The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-03-26
/ haven t any objection. il sh

$50 that's over" said the farmer, as
Charley strolled down the road in the
early evening. II wonder he never
took fancy to her. / s'pose folks ii
say I'm an old fool, but | don't care"
While he sat there Charley was tell
ing Lucy that his father had keener
eyes than he had given him credit for.
for he seemed to understand how mat
tiers stand perfectly. And what he told
her after that is none Of your business
or mine, though will say that feel
sure it had nothing to do with Lucy's
becoming zone of the family"
About A o'clock on Saturday after
noon Mr.. Kimball, in his best coat and
with pail of strawberries, knocked at
Mrs. Kuene's door.
Good afternoon" said the widow,
as she let him in, with n charming sus-
picion of blush in her face.
Here's some berries" said he, awk-
wardly presenting his Offering. Lucy
said the hens had played the mischief
with yours, and as have plenty why
you may just as well as not have as
many of 'em as you need"
I'm thousand times obliged to
you"
BY this time the farmer had got to the
sitting-room door. Who should he see
there but Charley, seemingly very much
at home, rs he held worsted for Lucy to
wind.
81 managed to get an invitation to
tea, too" laughed Charley. You kept
it very 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 farmer
felt his face grow red.
"Just see what he's brought u.s." said
the widow displaying the berries. IF
you'll help pick 'em, Lucy, We'll have a
short-cake for tea. | remember how
fond you used to be of strawberry short
cake years ago." and the widow,
smiled at the farmer till there was a
dimple in each cheek. Her words
brought wildly back to him his happi-
est experiences of quarter of century
previous.
II remember, too" he responded.
Then Lucy and her mother went out.
1--WE spoken to her about being one
of the family, and she's willing" said
Charley.
81 don't understand" said the farm
er, in great bewilderment, growing hot,
then cold.
why, YOU know what you said the
other night when you told me you
thought OF getting her mother for house
keeper" explained Charley. Il sup
posed YOU understood, from what you
said, that Lusy and intended to be
married. It's all settled.
Mr.. Kimball sat speechless. What he
could not be described. His brain
worked with speed and intensity to
which it was quite unaccustOmed.
Il hope you'll be happy" he
stammered, at last, feeling that some
thing was expected of him, and amiably
DESTROYS of maintaining, as far as he
could, the genial and happy spirit of the
occasion.
I'm sure we will" said Charley. Il
hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
THE short-cakc's baking" she said
Lucy said she'd pick the berries and
set the table, and sent me in to play
lady and entertain the company"
Charley watched his opportunity and
slipped into the kitchen. The two more
than middle-aged people were thus left
TO entertain each other The sly boy
Cupid never had better opportunity
given him!
The farmer had made up his mind
again. If he couldn't have Lucy he'd
have her mother, if he could get her.
"Come to think it all over" he told
"that was the best plan, by all
odds"
He wondered how he could have been
foolish enough to think of having Il girl
of twcnty-one or two. The idea was
whats the use ofwaiting?" thought
he. ut might as well be settled now rs
any time" 4
Hester" he began, getting red
again, ''Charley and Lucy are going to
get married. Why shouldn't we?"
Mr.. Kimball blurted out the question
with startling emphasis.
"Why, Mr.. Kimballr' cried the wild
DIV, blushing so rosily that he thought
she was prettier than her daughter
Il came over on purpose to ask you,"
he said, telling a most outrageous fib.
II hope you haven't any objections"
When Lucy came in, half an hour
later, to say tea was ready, the farmer
rose up, blushing like girl, and jerked
his thumb toward the widow; then said,
in voice that shook little:
That's your mother, LUCY mean
she's Mrs. Kimball, or going to be. It's
all settled"
Il s'pose l may kiss my father, thcn."
said Lucy, and pumped n kiss on the
,ather's lips, and he said she might give |
him another for her father-in-law while
she was about it, if she'd no objections.
'One will answer for both," said Lucy |
Then the farmer gave his arm to the
woman he had meant to marry five and
twenty years ago, and led her out to
ca. He has never regretted that mat
ers turned out as they did.
'Lucy can't be beat for daughter"
he tells himself; "but don't want any