Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-10-25

10 r.
Come In with yees,n and Biddy ushered
me ladies' into room where the break
iast table was standing in waiting for the
family.
Hunt" said Mrs. Wilkes, looking sig
nihcantly at the table. "She can't be no
great shakes layin' abed till breakfast
tlme. Poor Mrs, Richards used to be up
in season."
DUST at this moment the squire entered
IN elegant dishg5ille, that is without a
coat and minus shoes and stockings. He
advanced, holding out his hands cordially.
| GOOD morning, ladies, good morning.
I'm little late you see. Hope you'll ex
cuse my toilet; the fact is that / sat up
rather late last night, and felt drowsy
ms morning. Fine morning isn't it?"
Very enchanting replied Mrs. Han
son, who greatly prided herself on the
! elegant propriety of her language: at is
| beautiful enough for morning in the
gorgeous land OF the 0rieptals. But to
change the subject, we called on matter
| of business"
/ whats the difficulty now, Mrs. Han
sonY A new carpet for the parsonage or
is $50 wanted by the missionary society?
| Come, speak out!n
"Ah, squire, its wuss than that" ex-
claimed Mrs. Wilkes, no longer able to
keep silent, ut is omething that con
sarns You, squire, eonsarns your eyerlas
| tin and eternal we'll bein'."
"tndeed! Well go on, said the squire,
| looking very much surprised.
Mrs. Hanson drew a long tn and
began:
Squire, We called to see if you we're
tEiDkin' of marryin' again, We"
"You were not going to propose e. ne
we're you ladies? | should be exceeding
ly happy to receive such proposals, but /
should have Deacon Hanson and Major
Wilkes in my hair forthwith. It would
not do ladies'"
NO, we supposed you had already made
your selection of the person who is to fll
your dead wife's place, and we have call
ed to talk to you about her We have
understood that she was in your house,
and if agreeable we would be pleased to
SIC her. Our interest in you aud your
motherless child has induced us to do
this" Mrs. Hanson spoke with solemn
dignity and her tone was evidently in
tended to impress the squire power
fully.
"And we want to know where You got
acquainted with her, squire, and how old
she is, and if she knows how to do house
work." said Mrs, Wilkes.
"How did you learn anything of thisl"
asked the squire, evidently somewhat
non pl1ssed by the extraordinary know
ledge of his affairs displayed by the visi
tors.
eve heard of you ridin' out with her,
Squire, she dressed all in pink with
green silk bonnet. 1t don't look very well,
squire to see man OF your age, ridin'
out with such a young gal"
"Well, ladies, suppose l should take a
notion TO get married. You couldn't
blame me, think, Here | am with no
housekeeper, and hired girl to oversee
things, aud my home is none of the most
orderly. Elmetta needs some one TO care
for her, and il would not be in nature
for a father to be unmindful of the in
terests of his child"
"Why, no, of coarse not, but then, if
you needed housekeeper, my Julia Ann
would come and look after things She's
capital manager and very fond of Chi
dren. She and Elmetta sweet little thing,
would get on admirably
"Yes or my Mary Elizabeth either.
She'd be tickled to death to come, she
thinks so much of Squire Richards and
his little girl. And, If do say it, Mary
Elizabeth's is nice gal "a there is any
where.n
'Mary Elizabeths health is too feeble
for much exertion, Mrs. Wilkes; you
don't do RIG ht to put any thing hard upon
her; you know she has pain in her side
half the time"
"Well," eaid the squire, az last, 81 don't
know what to think about il. don't be-
lieve Elmetta would give up this lady in
pink as you call her, at all; she has taken
a wonderful liking to her"
"Where did she come from squirep
You hsin't told US anything about her
yet"
"To be sure Mrs. Wilkes. Well,
found her in a milliner shop in the city
of Buffalo"
ain milliner shop! Then she is 2
milliner, is she? Well, never"
"Wil yon be kind enough to favor us
with au introduction, should be happy
TO see her before l form an opinion OF
her character"
Mrs. Hanson wes very patronizing,
end so the squire seemed to think,
for he hesitsttd moment before he
said:
"Well, Mrs. Hanson, it will be an ad
vantage to her to form the acquaintance
of two such estimable ladies as my pres
ent company, and l shall be very glad to
present her to you. Pray excuse me for
q moment"
"s,op squire!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilkes.
"Whst's her nameW
Jennie Ray" replied the squire, az he
disappeared in the passage.
Jennie Ray, a regular story name!
Some city highfier, 'spose."
very likely, Mrs. Wilkes, but see the
squire's made up, and its no use to say
anything. We must make the best of
her"
Jaat as Mrs. Hanson let fall this mag
unanimous speech the door opened and
the squire appeared.
"Ladies, said the squire bowing polite
politely, permit me to present to you,
Miss Jennie Ray, my daughters wax doll,
which I purchased in Buffalo last week,
and which arrived the day before yester
day at the depot by express. The cost Of
it was S45, aud at present ] have no in.
tention OF maklng it my wife "