The Washington critic., 1886-06-15

"Just see what he's brought us, said
the widow displaying the berries. "lf
you'll help piclS '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 dimple In
each cheek Her words brought vividly
back to him his hnppiest experiences Of
quarter of q century previous.
II remember, too" he responded.
Then Lucy and her mother went out.
"I'vo spoken TO her about being one
of the family, and she's willing" said
Charley.
81 don't understand" said the
farmer. in great bowilderment, grow
ing hot, then cold.
"Why, you know what you said the
other night, when you told me YOU
thou ght Of getting her mother for
housekeeper, explained Charley. 81
supposed you understood from what
you said that Lucy and 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 a speed and intensity to
which II was quite unaccustomed.
"1--I hope you'll be happy" he
stammered, at last, feeling that some
thing was expected of him, and ami
ably desirous of maintaining, as far as
he could, the genial and happy spirit
of the occasion.
I'm sure we WILL" said Charley.
II hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
"The short. cakes 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 OPP
portunily 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 1t all over" he told
himself, THAT was the best plan, by all
odds"
lie wondered how he could have
been foolish enough to think of having
girl of twenty one or two. The idea
was ridiculous.
"NNhats the use of waiting?" thought
he. 1T might as well be settled now
as any time"
Hester" he began, getting red
again, "Charley and Lucy are going to
get married. Why shouldn't we? 2"
Mr.. Kimball blurted out the question
with startling emphasis.
"Why, Mr.. Kimball - cried the
widow, blushing so rosily that he
thought she was prettier than her
daughter
II came over on purpose to ask
you," he said, telling most outrage
Gus fib. II hope you haven't any OBJ
jections."
When Lucy came In half an hour
later, to say tea was ready, the farmer
rose up, blushing like girl, and
ierked his thumb toward the widow;
then said, in a voice that shook o
little:
"Thats your mother, Lucy-I mean
she's Mrs. Kimball, or going to be.
It's all settled
II s'pose may kiss my father
then" said Lucy, and pumped a kis;
on the fathers 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 fol
BOTH" said Lucy.
Then the farmer gave his arm TO the
woman he had meant to marry five ant
twenty years ago. and led her out t.
tea. He has never regretted that mat
tiers turned out as they did
"Lucy can't be beat for a'daughter,'
he tells himself; "but don't want any
better wife than her mother makes. -
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