The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-21
THE SQUIRE'S WIFE.

THE SQUIRE'S WIFE.
Squire Glover listened in silence, but
with a quiet smile upon his lips, to his
old cronies' yards of their various haps
and mishaps in their younger days in
trying to get pos; sion of the girl of
their choice.
But after they had all spoken he
knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and
proceeding to refill it, said:
GAY, n&ghbors, ye've tod some pretty
queer stories, but I'll warrant I can tell
one that'll match 'em. I rather gul S.
'twould astonish those acquainted with
my quiet, mode st-loolling wife vonder
to know how it was that I thought of
taking her for better or worse"
Nov, David" expostulated Mrs.
Clover, bo:h reddening and smiling as
she met her husbands quizzical look.
why will you tell tEat silly story? If
you hadn't cared to take me, you could
have let me alone"
"Ah, sure it is easy talkin'," said the
squire, shaking his head with demure
gravity. ''But when girl-an' especi-
ally sich pretty one-fies directly into
fellows arms, what else can he do.
That's what Id like to know!"
-, Laughingly declaring that "she'd stay
to listen to no such nonsense" Mrs.
Clover gathered up her work and ran
away; and her husband, after shaking
his jolly sides with silent laughter, un-
til some of those present were fearful
that apoplexy would be the result, grad
ually recovered himself and proceeded to
satisfy the curiosity he had aroused
thus:
II was poor boy, as perhaps you
know, with nothin' but pair of stout
arms and broad shoulders to push my
way in the world with; but had brave
heart, an wasn't afraid of work, an on
the W hole, amt no ways dissatisfied with
what my hands have brought me.
~. ''The summer was tWenty-one went
to work for Sues father.
'sMr. Bean was a well-to-do farmer,
and Sue his only child. He wasn't any,
ways stuck up about his property, but
he set great store by Sue; an, as he
knew that some day she'd have as good
farm as there was in the county, nat'r-
ally expected that the man who got her
would be able to give as much as he took.
$50 I had no more idea of ever bein'
Sues husband than I had of flynn, and
yet the very first time I set eyes on her I
knew, as well as I know now, that no
other woman would ever be to me what
abe was.
81 remember the day just as we'll as if
twas yesterday. had seen Mr.. Bean
down to the village the night afore, an
twas agreed that come the next after
noon.
tsWhen I come to the house-an' a nice
looking house it WAS, witha broad piazza
each side on't-I was dubious as to
whether had better 60 in the side or
back door. finally concluded to take
the latter.
"As passed by the kitchen window I
heard voice singin', as sweet and clear
ss robins, an on lookin' in I saw Sue
standin' by table, kneadin' bread, an I
never see prettier picter afore or sence.
"Ah, lads, yemay talk about girls at
the pianny, but they amt half so much
to my mind as the one I saw at the
- moldin'-b ard; the -four she was siftin'
not any whittier than her round, uncov-
cred arms, and with as bright bloom on
cheek an lip as the roses that were clam
bering over the porch.
"Wal, aNer starin' at her pretty face
es long as dared to-quite unbeknown
to her-I knocked at the door.
"'Come inn sang out voice that set
my heat to beatin' like sledge ham
mer.
"Liftin' the latch I walked in.
lis Mr. Bean to homes? stammcred.
colorin' as red as beet, as Sue turned her
black eyes on me.
"'Yes; fathers somewhere about.
He'll be in in minute. Won't you take
8 seat?'
"In goin' across the room, stumbled
over pail, which so austered me that I
sat down in chair where large gray
cat lay curled up asleep, and who, spit
tin an clawin at me, sprang out of the
window
II could see by the dimples that came
round Sues pretty mouth that she had
hard work to do to keep from laughing
outright. But she didn't pear to take any
notice on it, and pretty soon old Mr..
Bean came in, an then began to feel
more comfortable.
''They were real nice sort of folks,
who treated their help like their
own family, an 1 soon began to feel at
home.
Gail but with Sue I couldn't seem to say
two or three words to her without blum
de in, an was always doin' some awk-
ward thing or other, whenever I went
nigh her.
II don't think I'd have felt quite so
shy if had known her opinion of me;
for I wasn't bad lookin' chap in my
young days-broad shouldered an
straight as an arrer-with big hazel eyes
an brown hair, as full OF crinkles as
curlcd maple.
Il hadn't been to Mr.. Beams long be-
fore I found out th;t Sue had beau
His name was Silas Peterkin, son of the
store-keeper down at the village.
''He was white-faccd, slim-waisted
Teller, with little hands an feet, that I'd
been ashamed to own, but which he
seemed to feel mighty proud of.
'Hc used to come to see Sue about
twice week, dressed in his store clothes,
and loo'iin' as if he'd just stepped out OF
q handbook.
''Sue never seemed to act as though
she had any partic'lar likin' for Silas; but
twas easy seen that the old folks set
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