Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-04-15
THE SQUIRE'S WIFE.

Squire Glover listened in silence, but
with quiet smile upon his lips, to his
old cronies' yarns of their various haps
and mishaps in their younger days in
trying to get possession 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, neighbors, ye've tod some pretty
queer stories, but I'll warrant can tell
one that'l match 'em. l rather guess
twould astonish those acquainted with
my quiet, modest-looking wife yonder
to know how it twas that l thought Of
taking her for better or worse.n
'sNow, David" expostulated Mrs.
Glover, both reddening and smiling as
she met her husbands quizzical look.
'Why will you tell that silly story9 If
you hadn't cared to take me, you could
have let me alone.n !.
"Ah, sure it is easy talkin'," said the
squire, shaking his head with demufe
gravity. ''But when girl-an' especi-
ally sich pretty one-fies directly into
fellows arms, what else can he do?
That's what I'd like to knowl'
Laughingly declaring that s'she'd stay
to listen to no such nonsense Mrs.
Glover gathered up her work and ran
away; and her husband, after shaking
bis 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:
i was a poor boy, as perhaps you
know, with nothin' but pair Of stout
arms and broad shoulders to push nv
way in the world with; but had a brave
heart, am wasn't afraid Of work, an on
the whole, amt no ways dissatisfied with
what my hands have brought me.
"The summer I was twenty-one went
to work for Sues father.
"Mr. Bean was well-to-do farmer
and Sue his only child. He wasn't any-
ways stuck up about his property, but
ne set great store by Sue; an, as be
knew that some day she'd have as good
o 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.
80 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 l
knew, as well asI know now, that no
other woman would ever be to me what
she was.
Il remember the day just as well as if
twas yesterday. l had seen Mr.. Bean
down to the village the night afore an
twas agreed that I come the next after
noon.
"When ! come to the house-an' a nice
looking house it was, witha broad piazza
u
each side on't-T was dubious as to
whether I had better go in the side or
back door. | finally concluded to take
the latter.
CAS- Ipassed by the kitchen window
heard a voice singin', as sweet and clear
as robins, an on lookin' in saw Sue
standin' by table, kneadin' bread, an /
never see a prettier picter afore Or sence
'Ah, lads, yemay talk about girls at
the pianny, but they amt half 50 much
to my mind as the one saw at the
moldin' -bs ard the flour she was siftin,
not any whittier than her round, uncov-
sred arms, and with as bright bloom on
cheek an lip as the roses that were clam
bering over the porch.
oval, arter starin' at her pretty face
as long as ! dared to-quite unbeknown
to her-I knocked at the door.
Come in I sang out a voice that set
my heart to beatin' like sledge ham
mer.
'Liftin' the latch walked in.
Is Mr.. Bean to homer stammered.
colorin' as red as abset, as Sue turned her
black eyes on me.
& Yes; fathers somewhere about.
He'll be in in a minute. Won't you take
q seata'