Year: 1873




thought there wasn't much DANCE
of that, though why he should be 81
sure, can't say.


Don't you think we need house
keeper?' he said to his son Charlie!
that afternoon, as they sat on th'
verandah. The Squire evidently saw
some. new feature in the landscape
for he kept his face turned away
from Charley's as he spoke.


"a housekeeper?'' asked Charley
"We've got one. What do we want
of more, I should like to know"


"Yes, know assented the Squire
turning red in the face. and begin
ming to get little uneasy; ''but
Mrs. Brown isn't such a woman as
we need. She doesn't take any in.
terest in the work as-a woman
would who-who had more interest
in it.


After which extremely logical ar
gument the Squire got more fdgetty
than ever.


Il understand that" answered
Charley. ''If she had a personal in
terest in the place, and in being pru-
dent and in keeping things up, she'd
do better than she does now. Now
she gets her pay for her work, and
that's all she cares for. It's all we
can expect Of her"


'-Just So said the Squire, glad to
know that Charley agreed with him
so far. I've been thinking this
morning that the best thing 1 could
do would be to get some one who
would take a personal interest in
matters. I don't see as you intend
to get married and if you won't, I
don't know but I'd better


The Squire breathed easier, The
worst part was over with.


You get married p exclaimed
Charley, in intense surprise. "Why
didn't know that you ever thot' of
such a thing"


"And l haven't till this morning."
exclaimed the Squire. Il got to
thinking about ii. this morning, and
the more l thought about it the more
I thought it a good plan. You
haven't any objections:'


"Of course not answered Char
ley. You can do as You think best.
IF you deem it advisable to get
wife, I have nothing to say further
than the hope that you will get some
one who will make you happy


she wiIl," said the Squire very
decidedly, ''she will, am sure


May ask who It's to be?" in
quired Charley.


II haven't asked her yet" an
swered the Squire. as red as a rose.
I'D rather wait until I'm sure other
before tell you who it is. She
might say no, you see, and 1 should
feel rather cheap"


Prudent Squire Dudley. That
afternoon he picked painful of his
finest strawberries. and directly
after tea started off across the lots in
the direction of Widow Lees, with
the berries on his arm. It was dusk
before he got to the widows's. for he
walked slowly. He had very busy
thoughts for company. He was won
dering what it were best to do.
Should he propose at once to Ruth
or should he see her mother first, and
talk with her? lie concluded that
the last was the wisest plan. AS he
opened the gate noiselessly, he heard
voices in the other corner of the gar
den, and stopped a moment to find
out if it was the widow and her
daughter.


Il never had any idea of it be-
FORE said voice, which he rccog-
nized as Charley's; mot the least in
the world. He said he hadn't thought
anything about it until to-day. l
couldn't find out whom he had in
view. hope it isn't 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 says lie didn't see as I ever
intended to get married" went on
Charley. 81 didn't tell him l had
got me a wife picked out, but l want
ed to. l am sure he'd approve my
taste in making a selection


What atnonsense = laughed clear,
pleasant voice: Ruth's voice, the
Squire knew. the moment he heard
it. IF | am going to be your wife
l want you to quit laughing at me
in that sly way, pretending You are
flattering me all the time


Ills wife? Good gracious -


The Squire was so taken by sur
prise that he came near dropping
his strawberries. So it was settled
between them And he had come
near proposing to his sons's intend
ed wife. He felt cold all over at the
thought of it. How lucky that he
did not take Charley into his conf
dence, and tell him whom he had