Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
RATES STRATEGEM,


 In cosy breakfast room three per sons were seated around the cheerful table. Mir. Morton, fine looking man of 40, wealthy and bachelor, and his two young and pretty nieces, Lillie and Kate Dale
 ''Uncle Bert, you out to get married, !" said Kate, suddenly breaking silence which had lasted some minutes.
 "What for, miss9" asked her uncle, as he laid aside the paper he was reading.
 "Well," replied Kate, 'syou see Lillie is going to marry Frank Hill and go to Chicago to live, and l." with pretty blush, twill marry Walter Field at the same time and go to Detroit; so, don't you see, you will be alone, for you will not go with either of us."
 "Well, what of that, Miss Puss?" asked her uncle smiling.
 : s'I should like to know who is going to look after your comfort and give you a good scolding when you come home late at night" demanded Kate in voice of authority.
 "Well, can do very we'll without the scolding, and I expect that Aunt Mollie can take care of the rest" he answered lightly, amused at Miss Kate's air.
 sAunt Mollie, indeed! Yes, she will do very we'll with the cooking, but you see she will not take care of the other things as she would if you were married and there was some one to give orders about the housework," answered Kate, shaking her head.
 "Wen, did not get married when I was young man, and I don't think l will now; and besides, there is no one whom I know or care to marry," he added, slipping his coffee.
 '.There is little Miss Bell," retorted Kate, darting quick, sly glance at her uncle from under her dark lashes.
 '.Bosh!" he said nervously, while a faint flush rose to his forehead.
 "Well, then, there is the Widow Day ton, and know that she admires you and would willingly become Mrs. Mor- ton." Mr. Morton had a wholesome horror of the Widow Dayton, who had on several occasions tried to capture the wealthy bachelor, but had failed sadly; and of this Kate was we'll aware, and at times | leased her uncle unmercifully. "Heaven protect me from ever marry | ing her! She has two red-headed, freckle-faced boys, and has badgered one man to death already" replied Mir. Morton hurriedly, as he pushed back his chair from the table.
 "But, uncle," continued Kate, ssthe widow has set her cap for you and you had better be careful or you will be q married man before you know what you are about"
 "Yes; but you see, miss, she cannot marry me unless I ask her to, and that don't intend to do," he returned, as he hastily rose from the table and prepared to start for his place of business. sUncle," Kate called after him as he left the room, "this is leap year, and il you don't propose to her she can to you and it would not surprise me one bit ii she did,"
 'sOh, Kate, how can you tease uncle so2" asked Lillie, after MT. Morton ha6 passed out of hearing. "You know ht will hardly ever speak to a lady if he car help it."
 "Yes, know, and if he hadn't beer so bashful he could have been married long ago to Miss Bell," retorted Kate 'sMrs. Jones told me all about it; uncl, was too timid to propose and Miss Bel is single yet. I do wish the widow would propose to him." she added.
 "Why Kate, you surely wouldn't want uncle to marry such vixen as Mrs. Day ton2' laughed Lillie.
 .sNo, don't want him to marry her for she would have him badgered tt death In months time; but it would b, such fun if she only would propose tt him, and maybe that would scare hin into marrying some one else."
 Silence reigned for few minutes afte this speech of Rates; each was bus, with her own thoughts. All at ono Kate sprang to her feet, with mischief il her eyes, and clapping her hands ex claimed:
 q have it. Lill!"