The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-09-02
AN OLD LADY'S LOVE STORY

AN OLD LADY'S LOVE STORY
l sat spinning at my little wheel, il
the sun, for the autumn day was cold
when | heard some one whistling anC
looking up, there was young 'Sqire Tur
ner, with his arms folded on the gate
looking over. When he caught my ey,
he laughed, l blushed and l arose anC
made him a courtesy.
He was a handsome gentleman, tn,
'S4uire, and the hand from which II,
pulled the glove shimmeied in the sur
with pearls and diamonds and he wa
bonny to look at, with his hair like spur
gold in the bright October sunlight.
When l courtesied he bowed, making
his curls dance over his shoulders, and
said he:
I've spoiled one pretty picture that l
could have looked at all day, but I've
made another as pretty, so III not grieve.
May come in ?"
ana welcome SIR, said /.
And ] set chair for him, for he was
grandfather's landlord but for all that
felt uncomfortable, for 1 was not used to
fine company.
lie talked away, paying me more COM
pliments than ! was used to, for grand
mother, who brought me up, always
said
Handsome is as handsome does, and
Beauty is but skin deep"
Since I'm telling the story, had done
wrong about one thing. Neither Of the
old folks knew that wore Evan Locke's
ring in my bosom, or that we'd taken a
vow to each other beside the hawthorne
that grew in the church lane. l never
meant to deceive, but grsnnie was old
and little hard, and that love of mine
was such sweet secret. Besides, money
seems to outweigh all else when people
have struggled all their lives through TO
turn penny, md they knew Evan was
poor, struggling young surgeon, and /
thought I'd wait awhile until | could
sweeten the news with the fact that
be had at last begun 10 accumulate a
fortune.
Grannie came in from the dairy five
minutes after the Squire had 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 kind of guess she heard
them.
That night we had something else to
think of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather but l didn't foresee that,
when the half years rent should come
due, not penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and l 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 watching me knit or spin
and once or twice he was flushed with
wine and over bold, for he tried to kiss
me. But Squire or no, boxed his ears
for his pains, and no softer than could
help, either.
: / could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and 1 did not
deserve that Evan should be angry with
me. But he was. Eh, 50 high and so
mighty, and spoke as though one like
the Squire could mean no good by COM
ing TO so poor place as the shoolmas-
ter's.
He made me very angry, and l spoke
up:
For that matter, the Squire would
be glad TO have me promise to marry
him" said l. He thinks far more of me
than
Maybe you like him better p said
Evan.
" don't say that" replied. But bad
temper and jealousy scarce make me over
fond of another pray may never
have a husband who will seold and be
cross"
For he had been scolding me TO 9TH
er name for il.
Well, Evan was wroth with me, and I
with him-not heart deep, though, /
thought-and did not see him for more
than a week. l was troubled much, al
though l knew he would come around
again, and mayhap ask my pardon. For
before you are wed ysu csn bring your
lover to his senses.
So did not fret after Evans absence,
nor quite snub Squire Turner, who liked
me more than ever. But one night my
grandfather came in, and, shutting the
door, stood between srandmamma and
looking at me, and so strangely that we
both grew frightened. At last he re-
marked
"Tve been to the 'Squires, and for the
first time had to tell him that l could
not pay the rent when due"
l opened my lips. Grandmamma's
covered them Grandpa drew me to
him.
"Thou'rt young, lass" said he, and
they are right who call thee pretty.
Child, could,st thou like the Squire well
enough to wed him ?,
"Eh ?" cried grandma "Sure, you're
not wandering ?"
esquire Turner asked me for this lass
of ours tonight OF all women in this
world there is but one he loves as he
should his wife, and that is our own
Agatha"
L dreampt of golden rings and white
roses on Christmas eve" cried grannis.
/ knew the lass would be lucky"