow Clagget smiled complacentl,
and her knitting needles clicked louder
than ever as she glanced out Of the window
at 'Scc.re Eversham's handsome country
house, With its old fashioned gable roo
and the tall buckeyes and swamp maple
trees shading the lawn.
"The SIuire's been q comm here pretty
steady g: ate. He's mighty good catch
too;" sh7 co" :inued, with much inward
satisfactit Though that boy of his
might 81 g no some trouble at first, HI
wouldn't bother me long, could tell him
that. IT he didn't learn to walk chall
pretty quick my name amt Priscilla
Clagget.
The widow drew ont her yarn with Jerk
and shot determined elances from he1
sharp black eyes, as if she were quite capa.
bic OF making anybody walk chalk" ever
Squire Eversham himself, as we'll as peo1
little fve-year old Freddie.
i think it's a good match for the Squire
too, if I do say it myself, for he needs 1
housekeeper bad enough. That good for
nothing colored girl he keeps amt worth
shucks, and it'e rediklous Of the SQUIRE to
keep her just because she was good to his
wife. Fiddlesticks! Squire Eversham's q
old enough to know better; instead of act
ing like sentimental school GIRL"
The squire's attentions increased, and
the widow grew more exulting than
ever.
"He certainly will propose soon!" she
said. "And I wish he'd hurry up! I do
want to get ahead Of Mehitable Terryl
Maneuvering old maid! She'll be as mad
as piper if I get married first. Let me
see! III have the quilting next week, and
III get Ruhama Sykes 10 come and help
about the dinner. I'd have to pay anybody
else dollar, but Ruhama's so needy she'll
come for next to nothing"
Ruhama was Mrs. Clagget's niece, and
lived by herself in tiny bit of q cottage.
half buried in shrubbery. and quite over
run with Virginia creepers and wild trum-
pet vines.
"a quiltingr said Squire Eversham to
himself, as he sat down in his roomy, we'll
furnished house. "Yes. I'll go. 1 have
about made up my mind to marry for Fred
dies sake. He needs mothers care, and
Mrs. Clagget::::is certainly kind to him, and
SO fond of children, too. She pets Fred
die little too much-almost spoils him, in
fact; but that's better than being too severe
with him. Freddie is not child who can
stand severity. I can't do better than mar
ry the widow" he concluded; though
some way don't seem as much drawn to
her as was to Amy"
And the squire gave sigh to the men,
cry of the gentle girl wife, who had slept
for five years under the grassy turf in the
village churchyard.
Ruhama was glad to do the cooking at
Mrs. C'aeget's quilting for mere pittance,
as her aunt had said, and she Was soon at
work baking plum-cake and custard pie,
jel]y-rolls and jam-puds, with host Of
other things besides.
The day of the quilting arrived, and the
company were in the parlor, talking and
laughing good deal, and sewing a very
little.
Tie table was nearly set for dinner, and
R'1hama was in the buttery, ornamentinp a
cream-pie with bits of ruby -hued Jelly.
Hurry up the dinner, Ruhama, said the
widow hurrying about to see to things, her
cheeks flushed with excitement, for the
squire showed that he meant business, and
only waited an opportunity to declare his
Intentions.
She stepped to the butterv- door. watch.
ing Ruhama's busy fingers ornamenting the
cream-ple.
That's rigbt-make everything nice.
Ruha,na," she said, approvingly. Il don't
want to sk1nch any just now; but after l get
the squire, III make up for it-see if I
don't! I'll give that lazy niger her walk
ing-papers first, and then I'll take some OF
the nonsense out of Freddie, too. spoiled
young one that he is as sure as I'm born
won1an!"
Mrs. Clagget spoke emphatically, for she
was in earnest.
"Oh, aunt, said Ruhama, beseechinely,
you'll be good to little Freddie, w3n't
you? Poor little fellow!"
"Good to him!" retorted the widow.
snapnsh1y. "Of course Ill be good to him
SO good to him that won't humor him
to death, like he has been; and I'll teach
him that he's got to mind from the word 20.
wont have no spoiled young ones about
mel"
"Ahem!" SID loud voice.
The widow turned, her cheeks blazing
with modification, for there by the dining
table stood the squire himself. He had
heard every word she said
Much obliged, Mrs. Clagget, said the
squire, grimly, for enliehtening me as to
your views in regard to children; but TO,
the present I will keep Freddie in my own
charged"
And he strobe away, without waiting for
his dinner.
Three months later Squire Evershana
welded Ruhama. and little Freddie nevaa
learned to walk chalk. after all.