The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-05-14

TNA S Is:i vs s3f 5isn i3
honored. If n man like Squire Peck
wood had proposed for my han mt
eighteen / should have felt proud.
But Squire Peckham is old enough
to be my father" pleaot' May.
''As if n few years, one way or the
other, made any difference"
and he has had two wives al
ready ~
Everybody will tell you, child,
that he was model husband"
Its altogether too much, " shud-
dered May. There's no telling how
soon | may be called upon to make
way for the fourth Mrs. Peckwoodr'
SIS that all you have to bring against
Squire Peckwood?'
ono. mother, it is not. He is ava
ricious, fault-fnding, whimsical, hyp-
ochondriac
"May!"
You asked me, mother.
"But you know very well Your
fathers heart is set on this marriage.
Why prejudice yourself against it.
when the matter is us good as set
tled?"
May Carroll knew very we'll that the
heart of obstinate Deacon Carroll was
net on seeing his only daughter the
wife OF Squire Obed lockwood. and
chat was what made her spirit grow
faint within her. For there was still
another reason against this ill-suited
match--a reason which May had not
ventured to speak Of to either father
or mother-and it was this: MAY had
already given her little heart away to
David Chesterson, the student in
Lawyer Kesoe's office, whose brains
were his only capital and who carried
his fortune in his frank face and
straight, 1.-the figure.
"l have promised David" she
thought, with huttering palpitation
at her heart, "and | will sooner
clio than prove false to him. But, oh
what shall do to ward off the suit of
this horrid old Squire Peckwoodl"
As these thoughts passed through
her mind Mrs CAROLS voice inter
rupted their current.
"May, child, what are you dreaming
about? Twice I've asked you n cues
ton, and you have stared ut me as if
were empty space.
81 beg your pardon, mother; what
did you ask"
Whether you knew that he was GO
ing to take you over to the Fleetwood
farm this afternoon, to see the house
of which you are SO soon to be the
mislrcss?'
81 knew it, mother"
Then why aren't you dressing
yourself?"
am dressed, mother
Indeed Go upstairs and put on
your silk dress Immediately, and wear
the garnet set your father gave Won
last birthday.
May obeycd unwilhaglv enougb
but when she came down stairs there
was new brightness in her eve. an
unwonted color ON her check Squire
Ieckwood who was waiting her APP
penranco I'm tie big easy chair, with q
purple faced contentment chucklel to
himself at her fresh young beauty:
and Mrs. Carroll mentally came TO the
conclusion that May had resolved to
"behavc like sensible girl"
She was more mistaken, however
than shc had any idea Of. Cupid. the
mischleyous little imp Of true love
had been iny'sibly counseling Made.
MoiscIle May Don the quiet and scclu-
sion OF lcr own apartment upstairs,
aud May had proited by his hints
''Im sure We girls would have little
enough chance in tlis world, pouted
May, 'ii we didn't have recourse TO
our wits once iu while"
She was nll smiles and diniplcs md
winning words, as Squire Fleetwood
trundci heavily along by her side, and
that portIy gallant rockc his brains
for some appropriate conversation TO
'""1e the third Mrs lockwood that
was 20 be-
Tho squire wiped hiss boct-red brow
and secretly wished ne had read Moore
oni Byron in his younger days. 80 as
TO Doe able to converse ngrcenbly with
% pretty girl of eighteen.
That's the house" me said MT last.
pointing 90 the gable md of the Peck.
wood mansion, pccping through n
mass OF elm bOugns As Miss Carroll
hal been familiar with tho neighbor-
hood for eighteen years, sho replied
with some ucorbity.
81 know that"
How'll you like it for your future
homer he asked with clumsy effort
at badinogc
~ don't know---G may like it we'll
enough, answered May indiGerontly !;
''bnt IL has got TO he altered very
mich.
squire Peckwood's inbilans counte-
nance fell. To him the family home Of