The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-21
AN OLD LADY'S STORY.
1T Is About Her True Love and
the Noble Squire.

the Noble Squire.
sat spinning at my little wheel, in
the sun, for the autumn day was cold,
when l heard some one whistling,
and, looking up, there was young
Squire Turner, with his arms folded on
the gate, looking over. When he caught
my eye he laughed, 1 blushed, and
arose and made him a courtesy.
He was handsome gentleman, the
squire, and the hand from which he
pulled the glove shimmered in the sun
with pearls and diamonds: and he was
bonny to look at, with his hair like
spun gold in the October sunlight.
When | courtesied he bowed, making
his curls dance over his shoulders, and
said he; I've spoiled one pretty picture
that could have looked at all day, but
I've made another as pretty, so I'll not
grieve. May come imp"
'And welcome, SIR said |, and | set
a chair for him, for he was my grand
fathers landlord; but for all that felt
uncomfortable, for 1 was not used to
tine company.
He talked away, paying me more
compliments than l was used to, for
grandmother, who brought me up, said;
Handsome is as handsome does" and
"Beauty is but skin deep"
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell
the truth. l had done wrong about one
thing. Neither of the old folks knew
that l wore Evan Loclie's ring in my
bosom or that we'd taken VOW to
each other beside the hawthorn that
grew in the church lane | never meant
10 deceive, but grannie was old and a
little hard. and that love of mine was
,such a sweet secret. Besides money
seems to outweigh all else when peo-
pile have struggled all their lives
through to turn a penny, and they
knew Evan was poor, struggling
young surgeon. | thought I'd wait
awhile until | could sweeteu the news
with the fact that he'd begun to make
his fortune.
Grannie came in from the dairy five
minutes after the squire was gone and
heard he had been there. l didn't tell
her of his fine speeches, but there was
n lteyhole to the door she came through
and have guess she heard them.
That night we had something else to
think of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather, but | didn't foresee that
when the half-year's rent should come
due not a penny to pay it with would
be found.
All this time Evan Locke and | had
been as fond as ever of each other, and
he came as often as before to talk with
grandpa on the winter nights, and still
every little while our young landlord,
Squire Turner. would drop in and sit in
mis- lazy way, watching me knit or
spin. Once or twice he was flushed
with wine and overbold for he tried to
kiss me. But squire or no, boxed
his ears for his pains, and no softer
than l could help, either.
/ could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and did not
deserve that Evan should be angry with
mighty, and spoke as though one like
the squire could mean no good by COM
ing to so poor a place as the school
masters,
He made me angry, and ! spoke up
"For that matter, the squire would
be glad to have me promise to marry
him" said l. He thinks more of me
than -'
''May be you like him betterl''
81 don't say that, replied l. But bac
temper and jealousy scarce make me
9verfond of another. / pray ! may
never have a husband who will scolC
me."
For he had been scolding me. NJ
other name for it,
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart-deep though,
ehought-and / did not see him for more
than a week. / was troubled much
Ehough. / knew he would come rounC
again, and mayhap ask my pardon
For before you are wed you can bring
your lover to his senses.
So | did not fret after Evans alb
,sence, nor quite snub Squire Turner
who liked me more than ever Blu
one night grandfather came in, and
shutting the door, stood between grand
mamma and me, looking at me, and s.
strangely that we both grew fright
ened At last he spoke;
1--WE been TO the squire's," said he
es'For the first time had to tell him tina
4 conld not pay the rent when due"
opened my lips Grandmamma'
hand covered them. Grandpa drew m
80 him.
''Thou'rt young, lass" said he, IAN
they are right to call thee pretty
Child, eould'st like the squire wei
enough TO wed him?"
''Ehl" cried grandma. "Sure, your
not wandering?"
Squire Turner asked me for this las
of ours tonight. OF all women in tn
world there is but one he loves as h
should his wife, and that is our Agatha
II dreamt of golden rings and whit