Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-14

udSu u.
$50 that's over" said the farmer,
as Charley strolled down the road In
the early evening. 81 wonder he never
took fancy to her. 1 s'pose folks'll
say I'm an old fool, but don't care"
While he sat there, Charley was tell
ing Lucy that his father had keener
eyes than he had given him credit Tor,
for he seemed to understand how mat
tiers stood perfectly. And what he
told her after that is none of your
business or mine, though [ will say
that [ feel sure it had something to do
with Lucy's becoming zone of the
family"
About four O'Clock on Saturday
afternoon Mr.. Kimball in his best
coat, and with a pail of Strawberries
on his arm, knocked at Mrs. Keene's
door.
"Good afternoon" said the widow
as she let him in, with charming
suspicion OF blush in her face.
"Heres some berries," said he,
awkwardly presenting his Offering.
"Lucy said the hens had played the
mischief with yours, and as [ have
plenty, why you may just as well as
not have as many of 'em as you
need"
81 am thousand times obliged to
you"
By that time the farmer had got to
the sittingroom door. Who should
he see thera but Charley. "You kept it
very sly, but wasn't to be cheated
out of my share of the strawberry
preserves"
Then Charley and Lucy looked at
each other and laughed, and the farm
er felt his face grow red.
"Just see what he's brought us,
said the widow, displaying the berries.
eff you'll help to pick 'em, Lucy,
we'll have a. shortcake for tea. |
remember how fond you used to be of
strawberry shortcake years ago."
and the widow smiled at the farmer
uutil there was adimple in each cheek.
Her words brought wildly back to
him his happiest experiences of a
quarter of a century previous.
81 remember, too," he responded.
Then Lucy and her mother went
out.
GIVE spoken to her about being one
OF the family, and she's willing" said
Charley.
"I-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
explained Charley. 81
from what you said, that
you knew Lucy and l intended to be
married. It's settled"
Mr.. Kimball sat speechless. What
he thought in the next five minutes
could not be described. His brain
worked with a speed and intensity to
which it was quite unaccustomed.
"I-I hope you'll be happy" he
stammered at last, feeling that some
thing was expected of him, and amia-
bly, DESTROYS of maintaining as, far as
he could, the genial, happy spirit of
the occasion.
'I'm sure we WILL" said Charley.
81 hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
''The shortcake is 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
we're thus left to entertain each other.
The sly boy Cupid never had a better
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 thiak of it ali over" he
told himself, ''that was the best plan
by all Odds"
He wondered he could have been
foolish enough to think of marrying a
girl of twenty-one Or two. The idea
was ridiculous.
whats the use OF waiting ?" thought
he. cit might as well be settled now
as any other time"
Chester, " he began, getting red again,
''Charley and Lucy are going 30 get
married. Why shouldn't WEI"
Mr.. Kimball blurted out the ques-
ton with startling emphasis.
"Why, Mr.. Kimball!" cried the
widow, blushing SO rosily that he
thought she was prettier than her
daughter.
81 came over on purpose to ask
you," he said, telling a most outra-
geons fb. 81 hope you haven't any
When Lucy came in half an hour
later, to say tea was ready, the farmer
rose up, blushing like girl, and jerked
mis- thumb toward the widow; then
said, in voice that shook a little:
''That's your mother, Lucy. Imean
she's Mrs. Kimbali, orgoing to be. It's
all settled"
ct s'pose I may kiss my father,
then," said Lucy, and she pumped a
kiss on the farmers lips, who said she
might give him another for her father
in-law, while she was about it, if she'd
no objections. Zone will answer for
BOTH" said Lucy.
Then the farmer gave his arm to the
woman he had meant to marry five
years ago, and led her out
to tea. He has never regretted that
M ALTERS turned out as thew did