Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-03-28
AN OLD LADY'S LOVE STORY.

sat spinning at my little wheel, i'll
the sun, for the autumn day was cold.
when | heard some one whistlin and
looking. up, there was young Squire
Tur er with his arms folded Oh the
gate, looking over When he caught
my eye he laughed, l blushel; and l
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 lie " as
honny to look at with his hair like spun
90 d in the October sunlight.
w, en- / courtesied he bowed, making
his ct rls dance over his should rs, and.
said he. "rve spoiled one pretty picture
hat could have oked at all day, but
I've mad" another as pretty, so Pll not
gre>e. May come in?"
And welcome sir. sail l; and l set
chair for him, for he was grand
ather's landlord but for all that l felt
uncomfortable, for l was not used to
fine company.
He talked away, paying me more
compliments than l was used to, for
dmother, who brought me up said,
"Hnndsome is as handsome does, and
"Beauy is but skin deep"
Since TIM telling the story I'll tell the
truth. ! had done wrong about one
thing Neither of the old folks knew
that l wore Evan Locke's ring in my
bosom, or that we'd taken vow to each
other besid the hawthorn that grew in
the church lane never meant to de-
i've, but grannie was old and a little
hard, and that love of mine was such a
sweet secret. Besides, money seems to
outw eigh all else when people have
struggled all their lives through to turn
a penny, and they knew Evan was a
poor, struggling young surgeon. l
thought I'd wait 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 had gone. and
her of his fine speeches, but there was a
keyhole to the door she care 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 years rent should come
due, not a Jenny to pay it with would
he found
All this time Evan Locke and had
been as fond as ever of each other, and
he came as often as efore 10 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.
Once or twice he was flushed with vine
and over boll for he tried to kiss me.
But squire or no, l 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 l did
not dc serve that Evan should be angry
with me. But lie was. Eli. so high
and mighty, and spoke as though one
like the squire could mean no good by
coming 10 SO poor place as the school
masters
lie made me angry, and spoke up.
"For that matter, the squire would be
glad to lave me romise to marry him, J"
said l. He thinks more of me than
May be you like him better!' said
Evan.
Il don't say that" replied l. "But
bad tenn er and Jealousy scarce make
me over fond of another Ipray may
never have a husband who will scold
me-"
For he had been scolding me. No
other name for it.
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
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
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:
"Pve been to the Squire's, said lie.
"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
to him.
"Thou'rt young, lass, said lie, sand
they are right who call thee pretty.
Child-cou DIST like the squire well
enough to wed him?"
"El?" 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 lie loves as he
should lis Wife and that is OUR A gatha.