Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-05-03

goose, n III L married you 10 De q
bigger one. II 1 should take up and
marry now I don't know how Sid's
wife's baby ever'd get proper raisin'.
The trouble Is that I've got several
nephews an neices that just couldn't
do without me-"
Don't you believe 1t. bet If the
truth was knowed every one of them
wishes you'd tend to your own bust.
ness and let them alone"
"What" cried Miss Dinah, aghast.
"You don't think any of them would
wish that?"
THAT'S what l mean"
"Why, some Of my nephews and
nieces think that I belong to them,
and I'm sure 1t would be wrong in me
to 60 on and marry when they need
me so much"
'They amt like other young folks
then. But that's neither pro nor con
I tell you solemnly that the Lord never
made as fine a woman as you be and
intended her to be single. You amt
exactly a old woman, but you're get
tin along, gettin' along. Where's your
home? Amt got one. You air jest
livin' round fust one place an then
the other. No, Stree, you're too good
a woman for that sort of thing. You
need a solid, steady old man for a hus-
band, who will give you a home to
boss and who will take care of you. I
know you could get handsOmer men. I
amt a perfect figger. I'm a little short,
my feet are too fiat and my heads not
a proper shape, but there's nOthin' the
matter with my heart. It's sound as a
dollar, Miss Dinah, and every heart
beat in 1t is for you"
"Pshaw! How you do talk" said
Miss Dinah. blushing and then hurrying
to get back to the argument. There's
another reason why you shouldn't mar
ry, judge. Think of your children. Ev-
cry n of them would be furious with
me as well as with you. l can't i'm
agine what put this marryin' notion in
your head. In the first place every
body'll be laughing at you II you
should marry again. Then theren be
a howl from the children and lastly
you are too old and have got too many
mortgages on you. And you ought to
preparin' yourself for the hereafter
instead of filling your old head with
all these here ~lovesick notions"
you talk mighty hard. Miss Dinah,"
said the judge. who was visibIy dis
Couraged and who, as he sat In the
moonlight, did look very old and lone
ly. "If you ieS' knowed how hard it
was to me to kill time on my place
with nobody but the servants there.
you'd change your idee about my bein'
you and If you won't give me no de-
Cision tonight, I'll ask you to consider
1t and give me m nswer when l come
again.
every well, I'll do that: but in the
meantime you had better consider
what I've been a-sAvIn' to Won before
you come again. You Just take about
a week and stcddy It over"
AS she went into the house the pic
ture of her aged sutton. departing sad
ly to his GesOlate home, remained with
her; and in her room she spoke to her
sister-ln-law In this vein: "YeS: he
asked me to marry him, but I didn't
give him no answer. He's too old to
marry. and I'd he a goose if I did but
then he does live a lonesome kind Of
life. That old man certainly does
need a helpmate; and then he set me
to thinkin' about myself. Here I am
nearly fifty years old without a home,
and I've been forcin' myself very like
ly on a lot Of young people that didn't
want me. 7 suppose it's time for me to
quit It. Well. .JOnadah-I mean the
tudge-wants me to be his'n. or course
7 give the best advice I could and told
him he was a fool to think Of marry
ing; and I've done full duty. I never
let on to him about 1t. Maria. but
Jonadab has actually convinced me
that I ought to git married, and I'd
just as soon marry him as any other
man I know; and he's a s~oft-hearted
c%ritter, too, and so | guess I'll take
him. He's a powerful close reasoner.
Jnnadab Is, and he's got me,persuaded,
though he don't know It yet"
On the evening when the Judge was
TO have returned for his answer Miss
Dinah had arrayed herself with a lit
tie more than her usual care in antlci-
patton Of the visit. After supper she
took her seat upon the porch which,
by a wise provision. had been surren-
dercd to her, and she was enjoying the
balmineSs Of the night and meditating
upon her hest plan of surrender when
the barking of a little terrier at the
front gate announced the arrival OF q
negro boy. He brought with him a let
ter for Miss Dinah, It was from de
jedge, an dar warn't no answer"
Miss Dinah took the letter into the
house, thinking II was anything but
what it was, for this Is what the judge
wrote:
Dear Miss Dinah-I have been
thinking over what you said to me the
other night. | have went wei the
ytptc cnNfafbto, ms @ho ,, ,o,