"'You can do as you think best. If
you deem it advisable to get a wife, I
have nothing further to say, than the
hope that you will get some one who
will make you happy."
" She will," said the squire very de
cidedly, " she will, I am sure."
"May I ask .who 'tis to be? " in
quired Charley.
"I-I haven't asked her yet," an
swered the squire, as red as a rose.
" I'd rather wait until I'm sure of her
before I tell who it is. She might say
no, you see, and I should feel rather
cheap."
Prudent Sluire Dudley. That af
ternoon be picked a panful of his fine
strawberries, and directly after tea
started off across lots in the direction
of Widow Lee's, with the berries on
his ann. It was dusk before he got to
the wMow's, for lie walked slowly.
Ho had very busy thoughts for com
pany. He was wondering what it were
best to do. Should lie propose at once
to Ruth, or should he see her mother
first, and talk withmher t He concluded
the last was the wisest plan. As he
opened the gate noiselessly ho heard
voices in the other corner of the gar
den, and stopped a moment to find
out if it was the widow and her daugh
ter.
"I never had any idea of it before,"
said a voice, which he recognized as
Charley's; "not the least in the world.
