The Republican., 1891-03-20
AN OLD LADY'S STORY.
It Is About Her True Love and
the Noble Squire.


and, looking up, there was young
Squire Turner, with his arms folded Oh
the gate, looking over. When he caugh
my eye he laughed, / blushed, and
arose and made him courtesy.
He was a handsome gentleman, the
squire, and the hand from which he
pulled the glove shimmered in the sur
with pearls and diamonds; ana he was
bonny to look at, with his hair like
spun gold in the October sunlight.
When | courtesied he bowed, making
said he: 1--we 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 in?"
And welcome, sir" said l, and set
a chair for him. for he was my grand
fathers landlord; but for all that felt
uncomfortable, for l was not used to
fine company.
lie talked away, paying me more
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. | had done wrong about one
thing. Neither of the old folks knew
that | wore Evan Locke's ring in nv
bosom or that we'd taken vow to
each other beside the hawthorn that
grew in the church lane. | never meant
to deceive, but grannie was old and a
little hard, and that love of mine was
such sweet secret. Besides, money
seems to outweigh all else when peo-
pie 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 sweeten 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. ! didn't tell
her of his fine speeches, but there was
a keyhole 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
lue not penny to pay it with would
be found
All this time Evan Locke and ! had
been as fond as ever of each other, and
le 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
ais 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
ais ears for his pains, and no softer
han ! could help, either.
| could not help his coming, nor help
ieeing him when he came, and did not
deserve that Evan should be angry with
ne. But he was. Eth, so high and
mighty, and spoke as though one like
;he squire could mean no good by COM
ng to so poor place as the school
masters.
He made me angry, and l spoke up.
For that matter, the squire would
De glad to have me promise to marry
him." said |. He thinks more of me
;han-''
May be you like him better!''
81 don't say that, replied |. But bad
emper and jealousy scarce make me
,verfond of another. pray l may
never have a husband who will scold
me-"
For he had been scolding me. No
,ther name for it.
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart-deep though, ]
:hought-and did not see him for more
:han week. was troubled much,
,hough. knew he would come round
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 ab-
sence, nor quite snub Squire Turner,
who liked me more than ever. But
one night grandfather came in, and,
shutting the door, stood between grand
mamma and me, looking at me, and SO
strangely that we both grew fright
ened. AT last he spoke:
I've been to the squire's," said he.
''For the first time | had to tell him that
could not pay the rent when due"
l opened my lips. Grandmamma's
hand covered them. Grandpa drew me
10 him.
"Thou'rt young, lass" said he, land
:hcy are right to call thee pretty.
Child, could'st like the squire well
enough to wed him?''
En- cried grandma. "Sure, you're
uot wandering?'
Squire Turner asked me for this lass
of ours tonight OF all women in the
world there is but one he loves as he
should his wife, AID that is our Agatha"
II dreamt of golden rings and white
roses on Christmas eve," cried grannie.
81 knew the lass would be lucky"
But put my head on grandfather
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, l knew.
"Wilt have him and be rich lady?"
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer burst out with No and a sob
together.
"She's frightened" said grandmam-
ma. Nay, we must all wed once in
our lives, my child
Then grandpapa talked to me. He
told me how poor they had grown, and
how kind the squire was, and l had but
to marry him to make my grandparents
free from debt and poverty their lives
~ 4 L 4.