Year: 1878

sat spinning at my little wheel in the
sun, for the autumn day was cold, when l
heard some one whistllng, and, looking up,
there was young Squire Turner with his
arms folded on the gate, looking over. When
he caught my eye he laughed and blushed,
and rose and made him a courtesy.


He was a handsome gentleman, the squire,
and the hand from which he pulled the
glove shimmered in the sun with pearls and
diamonds; and he bonny to look at
with his hair like spun gold in the October
sunlight.


When / conrtesied he bowed, making his
curls dance over his shoulders, and, said he.
I've spoiled one pretty picture that | could
have looked at all day, but I've made anoth-
er as pretty, so I'll not grieve. May come
in?'


"And welcome, sir" said ], and / sat
chair for him, for he grandfather's land
lord; but for all that 1 felt uncomfortable,
for was not used to fine company.


He talked away, paying me more compll-
ments than / was used to. for grandmother,
who brought me up, always said, Hand
some is as handsome does and Beauty is
but skin deep"


Since I'm 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 beside the
hawthorn that grew in the church lane.
never meant TO deceive, bCt grannie was old
and little hard and that love of mine was
such sweet secret Besides, money seems
to outweigh all else when people have strug-
gled all their lives through TO turn penny,
and they knew Evan was a poor struggling
surgeon. 1 thought I'd wait while until /
could sweeten the news with the fact that
he'd begun TO make his fortune.


Grannie came in from the dairy five MIN
utes after the squire was gone, and heard he
had been there. / didn't tell her of the fine
speeches, but there was a keyhole to the
door she came through, and have guess
she heard them.


That night we had something else to think
of. Misfortune had come upon grandfather; !;
but didn't forsee that. when the half years
rent should come due, not penny to pay il
with would be found.


ALI this time Evan Locke and 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 Once or twice he was flushed with
wine, and over bold, for be tried to kiss me.
Bat, squire or no, | boxed bis ears for his
palms. and no softer than could help either.


could not help his coming. nor nelp see
ing him when he came, and did not de-
serve that Evan should be angry with me.
But he was. Eh, so high and mighty. and
spoke Is though one like the tQqire could
mean no good by coming TO so poor place
as the scboolmaster's- /.


He made me angry, and l spoke up.


For that matter, the squire would be
glad to have me promise TO marry him.
said l. He thinks more Of me than you do
Just now"


May be you like him better" said Evan.


II don't say that replied L But bad
temper and jealousy scarce make me over
fond OF another pray May never have q
husband who will scold me-"


For he had heen scolding me. There was
no other name for 1t.


Well. Evan was wroth with me and / with
him-not heart deep. though, thought
and did not SEE him for more than week.
/ was troubled much, though | knew he
would come round again, and mayhap ask
my pardon. For before you are wed you
can bring your lover 50 bis senses when you
will


So did not fret over Evans absence, nor
quite snub Squire Turner, who liked me
more than ever. Bat one night grandfather
came in from lonely ride, and shutting the
door stood between grandmEmma and me,
looking at me, and so strangely We both grew
frightcasd- AT last he spoke:


"Psc Teen to the squlre's," said he." For