Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-01-21

Wal, all | know is that he never was
in no sich takin' afore his wife died.
| ruther guess that old-maid sister of
his don't make things none few conf
table fur him. She's dretful poor
housekceper, so I've heerd say. Fetch
me a clean cap out OF the bureau
drawer. Not that; the one with the
crimped border an laylock ribbin.
What air you gigglin' at? Pears to
you Pm fixin' up considerable? How
ridiculous you dew talk! as tho l
didn't want tew be clean. There's
Sam comm through the gate; don't
keep him waitin'."
Chow dew you dew, Squire Skim
ner? Walk in, an take a cheer by
the stove, dew"
oval, l don't care if l do, wilder;
it's bitter cold night, good deal
colder than l calc'lated on when l
started"
"True enough, squire, there are
nights that middle.aged folks, like we
be, find warm corner by a rousing
fire like this better'n the jolliest
sleigh-ridin' that can be got up. Sal
mantha, she's gone tew the singin'-
school, so Pm all alone this evenin'.
Pm proper glad you happened in;
them that's in our lonely situation
orter be neighborly"
al s'pose Sam told you my arrant%
said the squire.
oval, yes, he sorter hinted-te, he,
he! Boys will be boys, you know, an
Sam is as full of mischief as an egg is
full of meat. Try piece of mince
pie, squire? l didn't eat much sup
per, so put one in the oven tew warm.
My poor dead-an'-gone husband used
to say that nobody could beat me
maxim mince pies. Take piece,
dew"
Thank'ee, widder, don't care if ]
do. I'm nightly glad you're SO favor
able to my proposition. I told Sam
that you was allus SO pertic'ler bout
keepin' everythin' jest as twas in Mr..
Peabody's time, that / was most
afeared you mightn't like it,"
"Dear me, squire! how GURUS that
you should have thought that, when
you know how much I allus sot by
you ever sence we used tew 90 tew
school together. The Lord knows l
h'ain't been in no hurry fur any
change, an if it had been any one but
you that limited SIGH thing I'd ha'
showed 'em tew the door in quick
metre, an they wouldn't have been
long in taking it neither. Them that's
had the pardner that had amt in no
hurry tew git another. Jon'than used
to speak of you often; he thought
there wasn't nobody like Squire Skin
ner. An when see you in the cheer
that he so often sot in, it rely seems
as if twas him a-settin' there"
"Pm obleeged to you, widder, fur
your good opinion. But to return to
business. Mine is leetle the lightest,
but 'twouldn't hardly be noticed, an if
so be we can strike a bargain, there
won't be better match in the hull
township, I'll bet"
Lawfulsakes, squire! how you fius-
ter body! 1t is so sudding. But,
then, faint as though we hadn't
knowed each other ever sense we was
knee-high to grass-hopper, Wal, no,
can't say as there would be better
match, takin' it all in all, than our'n
would be. An we amt obleeged tel
wait or ask nobody, but can suit our
selves in marryin'. So, if you're agree
able, am"
Squire Skinner stared at the speaker
in blank amazement.
GOOD gracious, Mrs. Peabody what
} be you talkin' on? 1 h'ain't said
'nothin' bout marryin'. 1 was speak
! in bout swappin' my bay horse fur
| your gray one. You SEQ"
, The widow Peabody arose to her
feet, the very bows upon her cap as.
, suming belligerent aspect.
"Dew you mean to insult me-
' Squire Skinner"
"By no manner o means. Your
gray horse an mine is such a nice
) match as to size an color, as
, thought"
, Dew you see that air door, sir
The sooner you march out ont the
, better it will be fur you"
5 But, wilder"
, Start yourself, l tell ye! an don't
8 you never darken my door aginv
Exit the squire, in great hurry.
5 An hour later, Salamantha came in
her cheeks all aylo,y opJ bor o,.os nc