The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-24

role of mother-in-law to Charlie, who
was two or three years older than she
sway, the idea was rather ridicul-
exAn to him, but he comforted him
Eeelf DXahe thought that he wasn't the
Flint who had married q young
6u see. the squire had fully made up
his mind to marry Lucy, and be had't
stopped to think what she might say
about it. He took it for granted, that
she wouldn't have any objections.
While he sat there thinking these
| things over, Charlie was telling Lucy
that his father had limited to him how
matters stood between them as well as!if
he had been told also, that there was
possibility, or a probability, rather, Of a
double tie between the two families.
And what he told her after is none of
your business or mine, though | am will
ing to say that feel sure it had some
thing to do with Lucy becoming "One of
the family"
About four o'clock on Sunday after
noon, the squire knocked at Mrs.
Keene's door arrayed in his best clothes
and with basket full of great, scarlet
| Strawberries on his arm.
'"Good-afternoon, Squire Kimball,"
cried the widow. as she opened the door
for their visitor, with a charming rose
color On her face that made him think
she was almost as fair a5 she had been
i've and twenty years ago.
Here's some strawberries" said the
squire, presenting his offering, fragrant
as June roses, and of a brighter crimson,
as they nestled among the green leaves
which he had placed about the edge Of
the basket with a taste one would scarce
ly have expected of a gray-headed old
man.
But, then. old men in love are not to
be judged by the ordinary Standards.
the berries. 'i'm thousand times
thing you haven't, that you'd like, you've
only to say 80. I'd be gald to return the
favor if l knew how to. was delighted
when Lucy told me the word you sent
about the strawberries. I don't feel as
if I could keep house without few jars
of JAM"
The squire wanted to say she had
something he'd like, and he'd take her
at her word and take her daughter; but
he didn't dare to just then.
He intended to talk the matter over
with her before he went home, though.
"Come right this way" said the smil-
ing widow.
She led him into the sitting-roo.n,
where the squire met sight that rather
surprised him. There sat Charlie, whom
he had thought in the village, holding
wOrsted for Lucy to wind, and apparent
lV very mnah at homo
He looked at his father as he came
into the room, and then at the widow;
and then the audacious young fellow
actually winked at the squire, as if
to say, 81 know what you're here
for"
The squire felt his face uncom-
fortably red, and he managed to stam-
mer out:
T.I didn't expect to find you here,
Charlie!''
II happen to find out that you had an
invitation to tea, where jam and short
cake were to be the principa attractions,
and, having had liking for both ever
since can remember, | contrived to get
an invitation for myself. It'll be kind
of family party, yon see" And then he
and the widow got rosy.
AS for the poor squire, he feit-Well,
he scarcely knew how he did feel, but
he wasn't at all at ease.
"Just see what he brought u.s." said
the widow, displaying the berries. "I'll
make the shortcake, Lucy, if you'll hull
them. l remember you used to like
strawberry-shortcake, Squire Kimball."
and the wi low smiled till a dimple came
in either cheek. ''Do you recollect the
big one we made in a pan, when we used
five quarts of berries and two quarts OF
cream and had enough left to last two
days?'
and what happened about that timer" and
then the squire and Mrs. keene both
laughed over the memory ofsome anus
ing event that happened in astraw-
berry-time of "auld lang syne."
''I'll make the short cake" said Lucy.
"Charlie can hull berries while PIN mix
ing it, and when get through with that,
I can help him. You stay here and visit
with the squire"
"Well, I don't care if play lady, if
you're willing to do the work." laughed
the widow. "But I'll nave to show you
what pans to take the cream FROM" and
Mrs. Keene and Lucy went out and left
| the squire and his son alone together.
'I've spoken to her about being one
Of the family, though it was all under
stood some time ago, as you must have
| surmised, from what you said to me the
other evening"" said Charlie, land she
hasn't any objections"
"Whatv The squire felt hot and cold
by turns. "I-I don't understand"
"You know what you said the other
night, don't you, when you told me about
getting her mother for housekeeper?"
explained Charlie. "About my liking
TO have Lucy for a member of the fam
said, that you understood that we meant
10 get married some time. I've talked
it over with her since that, and it's all
settled but the day. think it would be
jolly for us all to get married at the
same time. What do you think?'
The poor squire was speechless for the
space of minute. What he thought in
that time could not be condensed into a
column OF this paper.
T-I hope you'll be happy" he man
aged to stammer out at last. II do,
really"
$50 do l." answered Charlie, land I
am sure we will. And I hope you'll be
equally as happy with Iucy's mother. l
told you she was jewel, and | think so
more and moro every day. II You aren't
happy with her, you couldn't be with
any woman"
Then Charlie went to the kitchen to
hull strawberries, and look at Lucy. as
she made the shortcake, and thought,
as many lover has thought before, that
the girl he loved was the fairest girl in
all the world.
The squire sat and stared at the
carpet blankly when he was left alone.
What an awful dilemma he had escaped!
He felt chilly at the thought of it. Then
he broke out,,in profuse perspiration.
IT. Pm glad didn't make fool of
myself" he thought. "I'm not sure but
l did as it was. in thinking it would be a
good thing to marry Lucy. She's TOO
young, when'I look at the case as
ought to-altogether too young: I'd
better marry her mother. II will-if
she'll have me-" he concluded, making
up his mind suddenly, as he. heard tho
widows step in the hall. 'That's great
deal the best way. I wonder how l
could have been foolish enough to think
of marrying girl of twenty-one or two,
and I past fifty. The idea is ridiculous"
he thought, and:then had to smile at his
inconsistency. Not an hour ago there
had been nothing ridiculous in the idea
to him.
The widow came in and sat down by
the window. What well.preserved
woman she was! Why, he knew of a
good many girls who would have been
| glad to have such fresh, clear complex
ion. II was true that thread of white
showed here and there among her