Year: 1878

heard some one whisling, and, LOOKING
m. 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 cour-
te>v.


lie was y handsome gentleman, the
Squire and the hand from which he pulled
the glove shimmered in the sun with
pearls and diamonds; and he was bonnv
10 look at, with his hair like spun gold in
the October sunlight.


When courtesied 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 another as pretty, so l will not
creve. May come imp


And welcome, sir, said | and set n
chair for him, for he was GRANDPA hers
landlord; but for all that l felt uncom-
Portable, for | was not used to such fine
company.


He talked away, paying me more CON. 1.
pliments than | was used to, for grand
mother, who brought me up, used to say
Handsome 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 | wore
Evan Locke's ring in my bosom, or that
we'd taken a vow to each other under the
hawthorn that grew in the church lane.
never meant to deceive, but grannie was
old and a little hard of hearing, and that
love of mine was such Il sweet secret Be-
sides, money seems to outweigh all else
when people have struggled all their lives
through to turn u penny. and they knew
Evan was poor, struggling surgeon. |
thought I'd wait awhile until ] could
sweeten the news with the fact that he'd
begun to make his fortune.


Grannie came in from the dairy five
minutes after the Squire was gone, and
heard he had been there. didn't tell her
of the fine speeches. but there was a key
hole to the door she came through, and |
have guess she h ,ard them.


That night we had something else to
think of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather; but l didn't foresee that
when the half years rent should become
due not penny to pay it could be found.
All this time Evan Locke and | had
been as fond rs ever of each other, and he
came rs often as before TO talk with grand
pa 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 Oh
twice he WAS flushed with wine. and over
bold, for he tried to kiss me. But Squire
or no, | boxed his ears soundIy for his
pains, and no softer than l could help,
either.


could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and did moi
desire that Evan Locke should be angry
with me. But he was. Eh! so high and
mighty, and spoke as though one like
the Squire could mean no good by com
ing to SO poor place as the school
mrsler'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 moro of me than you
do Just now.


Maybe you like him better, said Evan.
don't say that, replied. But bad lem
per and jealousy scarce make me overfonc
Of another. pray may never have i
husband who will scold me.


For he had been scolding me. There
was no other name for it.


Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart deep, though,
thought-and did not see him for NOR,
than week. l wasn't troubled much
though | knew he would come roun,
again, and mayhap ask my pardon. Fo
before you are wed you can bring you
lover to his senses when you will.


SO did not fret after Evans absence
nor snub Squire Turner, who liked ME
more than ever. Bur one night grandftlhe
came in from lonely ride, and, shutlin:
The door, stood between grandmamm
and me- and looking at me so strangel
that we both grew frightened. At last h
spoke:


have been to the Squire's, said he
For tho first time had to tell him coul
not pay his rent when due.


opened my lips. Grandmamma's han,
covered them. Grandfather drew me b
him.


Thou art young, lass, he said, and the
are right who call thee pretty. Say
coudSt like the Squire well enough t
wed him?


En- cried grandma. Sure, you're nc
wandering?


Squire Turner asked me for this lass c
ours tonight. OF all women in the worl
there is but one he loves MS he should hi
wife, and that is our Agatha.


dreamt of gold rings and bunch {
white roses, on Christmas Eve. erie
grandmother. | knew the lass would
lucky.


But | put my head on grandfather
shoulder and hid my face. The truth mu:
out knew.


Wilt have him and be rich ladyP aske
grandpa


And when he had waited for an M
swer, burst out with NO" and sob t
gether.


She's frightened, said grannie. Ma,
we must all wed once in our lives, M
dear child.


Then grandfather talked to me. II
told me how poor they had grown, an
how kind the Squire was, and had but
marry him to make my grandparents fire
from debt and poverty all their live
through. If | should refuse, and vex tn
Squire, kIl,avtn only knew what mig
happen.


She II never ruin her poor grandpa, sol
bed grandmamma.


-Ah' IL wis Ilitltl W
but now there was no help for it. toe
the rng from my bosom and laid it in n
palm, and told them that it was Eva
Locke's, and that had plighted my troI
10 him.


And granne called me deceilful went
and grandpa looked rs though his hea
wonld break.


Oh! but would have done anything fl
them then--anything but give up my trl
love.


That night l kissed his ring and prayt
heaven that he might love me always.
the morning it was gone. ribbon and a.
from my neck. looked for it high al
low; but found no sign of it. And b
gan to fear the loss of the dear ring was
sign that should not marry Evan Lock
The days passed on and he never can
near me.


Oh, it WAS cruel in him, / thought,
Mold such anger for hasty word he h'
provoked, when l spoke it that he mu
know that loved him so.


Grandma would scarcely look at me
know why now, and grandpa sighed M
moaned and talked of the workhouse. Al
thought should surely die OF gri
among them