Little Falls transcript., 1886-07-23

i as she lot him il, with acharning sus-
plolon Of q blushin her face.
herr Here ls some berries, 81 said he,
aaW''1k1Wardly VI presenting his offering.
Lucy said the hens had played the
1 mischief with yours. and as I have
plenty, why you may just as well as
not have as many 81 'em as YOU need q
I I'm thousand times Obliged to
you'll ,:S r.. -,
I By that time the farmer had got to
the sltting-room door. Who should
he see there but Charley, seemingly
very much at home, as he held wosted
for Lucy to wind. <s.5.&>.s. %..%@
II managed to get an invitation to
tea, too" laughed Charley. "You
kept it very sly, but wasn't to be
cheated out of my share of strawber-
ry preserves"
Then Charley and Lucy looked at
each other and laughed, and the arm
er felt his facegrow red.
"Just see what he's brought U.s."
said the widow displaying the berries.
IF you'll help pick 'em, Lucy, we'll
have shortcake ior tea. l remem.
Der how fond you used to be of straw
berry shortcake years ago." and the
widow smiled at the farmer till there
was 8 dimple in each cheek. Her words
brought wildly back to him his hap
piest experiences Of q quarter of cen
tury previous.
II remember, too," he responded.
Then Lucy and her mother went out.
"Tve spoken to her about being one
OF the family, and she's Wiling" said
Charley.
"Idon't understand, said the farnl-
er, 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," explained Charley. 81
supposed you understood, from what
you said, that Lucy and were to be
married. It's all settled.'
| Mr.. Kimball sat speechless. What
| he thought of in the next five minutes
could nor be described. His brain
worked with a speed and intensity to
which it was quite unaccustoned.
IL hopeyou'll be happy" he STAN.
mered at last, feeling that something
was expected OF him, and amiably
! desirous Of maintaining, as far as he
could, the genial and happy spirit Of
the occasion.
"pm sure we will,' said Charley.
II hope you will, too"
Pretty soon the widow came in.
The shortcake's baking" she said.
Lucy said she'd pick the berries and
set the table, and sent me in to play
lady and entertain the accompany"
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 op-
portunity given him.
The farmer had made up his mind
again. II he couldn't have Lucy. he'd
have her mother. If he could get her.
"Come to think it all over," he told
himself, "that was the best plan by
all odds.'
He wondered how he could have
been foolish enough to think OF marry
ing a girl of twenty-one or two. The
idea was ridiculous.
3'What's the use Of waiting?"
thought he. "It might as we'll be SET
tied now as any time"
Hester" he began, getting red
again, "CharIey and Lucy aregoing to
get married. Why shouldn't ve?''
Mr.. Kimball blurted out the ques.
ton with startling emphases:
s"Why, Mr.. 'Kimball!' cried the wild
ow, blushing so rosily that he thought
her prettier than her daughter.
II came over on purpose to ask
YOU" he said, telling a. most outra-
geous fib. II hope you havn't any
obiection.'
When Lucy came in half an hour
later to say tea was ready, the farmer
rose up bmshing like a girl, and jerked
his thumb toward the window, then
said, in a voice that shook little:
"That's your mother, Lucy. mean
she's Mrs. Kimball, or going to be. It's
all settled"
dispose I may kiss my father then,"
said Lucy, and pumped o kiss on the
farmers lips, who said that she might
give him another for her father-in-law
while she was about it, if she'd no OBJ
lection. "One will answer for both,"
SAID Lucy.
Then the farmer gave his arm to the
woman he had meant to marry five
and-twenty years ago, and led her out
to tea. He has never regretted that
matters turned out as they did.
"Lucy can't be beat for a daughter"
he tells himself, 'but l don't want
| any better wife than her mother
Makes