The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-01-04
Kissed by Mistake.

w. ID. SCOII.
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Kissed by Mistake.
"Will you be at homo tonight, Het-
typ aud the spe aker, a tall, muscular
farmer, Redeemed to the
very roots Of his hair, as though h9 had
committed some very wicked act instead
Of asking a simple question.
lie was bashful, extremely so was
Josiah Huwly; at least in the presence
of young ladies'; most of all, in the pre-
sencc Of the girl he loved. No young
farmer in all the county possosseda bot
ter farm, or talked with more confidence
among his compeers Of stock and crops,
and on kindred subjects. But the
glimpse Of some pretty face, or foot
coming in his direction, affected him
like flash of lightning. On such oc-
easions he never knew what to do with
his hands and eyes; and always felt
like screwing himself into mouse hole.
How he ever contrived to approach Hes
ter Thomas on the subject OF his prefer
ence for her, probably remains to this
day as much mystery to himselfas it
is to others.
But that young lady had quite an
amount of tact and clevcrness slowed
away somewhere in her pretty little head,
albeit, il irdS set on the dimplcd, mex.
perenced shoulders of seventeen. Josiah
was worth, in a worldly way, much more
than any of her other suitors; good
looking and intelligent enough to salts
ly any but an over fastidious person
unexceptional in short, barring his ex-
ccssivc bashflncss, which was fruit
ful source Of morriment among the young
people in their little circle. And 80
when Josiah In his awkard, blUudering
way, began to exhibit his preference for
her in various little wpys, such as wait
ing for her to and from singing-sohool,
constituting himself her escort when
she rode on horseback TO the solitary
church in the woods, and singing her
out at quilting parties. IIetty took il
all in the easiest ploOsantest manner
possible. The girls laughed, and the
young men cracked sly jokes at the cx-
pense Of her timid suitor; but Hetty stood
up for him very Observation-Disclosures
aged him out of his shyness-nevor no.
ticcd any unfortunate blundcr; and very
likely helped him along considerably
when his feelings reached ''the culmina-
ting point," one moonlighted autumn eve
ming, as they were walking home tpgeth-
er FROM prayer meeting.
That was Just aweek ago. Hctty bad
said "Yes," and agreed TO "hring fsthcr
and mother around on the subject" Jo-
siah lad not been to the house since
probably feeling very much like dog
lyenturing upon the premises Of the per
son whose sheep-foid he has just plum
dered As yet neither had had the cour
aged to speak 10 the "reigning powers
on the subject; and Hctiy feeling as /
she wished TO put the ordeal of as lonl
as possible, at any rate TO have one more
confidential talk with him on the sub
iect said:
''Mother is going over to Aunt Ruth
to spend the evening, and wants me {,
go. But l guess won't. I've beef
working OIL Fathers shirts all day, be
sides doing the dairy work, and I'm Os tir
ed as can be. So guess they'll have t
go without me. Don't come until eigh
o'clock shall be through puttini
things to rights then and will let you in.
i OF course, Josiah was not too obtust
TO understand that, and forgot his bash
fulncss so far as 10 petition for goodbye
kiss, which was peremptorlly refused
Of course.
"No, sha'nt. DO take yourself of
Think / didn't see you idgetlng arouuC
Sarah Jones at Deacon Radger's yester
day EVENING" I've not forgotten that
sirl" .-.r ......
"Now Hetty--"
But the appeal was broken off by I
tantalizing little laugh and as he spranl
forward to take a pleasant revenge OF
his tormentress, she slipped away ant
ran up the path TO the house, where IA,
saw her wave her hand as she disappear
ed within the kitchen porch; aud then h
turned from the gate and took the roa'
hOmewnrd.
The tea things had been carried out
the table set back against the wall, tht
crumbs brushed from. the clean home
made carpet, and Hetty's work stant
drawn mp in front Of the blazing fire, 4
bountiully piled waiter Of great red ap
pies, and plate oferaeked walnuts Werl
on ii, in close proximity TO Hetty's work
basket. lH. .N| ll.||.H
On one side Of the fire sat Mrs. Thom
as, fat and fair, and at peace with all th'
world; rocking aud knitting, and refresh
ne herselfat sundry intervals with bit
rom a hall eaten apple that lay on th
orner ofthe table, and touching ever
/ ow aud then in a caTessing mannc
with her foot a sleek, lazy looking ca
{ hat purred and Winkedo onihe rug befor
her, Hetty sat on the other Side, sew
ing, and busy in thinking how she eshoul
tell her mother that she expected yisi
tor. She would have given the world I
be able to say, In an of hand manner
that she expected Mr.. Hawley 10 drop 1
4 about eight. But she recollected with
ttwinge Of conscience, how hard she ha
tried 70 get the old lady TO aceompan
her husband TO Aunt Ruth's, spite OF he
ioreWarnings Of spell Of neuralgia; hoV
she had also plead headache as an exous
for not going herself. And she knew he
mother was quite sharp enough 10 draV
her own inferences from these facts, an
from her being dressed with unusual car
10 spend an evening At home.
~ shall not dare TO ten her now =
She'll be sure 10 think l Iwant1d 70 g
her out Of the way 50 might have JOsi
eh an 20 myself, and l should never hea
the last Of il. And like a wise little pua
she was silent.
pll venture INV word an Il vou voul