Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-04-15

last year. She had unusually good
luck
I'll do it, he replied. 'Let me see
-to-day's Wednesday, fits agreeable;
and I reckon the berlies'll be ripe, so I
can pick paifull by that time. if
they be, I'll bring some over
THANK you, said Lucy. If you do,
we'll have short cake. I'll tell her
to expect you to tea on Saturday, then.
Yes answered the farmer; I'll be
round if nothing happens. Oh, |
heard from Charley yesterday. He'll
be home in Il day Or two to stay.
'That'll be pleasant for you,' said
Lucy, STOPPING down to pick up dali
sv.
He could not see how rosy the face
under the bewitchng sunbonnet grew
all at once. If he had it might have
set him to thinking.
Yes, it WILL said the farmer. Char
ley's a good boy
i think I'll have to be going said
Lucy. we shall expect you to tea
Saturday, remember.
Il won't disappolnt you, said the
farmer, and then Lucy went on, and he
went back to pulling weeds,
4 s'pose it's foolish to think Of such
thing, he said to himself, but don't
know as it's anybody's business but
ours. If | fit to marry Lucy and
she's willin', I'm going to do a.
From which you will see that the
farmers old fancy for the mother had
suddenly been transferred to the
daughter.
Charley came home the next day.
4 s'pose I'll have to tell him what
I've been thinking about, thonght the
farmer. I'd bout as soon take Il horse
whipping. T declare. But there amt
any use in dreadIng it, and putting it
off, as know Of
Accordingly, when they were sitting
on the porch, after supper, the farmer
began:
I've been thinking of getting new
honsokeeper, he announced.
Wont Aunt Sarah stay asked
Charley.
II mean a housekecper Of another
kind he said, wiping his face vigor-
ously.
Charley gave whistle Of surprise,
and stared hard at his father.
who is it to be, if | may ask such a
question? he said.
Down the road, said the farmer
jerking his thumb over his shoulder in
the direction of the window Keene's.
He couldn't muster up courage to
say it was Lucy.
AHA! that's the way the wind hlows,
is it?' laughed Charley. I'm glad to
hear it. You couldn't do BETTER
I'm glad to hear you say so, said
Mr. Kimball, much relieved. 1 felt
sure YOU d like to have Luch as IA
member Of the family.
4 haven't any objections, if she
hasn t.
80 that's over, said the farmer, as
Charley strolled down the road in the
early evening 1 wonder he never
took fancy to her. s'pose folks'll
say I'm an old tool, but | don't care.
While he set there, Charley was tell
ing Lucy that his father had keener
eyes than he had gwen him credit for
he seemed to understand how matters
stood perfectly. And what he told
her after that is none of your business
or mine, though I will say that | feel
sure it had something to do with Lucys
becoming one Of the family
About o'clock on Saturday after
noon Mr.. Kimball, IN his best coat,and
with pail of strawberries on his arm,
knocked at Mrs. keene's door.
Good afternoon 7 said the widow as
she let him in, with a charming suspl'
cion of blush n her face.
Here's some berries said he awk-
wardly presenting his offering.
Lucy SAID the hens had played the
mischief with yours and as | have
plenty, why you MAY just as we'll as
not have as many Of 'em as you need.
I'm thousand times obliged to
you ?
By that time the farmer had got to
the sitting room door. Who should
he see there but Charley, seemingly
very much at home, as he held worsted
for Lucy to wind.
I managed to get an invltati on to