Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-19
Gales aud Sketfhes.
ONE OF THE FAMILY;
Or, THE QUEER FRANKS OF Don CUPID

July morning, ana ne was just aoouI "
throw an armful of them over the fierce
as she came round the corner.
The sun-bonnet she wore was exactly
like one he remembered to have seen her
mother wear 25 wears ago land he remem-
bered, too, as he looked at this one, and
the fresh, rosy face under it, how that one
had made his heart futter the first time
he saw it, and how he was so bewitched
by it, or the face under it, that he had
walked home with Hester Mason, and had
had hard work to keep from proposing to
her.
He wondered now, and he had Won
dered many times in the 25 years that had
gone bv since then, why he never did pro-
pose to her.
He had meant to marry her some time,
and he was sure she liked him in the old
DAYS; but something had come between
them. and she had married Robert keene,
and he had married his cousin Mary.
As he had looked at Hester's daughter,
this summer morning. the Old fire stirred
under the dust and ashes of 20 years. and
he felt a little flame spring up in his heart
Good morning, Lacy" he said, leaning
over the fence.
"Oh y exclaimed Lucy, with little
lump. 81 didn't see you. and you came
near soaring me. Isn't it pleasant ?"
Yes, it is pleasant" answered the far
mer, looking straight at her pretty face,
''How's your mother?''
"Pretty WE'LL" answered Lucy. ''Your
Strawberries are doing splendidly, aren t
they? We're so provoked about ours
The hens got into the garden. aud mother
saws she don't think we'll have pailful
of berries in ALL"
Il want to known' exclaimed the far
mer Now tell your mother that she S
welcome to all she wants out of my patch.
She can have 'em just as well as not.
There's going to be a sight more'n We'll
want, and I'd rather have 'em used than
wasted"
81 will tell her." answered Lucy 81
know she'll be delighted at the chance.
You know what hand she is to make
strawberry preserves"
"Yes,I do" answered the farmer, think
ing of old times. 81 remember she beat
all the old housekeepers at that. They
used to say that she had a knack of max
ing strawberry jam, that nobody else
could get hold Of
She hasn't lost it ye+," said Lucy.
"She'll be pleased to have you come to
tea sometime and try some she made last
year. She had unusually good luck"
IN do it," he replied. "Let me see
to-day's Wednesday. Tell her I'll come
over on Saturday, if it's agreeable; and
reckon the berries'll be ripe, so l can pick
pailful by that time. If they be. I'll
bring some over"
"Thank YOU" said Lucy. 'If you do
we'll have shortcake. Pll tell her to
expect you to tea on Saturday them
Yes" answered the farmer; "I'll be
round if nothing happens. Oh. heard
from Charley yesterday. He'll be home
in day or two, to stay"
"That'll be pleasant tor you," said Lu-
cy. STOPPING down to pick up daisy.
He could not see how rosy the face un-
der the bewitching sunbonnet grew all at
once. If he had it might have set him to
thinking.
Eyes. it will, ''said the farmer Char.
ley's good boy"
II think III have to be going said Lu-
cy. 1--WE shall expect you to tea, Satur-
day. remember"
"Twon't disappoint you," said the far
mer; and then Lucy went on.a and he went
back to pulling weeds.
II s'pose it's foolish to think of such a
thing" he said to himself, "but l don't
know as its apybody's business but ours.
If see fit to marry Lucy and she's willin'
I'm going to do it,
From which you will see that the farm
er's old fancy for the mother had sudden
ly been transferred to the daughter.
Charley came home the next day.
Il s'pose I'll have to tell HIM what I've
been thinking about" thought the farm.
err. "Id bout as soon take horsewhip-
ping, declare. But there amt any use
in dreading it and putting it off as know
of
Accordingly, when they were sitting in
the porch after supper. the farmer began
I've been thinking of getting new
housekeeper," he announced
won't Aunt Sarah stay ?" asked Char
ley.
IL mean housekeeper of another
kind" he said, wiping his face vigorous.
ly.
Charley gave whistle of surprise and
stared hard at his father
"Who is it to be, if l may ask such q
question ?" he said.
Down the road" said the farmer
Jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the
direction of the Widow keene's.
He couldn't muster up courage to say il
was Lucy.
AHA that's the way the wind blows,
is it ?" laughed Charley. "I'm glad to
hear it. you couldn't do BETTER
"I'm glad to hear you say So" said Mr.
kimball, much relieved. 81 felt sure
you'd like to have Lucy asa member of
the family"
Il haven't any objections, if she
hasn't"
$50 that's over" said the farmer. as
Charley strolled down the road in the
early evening. 81 wonder he never took
a fancy to her. l 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 keener ewes than
he had given him credit for, for he seemed
| to understand how matters stood perfectly
And what he told her after that is none O
| your business or mine, though [ will say
that feel sure it had nothing to do with
Lucy's becoming zone of the family"
About 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon
Mr.. kimball in his best coat, and with {
pail of Strawberries on his arm, knocked
at Mrs. keene's door.
Good afternoon" said the widow a:
she let him in, with charming suspicion
of blush in her face
Here's some berries" said he, awk
wardly presenting his offering. Lucy
l al. L