Thomas County cat., 1889-09-12

..What nonsense! You told me your
self. mother, that she denied it up and
down."
Yes" said Mrs. Scarsby. little
doubtfully, '.but that's what they al
wavs do. 1t would be great thing for
Naomi Nutting."
I'll never believe it." said John.
The old love affair between him and
Naomi Nutting was dead and gone
long ago, but something in the preva-
lent atmosphere seemed to fan the
faint spark of its ashes into new life.
John Scarsby remembered how black
and bright her eyes once were, and
what a trim little figure she had
While the squire. meditating on the
perfect, dazzling cleanliness of Naomi's
dairy, and the efficiency with which
she had set out the violet roots and
the strawberry creepers. said to him
self:
X don't know but that might do
worse To be sure, she's poor, soli-
tary, friendless creetur, without any
property, except that old mortgage
ridden farm. But can't get no hired
girl short of eleven dollars month,
and it is sort O lonesome settin' on
the stoop of evenin's all alone She's
been brought up economical. too. and
won't want to spend any more money
than she can help. That's great
thing"
And the squire brushed his lank
hair more carefully than ever over the
glossy dome of his bald Uranium. and
considered seriously the propriety of
dying his grizzy beard.
Mother" said John Scarsby. that
day, lit isn't right for you to do all
the housework by yourself It's too
much for you"
'La. John, 1 do hope you amt
thinkin' of hirin' a help!' exclaimed
Mrs. Scarsby. in dismay. ''Of all the
shiftless, idle. wasteful things
We've got to do something, moth
err" said John. Il can't let you work
yourself out"
| 1t was all true. John Scarsby had
said the same thing time and again to
his mother; but he said it now with
genuine earnestness. looking at her
as he did so, and secretly wondering
how he should break to her the It'd
ings of an impending daughter-in-law.
And Naomi Nutting, of all persons.
the woman whom Mrs. Scarsby al
ways designated as ''that poor forlorn
old maid"
John was a brave man, but there
are more kinds of courage than one.
Mrs Scarsby cried over the butter
beans she was cutting up for dinner.
Il won't have a help in the house."
thought she. ''1f John really wants
a woman around. why can't he get
married? And dom know no smart
er girl than Naomi Nutting. I've a
great mind to go over and see if she
can't break that ere contract with
Squire Bagshot 1 wish l dared to
speak right out to John about it. He
used to like Naomi, but men are
queer"
Naomi had just come in from weed
ing her late-onion patch the next even
ing, when the squire arrived, all In
his best.
"Good evening. SQUIRE" said Miss
Nutting. ''Sit down till l light the
lamp"
Don't light it." said the squire,
sheepishly. I'm partial to the twi-
light
Il amt" said Naomi Il mostly
like to see what I'm doing. You've
come about business, l suppose?"
"Ahem-yes,'' admitted the squire.
Although he had told himself all day
long that Naomi Nutting would
certainly jump at his offer. he could
not subdue a certain nervousness at
the last moment. Very important
business!'
Rat-tat-tat-t-t-t! came a knock on
the panels of the lilac-shaped front
; door.
John Scarsby. arriving close on the
heels of the squire, had perceived the
necessity for immediate action.
He was flushed, and breathed hard
with rapid walking, but he had
screwed his courage up.
Naomi" said he, 'can l speak to
you for one minute?"
Naomi, holding the lamp in one
hand, stared hard at him.
''Pm engaged justtnow, said she.
'.Engaged?"
Squire Bagshot is here"
II won't keep you long" said
John. Il only want one word"
ANY thing happened?" questioned
Naomi
"No, but" John drew a quick
breath of vexation and embarrass-
ment. ''Will you hear me out
Naomi?"
The squire. in the front room,
cleared his throat loudly as Naomi
,, conducted John into the back kitchen.
, Now, then" said she. What il