The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-03-26
ONE OF THE FAMILY.

ry-patch, pulling up the weeds, when
Lucy Keene came down the road that
beautiful July morning, and he was just
about to throw an armful of them over
the fence as she came round the corner.
The sun-bonnet she wore was exactly
like one he remembered to have seen
her mother wear twenty-five years ago;
and he remembered, too, as he looked
at this one, and the fresh, rosy face UNI
der it, how that one had made his heart
flutter 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
wondered many times in the twenty-five
years that had gone by since, why he
never did propose to her.
He had meant to marry her sometime,
and he was sure she liked him in the
old days, but something had come be-
tween them, and she had married Rob-
ert Keene and he had married his cous-
in Mary.
AS he had looked ut Hester's daugh-
ter this summer morning the old fire
stirred under the dust and ashes of
twenty-five years, and he felt little
flame spring up in his heart.
''Good morning, Lucy" he said, lean
ing over the fence.
90" exclaimed Lucy, with little
jump, 81 didn't see you, and you came
near scaring'me. Isn't it PLEASANT"
''Yes, it is pleasant" answered the
farmer, looking Straight ut her pretty,
fare SsHOV'S yOur mothprpf
"Pretty WELL answered Lucy your
strawberries are doing splcndidly,
aren't they? We're so provoked about
ours. The hens got into the garden,
and mother says she don't think we'll
have pailful of berries in AL"
II want. to known exclaimed the
farmer, ''Now tell your mother that
she's welcome to all she wants out of
my patch. She can have 'em just as
we'll as not. There's gong to be Il
sight more'n well want, and I'd rather
have 'em used than wasted"
II will tell her," answered Lucy; II
know she'll be delighted at the chance
You know what hand she is TO make
strawberry preserves"
'Yes, l do" answered the farmer,
thinking of old times. Il remember
she beat all the old housekeepers at
that. They used to say that she had q
knack of making strawberry jam that
nobody else could get hold of. D."
"She hasn't lost it yet, said Lucy.
She'll be pleased to have you come to
tea some time and try some she made
last year. She had unusually good
luck.
"I'll 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 berros'll be ripe, so / can
pick IL pailful by that time. If they be,
I'll bring some over."
'Thank you," said Lucy. eff you do
we'll have short-cake. I'll tell her to
expect you to tea on Saturday, them"
Eyes" answered the farmer "rll be
round if nothing happens. Oh, heard
from Charley yesterday. He'll be home
in day or two, to stay"
"That'll be pleasant for YOU" said
Lucy, STOPPING down to pick up Il daisy.
He could not see how rosy the face
under the bewitching sun-bonnet grew
all at once. If he had it might have
set him to thinking.
Eyes. it will.'T said the farmer.
"Charley's good boy"
II think III have to be going" said
Lucy. 1--WE shall expect you to tea
Saturday, remember"
81 won't disappoint YOU" said the
farmer, and then Lucy went on, and he
went back to pulling weeds.
IL s'pose it's foolish to think of such
a thing" he said TO himself, "but L
don't know as it's anybody'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
farmers old fancy for the mother had
suddenly been transferred to the daugh-
ter.
Charley came home the next day.
81 s'pose I'll have to tell him what
I've been thinking about" thought the
farmer. I'D bout rs soon take horse
whipping, 1 declare. But there amt no
use in dreading it and putin 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
he announced
Wont Aunt Sarah stayP" asked
Charley.
ST. mean housekeeper of another
Kind" he said, wiping his face vigor-
ously.
Charley gave whistle of surprise |
and stared hard at his father.
. ''Who is it to be, if / may ask such
question:" he said.
''Down the road" said the farmer,
Jerking his thumb over his shoulder in |
he direction of the Widow Keene's.
He couldn't muster up courage 10 say
{ was Lucy.
..Ahl that's tho way the wind blows,
$ itP" laughed Charley. I'm glad to
near 1t. You couldn't do better"
I'm glad to hear you say So" said
Mr.. Kimball, much relieved. II felt
'ure you'd like to have Lucy asa
member of the family" |