The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-17
A LOVE STORY.

| the SUD- for the autumn DAY was cold,
when 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, blushed, and l
arose and made him a courtesy.
He was handsome gentleman, the
squire, and the hand from which he
pulled the glove shimmered m the sun
with pearls and diamonds, and he was
bonny to loook at with his hair like spun
gold in the October sunlight.
When l courtesied he bowed, making
! his cr1rls dance over his shoulders, and
said he: 'Pve 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 in2'
And welcome, sir" said l, and I set
| a chair, for he was grandfather's land
lord; but for all that felt uncomfort-
| able, for [ was not used to fine company.
He talked away, paying me more COM
pliments than was used to, for grand
mother, who brought me up, said,
Handsome is as handsome does" and
beauty is DuC SK1n deep.
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell the
| truth. I had done wrong about one
thing. Neither of the old folks knew
that I wore Evan Locke's ring in my
bosom, or that we'd taken a VOW to each
other beside the hawthorn that grew in
the church lane. never meant to de-
ceive, 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 people have
struggled all their lives through to turn
a penny, and they knew Evan was a
poor, struggling young surgeon. 1
thought I'd wait a while until L 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. l didn't tell
her of his fine speeches, but there was
keyhole to the door she came through
and l 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 years rent should come
due not a penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and I 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
his lazy way and watch ME knit or spin.
Once or twice he was flushed with wine
and oser bold, 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 EIan should be angry with
me. But he was. Eli, so high and
mighty, and spoke as though one like
the squire could mean no good by COM
ing to so poor place as the schoolmas-
ter's.
He made me angry and I 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 betterI" said
Evan.
81 don't say that" replied L ''But
bad temper and jealousy scarce ever
make me over fond of another. pray
may never have a husband who will
scold me-"
For he had been scolding me. No
other name for il.
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart deep, though.
thought-and did not see him for more
than a week. | was troubled much,
though. L knew he would come round
again, and mayhap ask my pardon. For
before you are wed you can bring your
lever to his senses.
So l did not fret after Evans absence,
nor quite snub Squire Turner, who liked
me more than ever. But one night
grandfather came in, and shutting the
door, stood between grandmamma and
me, looking at me, and so strangely that
we both grew frightened. At last he
spoke:
I've been TO the squires," said he
"For the first time had to tell him that
could not pay the rent when due"
! opened my lips Grandnamms's
hand covered them. Grandpa drew me
to him.
"Thou'rt young, lass said he, "snd
they are right who call thee pretty.
Child-could'st like the squire well
enough to we'd him
"Eh? cried grandma. "Sure, you're
not 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. and that is our Agatha"
Il dreamt Of golden rings and white |
roses on Christmas eve" cried grannie. |
Il knew the lass would be lucky"
But l put my head on grsndfather's
shoulder and hid my face. The truth I
must ont. knew.
Wilt have him and be a rich LADY,
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer burst out with mo" and a sob 4
together.
shes frightened, /" said grandmamma.
Nay, We must all wed once in our lives, 1
my child
Then grandpa talked to me- He told 1
ne how poor they had grown. and how 4
kind the squire was, and | had bu; 10 /
marry him 10 make my grandparents