Year: 1874

might say no, you pic tltSlh L oAi"t'Ai
I feel rather cheap"


Prudent Squire Dudley That af-
ternoon he picked painful OF his
finest strawberries, and directly af-
ter tea started off across lots in the
direction of widow Lees with the ber-
ries on his arm. 1t was dusk before
he got to the widows, for he walked
slowly. He had very busy thoughts
for company. He was wondering
what it was best to do. Should he
propose at once to Ruth, or should
he see her mother first and talk with
her? He concluded that the last was
the wisest plan. As he opened the
gate noiselessly, he heard voices in
the other corner Of the garden, and
stopped moment to find out if it
was the widow and her daughter


81 never had any idea of it before, "
said voice which he recognised as
,Charley's. He said he didn't think
anything about it until to-day. [
could not find out whom he had in
view. hope it ism It old Miss Sharp.
She'd like to get somebody"


The Squire burst into a profuse
perspiration at the idea Of having
Miss Sharp for a wife,


"He said he didn't see as I ever
intended to get married." went on
Charley. ''I didn't tell him | had
got me wife picked out, but want
ed to. [ am sure he approves my
taste in making a selection.


"What nonsenseN laughed q clear
pleasant voice. Ruth's voice, the
Squire knew the moment he heard it.
"If l am going to your wife, I want
you to quit laughing at me in that
sly way, pretending you are fatter-
ing me ali the time"


ellis wife? Good gracious?"


The Squire was 50 taken by sur
prise that he came near dropping his
Strawberries. So it was settled be-
tween them. And he had come near
proposing to his sons intended wife.
He felt cold all over at the thought of
it. How lucky that lie did not take
Charley into lis confidence, and tell
him whom he intended to marry.


81 declare" exclaimed the Squire,
GIVE made a mistake this time, sure
enough. The rascal has got the
start of me. I'd like to know what [
am to do? I've told told him that l
intended to get married, and if l
don't he'll likely Us not mistrust
something. Dear mel"


The Squire was in trouble. An
other bright thought occurred to
him. There was the widow After
all she would have done. She was
somewhere near his own age. A fine
woman. A smart woman. She
would make fine mistress for his
empty house. Why shouldn't he
marry her, since he could not have
her daughter?


'Tll do it, exclaimed the Squire,
bound to get through with the matter
since he had got SO far. I'll do it. "


He knocked. The door was open
ed by the widow, round-cheeked,
rosy, and smiling.


esquire Dudley Good evening,
she exclaimed. 81 hardly knew you
at first; havn't been in here SO long.
Come in; take this rocking chair and
let me take your hat.


The widow hustled about and got
the Squire chair and deposited his
hat on the table before he happened
to think of his basket.


60! Ruth told me your strawberry
crop proved failure, SO thought
I'd run over and bring you few
Strawberry short-cake don't go bad
this time Of year"


81 am thousand times obliged to
you," said the widow, taking the
basket. 81 was so provoked to think
the hens should spoil mine. Such a
nice lot I would have had"


eff you want any preserves come
over and get them, said the Squire.
"We've plenty of them. Mrs.
Brown-she won't do anything with
them except as we use them, sup
pose"


~ want to know" exclaimed the
widow. "You ought to have them
done up. They are so nice in the
winter. I would like to get some for
jam; and if Mrs. Brown--she won't
take care of them I'll put them up
ON shares"


''I wish you would" said the
Squire. "Things are going to wreck
and ruin about my place. Taint to
be expected hired woman will take
any interest in affairs. " .,


''No, that's So"


1t was strange that the Squire had
not found ont how things were going
to wreck and ruin before. Mrs. Brown
had been there ever since Mrs. Dud-
ley had died.


The Squire and widow kept up
pretty brisk conversation, and at the
end of an hour he was more deeply
in love with her than her daughter,
and began to wonder how he had
been SO blind as to overlook such
delightful woman so long.


By-and-by the widow bustled out
and presently came back with a
pitcher of last years cider and a
plate of cake.


"Do have something to eat and
drink" urged the widow. eff I'd
known you were coming, I'd have
made a cherry pie. I remember you
used to like my cherry pies"


"I-I wish you would come and
make cherry pies for me all your
life, " clustered out the Squire, turn
ing very red in the face again. 81
II came down to ask you to marry
me, Mrs. Lee"


After which innocent falsehood the
Squire felt decidedly relieved.


~ am sure I'd as lief marry you as
any man" answered the widow,