The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-07-05
The Squire's Counting

an-o th0t the squire would never assume the
hymencal yoke, but just because it would
seem very funny if he should
There are Al great many things that could
happen, though il some way or other We get
to think they never will, and when they do
happen we are almost as much surprised as
We would be ut miracle. So it was with the
squire and matrimony. In the eyes of his
friends and relatives the very idea was laugh
able
Now, the squire was no squire at all. The
Judge. at least not in the legal sense.
Squire was simply nickname given II
sportive movement to j. Hillery Crabtee
by a joking school-fellow, and it had te-
naeiously chung to him as he had advanced in
years aud stature.
j. Hillery. or the squire, was, as to COM
plexion, brunette; very dark eyes blue
black hair and mustache, about five feet
eight inches in his stockings, and decidedly
blunt in his manners, with generous opin-
ion of himself. In his early youth he was
the especial charge of his three aunts and at
the same time their torment He was the
source of neyer-ending contention between
the three estimahle ladies. who could never
agree as to how he should be trained, and in
consequence the squire himself was RESPONSE
bic for most of his early training the
multitude oteooks spoiled the broth-ofa boy.
And We find him at ~ with kind ofcontempt
for women. young women in particular He
was suspicious of them He was very par
ticular as to his personal appearance. tac-
turn and single, Yet withal, had he been
n biting fish the girls thought he would
have been good catch. Fate was laying a
trap for the wary and selfsatisted squire.
One day he called to see one of his aunts in
New York. and to the squire's disgust there
CHANGED to be a young lady calling at the
same time. Ofcourse an Introduction follow
ed. The squire would gladly have fed. but
he had important messages to give his aunt.
Miss kurtz was in no apparent hurry. Then.
to make matters worse. ii began to rain, and
of course Miss kurtz could not go in the rain,
and the squire's discomfort was greatly aug
mented when his aunt took him TO one side
and laid down the law to him that he must
see Miss kurtz safely home. Why the squire
should object TO seeing pretty girl home no
one knew. but he did. and it must be said that
he was rather grurf as he offered his escort TO
the young lady.
Now, how such thing could happen can
not be told: it was very shocking indeed to
the squire, but fact. The next morning
in the dining room the squire CHANGED to pull
out his handkerchief and what should come
out with it but lady's glove, a nice, sweet
scented delicate affair. The squire was quite
overcome he WAS considerably agitated, and
when his Cousin Wildly. very lively young
miss. pounced upon the tell-tale glove and
demanded an explanation. the squire srowled
out something and turned very red. de-
liberatelS took the glove from her. and walk
ed out of the house.
IS the squire walked along the street he
felt considerably veXed. Now. of course he
must 60 to return the glove to Miss Kurt,
but how could he explain its being i'll his
pocket He would not explain. He would
send il TO her by mail.
But again. he did not know the number oi
her house. and he dared not ask for fear the
folks would laugh nj him. ST. that very even
ing he called and returned the glove to its
fair owner He was forced toacknowledge to
himself on he say home that he had spent a
very pleasant syaning. and he not sure
that girls were ms frivolous rs he had thought
them: nj least not all lie girls. Miss kurtz
had given him an invitation to citl again and
he did not know but that he would. she an-
peared to be Il very nice girl. but one must
look out for them they are So tricky.
Ii vas rather amusing to those who knew
the squire and his antipathies. to notice how
soon 1t was necessary for him 10 call again
L.
no little chatting by Wildly. The squire
would look ashamed, growl. and hastily get
out of her way. and at the same time
every one noticed that the squire wore puz-
zled look iis though he was thinking deeply
over something If he made frequent calls
on Miss kurtZ. he was very careful that none
of MS family should knew it. You know its IA
ye.y hard thing for a MAN to acknowledge
frankly that he has violated his own precepts.
And it may be said right here. that Miss
kurtz was il very estimable young lady and
not without @ lively appreciation OF the hui
morous She had heard from his sister that
the squire was q sort of a woman-hater. and
all to herself she had determined to subdue
the enemy.
The squire had an awful fight with himself,
but finally asked Miss kurtz to accompany
him to the theuter BY u series of skiilfill
questioning he managed to find ont where
each of the household were likely to spend q
cel ain evening. and then took Miss hurtz as
far away from them as he could. Then, i'm
apin- his disgust. when after getting com
fortaby seated he discovered his sister and
her wretch Of husband in the box opposite,
cooly surveying him and his companion
through their opera glasses. His first i'm
pulse was to get up. and leave. but a second
thought told him that that would never do.
He felt that Miss Kurtz was laughing nj him,
and he looked round rather sharply once,
and was not sure but that he caught the
trace of Il hastily suppressed smile on the
face of the demure puss at his side He did
not enjoy the performance bit. and was
greatly relieved when the curtain went down
for he last time.
He did not walk home with Miss Kurt
but called cab. and giving cabby the street
and number told him to hurry up. He was
bound TO get away from female companions
ship just az quickly as he could.
l., IL
haste The squire did not go home for u day
or two, but stopped ut the hotel He could
stand most anything, DHt he lodged the issue
of having TO defend his former principles
against his later actions. Finally he screwed
I'D courage enough to return home. and 10
his immense relief no one. not even Wildly.
said a word to him about the theater, md he
hoped it had been forgotten, but he wns
doomed to other notifications. One day
after dinner he was discussing a business
question with his brother-in-law. and to
prove his point drew letter from his pocket
on unfolding which photograph of Miss
Kurtz dropped out upon the table. There
was q general litter, which to the poor
squire was worse than unrestrained thun
der and gathering up the letter and photo
graph he bolted out of the room. He deter.
mined to call on Miss kurtz that very even
ing. He must return that photograph
Of how it came into his pocket he did moi
have the least idea. He presumed he had tax.
en- it up with some papers he had been show.
ing to Miss knrtz and put it ir his pocket
himself But ct any rate he must return it
She might think ia bad stolen it. He paled
at the bare thought. for he prided himself
greatly on his honor.
The evening came and found the squire at
Miss Kurtz's home, not very talkative, but
very fdgety but that young lady was exceed
ing pleasant and ebatty. After several inef
fectual attempts to say something, the
squire blurted out, neryousiy:
Miss Kurtz. have something very odd to
say to you this evening"
Miss kurtz blushed and said to herself
80 soon. 1t can't be that have subdued
him so quickly" then aloud, aa the squire
still hesitated: IF you are pleased to make
me your confident, shall be glad to hear
what you have to say"
"Well, You see, Miss Knrtz, I've been
thinking-that isl was going to say-or no
/ have something to tell you that ! don't
understand continued the squire.
Il am sure, Mr.. Crabtree, if can enlighten
you shall be pleased to do So"
.'Weil, ! hardly know what you will think
Of me. and maybe you think / am acting
strange. but I assure you that it is some
thing that has worried me great deal ever
since discovered it.
$40 10 ooinO tn nropose Sara enough -