The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-09-07
miscellaneous.
A SMART WOMAN.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

THAT woman" said Squire Dockley with
in himself, fought to have been a man"
The English language, as the Squire in
than this. The Squire believed implicitly il
his own sex. And when he said that Mari,
Poole, ought to have been man." he die
homage to her capacity.
Squire Dockley was on his way to the post
office. He liked to go in the early morning
before the thermometer had mounted to too
high degree, and while the dew yet sparkleC
upon the close, short grass along the road
Old Mr.. Poole had been postmaster at Sas
safras Gap for II years, but his daughter
Maria performed all the duties of the posi-
ton, as the old man was bed-ridden, deaf ant
helpless. Maria also worked the farm, will
the aid of vacant-faced, red haired auxii
AIRY, named Elias Smith, who came for hal
wages on account of limp in one leg; ant
she kept boarders in summer.
There's the clothes all out on the line
and it amt eight o'clock yet" said the
Squire. "And not weed in the garden, anC
nobody to raise finger about the place bu
Maria declare that woman ought to have
been man. Close beside him was the
well, Swallowed with canopy of blue-cup
ped morning-glories which had not yet fold
ed their silken tents away from the sun.
The squire stopped to get a drink of water
when suddenly human head popped up be-
fore him like jack-in.the-box.
"Je-ru-sa-lemw calculated the Squire
starting back. "Why, it's you, amt it, Miss
Poole?"
Eyes, it's me-" said Maria. 'I've beer
down the well to clean it, A tin trumpet
two doll babies spelling book, a cocoanut
shell and fourteen apple cores, that's wha
the boarders' children have dropped down
since this day week. / some time think,
giving herself a shake, and sending the sur
plus moisture of the well flying in all direc
lions, that King Herod wasn't SO far wrong
as folks pretend to think. If you want /
drink, Squire Dockley you'd better go down
to the spring house. The wells sort O. stir
red up"
The Squire meekly followed Maria Poole
down to the COOL sweet smelling spring
house where living stream flowed beneatl
the shelves, all laden with pans of milk and
glittering spring bubbled up in the corner
like magnifed diamond.
made much butter this year ?" the Squire
inquired as he slaked his thirst.
1.-TWO hundred and nine pounds, packed
down Already" was Maria's response.
"Well, declare p admiringly commented
the Squire, as he laid down the gourd shell
"You'd ought to have been man, Mis-
Maria and so I've said ag'in and agin."
"Humph," observed Maria. "If couldn'
a-made smarter man than some know OF
l would give up. Well, Squire, don't wan
to hurry you, but its most time to open thu
postoffice and see about the morning mail
~ was thinking about calling for my let
tiers and papers" said Squire Docklcy, wip
ing his mouth with red bandana poke
handkerchief.
Cant nobody get into the postoflice, no
if they had letter Tor the President himself
afore eight O'clock" said Miss Maria, CURLY
Business hours is business hours"
"Yes, know, l know" apologized tn
Squire, as he followed Miss Poole up tn
winding path "but was calculatin' to speal
to you, Maria"
"Well, what is it? Don't keep me long
The Squire shifted from one foot to th
other. Was ever lover expedited like thi
beforep
81 was a-thinkn', Maria" said he, "that
wasn't in place for woman to be keepir
po.tofilce."
"Oh, that's your game, is it ?" retorte
Maria. You'd like to get the office ava
from father, would you? And you're gel
tin up petition to edge some friend G
your'n in? Well, ii won't go down, SOUR
Dockley. All the folks hereabouts know
father well, and you won't get no signature
be ashamed OF yourself to go and"
Hold on, Maria, hold on |" gasped Mr.
Dockley, instinctivcly stepping back pac
or two II mistrust you don't quite apprt
bend me. It's quite another tack as I'm OF
I'm well-to.do man, Maria, without no 10
cumbrance but my son Leonidas, and "
reason to think he's plannin' to get settle
in life pretty soon. And lately it's been born
in upon me that I'd sorter have secon
partner. The Scripter say il ia not well fo
man to be alone, and the Scripter is general
right. And you're the partner I'd Xix
to have, Maria Poole"
The Squire beamed. Evidently, in hi
opinion, there was no sort of dount but tina
Maria would accept him, out of hand.
Was he not "the Squire~ and was nc
Maria Poole Woodworking, ungainl
woman, just overstepping the borderlan
where people would begin to jeer at her lC
of gle blessedness ?"
Maria viewed him out of her honest, gra
eyes with utter amaZement
You see," went on Mr.. Dockley "yo
amt 80 young as you was, Maria"
NO." thoughtfully observed Maria, stroll
ing her chin in man-like fashion.
"And you amt what folks call pretty p
NO." wincing little, in spite Of herself
"And there's your father Most reopl
would object to your father because"
esquire, look here, none O this !" CURLY il
errupled Maria. P'raps you think you've don
me favor, but you amt And I've n
more time to stand git-gaffing here, afore tn
mail is opened. don't want you. And
wouldn't marry You at no price. There !"
"Very well, very well " cried the Squire
in great rage. Do jest as we think bes
I've no more to say. But it amt likely
plain, homely old maid like you will get ar
other chance if, indeed, you ever had on
afore, which doubt. / only hope you won
live to regret it, that's ALL"
And Squire Dockley whisked himse
away, never stopping to enquire for his morr
ing mail.
"a plain, homely old maidw Maria Poo
was only woman after all, and the old man
brutal words stung her to the very quick.
She had always been well aware that ST.
was not fair to look upon; but plain, hom'
ly old maid
Was she, them shut out forever from a
the prospects that opened themselves to I'll
eyes of other women?
Nevertheless, she went bravely about hi
manifold daily duties. She distributed IL
outgoing letters, stamped the incoming one
and made her daily report as usual. 81