Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-04-22

she let him IN with q charming
suspicion q . blush IN her face.
'Here's some berries,r MD be, awk-
vardIy preventing HE Offering. lucy
said the hens have played the mischief
with yours. and ~ have plenty, why,
you may just ns well as not have a.
many Of 'em ae you need"
"I'm a Thousand times obliged TO
BY that time the farmer had got TO
the sifting-room door. Who should
he see there but Charley, seemingly
very much at home as he held worsfed
for Lucy 10 wind.
sI managed TO get an Invitation 10
tea. too, laughed Charley. "You kept
Il very sly, but / wasn't 10 be cheated
out Of my share Of strawberry pre-
serves.u
Then Charley and Lucy looked at
each other and laughed, and the farmer
felt bis face grow red. q
.Just see what he's brought u.s. said
the widow, displaying the berries. "If
you'll help pick 'em, Lucy, well have
short-cake for tea remember how
found you used to be of strawberry
short-cake years ago. and the widow
smiled at the farmer till there was q
dimple In each cheek. Her words
brought vividIy back to him his hap.
piest experiences Of quarter of cen-
tury previous.
II remember, toe, he responded.
Then Lucy and her mother went out.
s'I've spoken to her about being one
Of the family, and she's willing" said
Charley.
"I don't understand, said the farmer,
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
housekeeper,n explained Charley. II
supposed you understood, from what
you said, that Lucy and I intended to
be married. It's all settled"
Mr.. Kimball sat speechless. What
he thought of in the next five minutes
could not be described. His brain
worked with speed and intensity to
which 1t was quite unaccustomed.
"I-I hope you'll be happy he
stammered at last, feeling that some
thing was expected of him, and amiably
desiTous of maintaining, as far as he
could, the genial and happy spirit of
the occasion.
'spm sure we wiII,u said Charley. aI
hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
'"The short-cake's baking,p 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
thar 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. Ifhe couldn't have Lucy he'd
have her mother, If he could get her.
sWhat's the use of waiting p thought
he. ut might as well be settled now
as any time.n
'Hester,n he began, getting red again,
Charley and Lucy are going to get
married. Why shouldn't we?n
Mr.. KimbaIl blurted out the question
with startling emphasis.
"Why, Mr.. Kimballv' cried the
widow, blushing so rosily that he
thought she was prettier than her
daughter.
II came over on purpose to ask .you,n
he said, telling most outrageous fib.
II hope you haven't any objections
When Lucy came In, half an hour
later, to cay tea was ready, the farmer
rose up, blushing like girl, and jerked
his thumb toward the widow, then
said ina voice that shook q little:
That's your mother, Lucy i mean
she's Mrs. Kimball, or going to be. It's
all settled