Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-10-13
No.'thonghtfnlly observed Maria
str0king her chin in man like

And you amt what folks cal
prettys'
No wtachs d slsae, in spite Of
herself,
'And there's Your father. Mos
people wonld object to yourfather
because"
Squire. look here. none o. thisi'
cnrtly interrupted Maria. P'raps
You think you've done me favor.
bntyon amt! And I've no more
time to stand gift gafflng here, afore
, the mail is opened. Idon't want
you. And ] wonldn't marry yon
at price. Thereof
Very well, very wellp cried the
squire, in a grcatrage. Do .jestas
We think best. Pve nomore to say.
But it amt likely II plain, homely
old maid like you will get another
]: chance #, indeed, you ever .had one
||EIsafore, wlicllsL..laubt. s.onlyshope,
IIYe to sregre - that's
And Squire Dockley Wsflliislea'
himself aw ~, never stopping: to
enquire for his mornings mail.
"a plain, homely old naid!' Maria
Poole was onlJ q woman after all,
and the old mans brutal words
stung her to the very quick. >.
She had always been wellaware
that she WAS not fair to look upon;
but plain, homely old maidl
Was she, then, shut out forever
from all the prospects that opened
themselves to the eyes Of other
women3
Nevertheless. she went brayely
about her manifold daily dnties.-.
She distributed the outgoing let
tcrS, stamped the incoming ones.
and made her daily report as usual.
She SAW to the dinner, made her
old father comfortable, Suprrin-
tended theatfairs Of the dairy, gave
audience TO Elias Smith, and look
ed after che Doarders; and by the
time that the soft dusk descended
over the hills, she was tired enough.
She had often been tired before,
but this was a different kind of
WEAKNESS. 1t seemed to strike to
her very heart.
i wonder If this sort of thing is
70 go on forever thought she, as
she went ont into the garden to
see if the tomatoes would be ripe
for the morrow mornings break
fast.
She WAS STOPPING over the vines,
when Il shadow came between her
and the moonlight. She looked up, |
it was Leonitias Dnckley, Il tall,
well made young fellow Of eight
and twenty, a most striking con-
trast to his father.
'Mara.wLat is the NATTER cried
he.
Nothing is the NATTER answer
ed Maria, with a little hysterical
laugh. [ suppose you've come to
scold me about Your father. But
couldn't help it,
Has he been meddling about the
poStotfce agains' SAID Le0nIdas,
sootmingly. well, DON'T mind him,
Maria. He don't mean anything.
BIS Only his way.'
But, Leonksas,.-s
'YesY'
'He says-he says you're going
to be marriedp
Leonitlas leaned against the
picket fence, looking thougbtfully
down at the scarlet spheres of the
tomatoes.
so Lam, said he.
ooh, LeOnidas'
You know, Maria, we have new.
er been formally engaged
mo, but
And can't go on with things as
they are now; it's too uncertain
But, Leonidas-'
$50 I've mace up my mind to
marry you this fail whether you
consent or not. And if You can't !
leave your father and the poStof-
flee, why, I'll come here to live, but
as for letting Jon drudge on by
yourself as you're doing now, | ,
won't stand it, and there's an end
of the natter
But, I.eonidas, your father says
-
i don't care what lie saysr
That Pm plain, llomeIy, old |
maid.' i
'hly father isn't a judge of the
article calmly asserted Lconldas. |
because it.isut he that wants !
to marry YOU
'Yes, it is, Leonidas.'
And then Maria told him the !
tale of the squirc's wooing.
Leonidas listened with queer
curve of The lips, IL twinkle in his
eye.
Anyhow said he, 'I've got the
start OF him this line. He will
have to content himself with the
widow Blessiugton.'
The squire's amazement when
lie heard that Maria Poole was to
to he his daughter illlaw exceeded
description.
She amt Young said he slowly,
'and she amt pretty; but | tell you,
Leonidas, you're going to get a
smart wife-yes, you are!'
AS for Maria. she could hardly |