Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-05-10
KISSED BY MISTAKE.

hlo0 ED 81 Mlo 1 An T..
VIII you be at home tonight, Hetty 2
and the speaker a tall muscular. well-lookiug
farmer, Redeemed to the roots Of his hair, as
though he had committed some very wicked
act, instead Of asking simple question.
He was bashful, extremely so, was Josiah
Hawlcy at least in the presence Of young
ladies, most of all in the presence of the girl
he loved No young farmer in all the coun-
try possessed better kept farm, OF talked
with more confidence among his compeers of
stock and crop, and on kindred subjects
But the glimpse Of somepretty face OF foot
coming in his direction, affected him like a
Fash Of lighting On such occasions he never
know what to do with his hands and eyes,
and always felt like screwing himself into a
mouse-hole. How he ever oontriyed to APP
proach Hester Thomas on the subject of his
preference for her, probably remains as much
mystery TO himself as 10 is to others.
Bat the young lady had quite an amount
Of tact and ceverness slowed away somewhere
in her pretty little head, albeit it was set on
the dimpled, inexperienced shoulders of sew
enteen. Josiah was worth, in a worldly way,
more than any of her suitors good blocking
and intelligent enough to satisfy any one but
an over astidious unexceptionable, in short,
barring his excessive bashlulncss, which was
a fruitful source Of merriment to the young
people in their little circle. And so. when
Josiah in his awkward laundering way, be-
gan to exhibit his preference for her in various
little ways, such as waiting on her to and
from singing school, constituting himself her
especial escort when she rode on horseback to
the solitary church in the woods, and singing
her out at quilting parties, Hetty took it all
in the easiest. pleasantest manner possible
The girls laughed, and the young men cracked
sly jokes at the expense OF her timid suitor I;
but Hetty stood up for him very independent
ly--encouraged him out of his shyness-nev-
er noticed any unfortunate blunder-and very
likely helped him along considerably when
his feelings reached the eliminating point, !"
one moonlight autumn evening, as they were
walking home together from prayer-meeting.
That was a week ago. Hetty had said
Yes and agreed to bring father and moth
err round on the subject Josiah had not
been TO the house since--likely feeling very
much like dog venturing upon the premises
Of person whose sheepfod he had just plumb
cred. As yet, neither has had the courage
to speak to the reignng powers on the sub
ject and Hetty feeling as if she wished to
put the ordeal off as long as possible, at any
rate to have one more confidential talk on the
subject, with him, said
Mother'is going over to aunt Ruth's to
spend the evening, and wants me to go--bu'
guess | won't. I've been working on faith
er's shirt all day, besides doing the dair,
work, and am as tired as can be-so
guess they will have to go without me-
Don't come until eight o'clock ! shall b
through putting things to rights then, an,
will let you in.
OF course Josiah was not too obtuse to un
derstaud that, and so far forgot his bashful
ness as to petition for good-by kiss, whic
was peromptorily refused.
No. | shant. Do take yourself off 80
Think | didn't see you fdgetting aroun,
Sarah Jones at Deacon Dangers yesterda,
EVENING" I've not forgotten that sir
Now, Hetty -
But the appeal was broken of by tan
ializing little laugh; and as he sprang foI
ward to take pleasant revenge on his TOT
mentross, she slipped away and ran up til
path to the house, where he saw her wave he
hand as she disappeared within the kitche
porch and then he turned from the gate an
took the road homeward.
The tea things had been carried out, III
table set back against the wall, the crumb
brushed off from the clean, house-made car
pet. and Hetty's workstand drawn up in fror
OF the blazing fire. A beautiful piled plat
of great red apples and plate of cracke
walnuts were on it, in close proximity {
Hetty's work-basket.
On one side of the fire sat Mrs. Thoma,
fat and fair, and at peace with all the world
rocking and knitting and refreshing herse
at sundry intervals with bite from a hall
eaten apple that lay on the corner Of the "a
BILE, and touching every now aud then, in
oaressing manner, with her foot. a sleek, laz
lookingcat that purred and worked on the 9th
er side. Hetty was sewing and thinking ho'
she would tell her mother she expected a Wis
itor. She would have given the world to /
able TO say, in an of-hand manner, that sh
expected Mr.. Hawiey to drop in about eigh
But she recolleeted with twinge of cor
science, how hard she had tried TO &c, the oil
lady TO accompany her husband to Aur
Ruth's. spite of her warnings Of spell
neuralgia how she had also plead headact
as an excuse for not going herself And 81
knew her mother was quite sharp enough
draw her own inference from these facts, an
from her being dressed with unusual care
spend an evening at home.
] shall not dare to tell now. She'll
sure to think wished 10 get her out of Il
way. SO might have Josiah all TO myself an
should never hear the last oft And lii
wise little puss she was silent.
I'll venture my word on it, you would NJ
have wondered al our young farmers onthra
ment If you could have seen Hetty Thomi
as she sat by the flreside that cold Noyemb,
evening.
Under pretext Of being ready to go to h
unele's, Ia thing she had no ideu Of doing
sue had, Just before tea, INDUCED in an ind
eliminate fixing up A neatly fitting da
calico. with the store look stll on il, FIRE
linen collar aud tasteful black silk apron
these were the chief items Of Hetty's toile
but she looked sweet and dainty In her pls
dress, as II hours had been spent in donni
lace and iewels Her rich hair, Of the dark,
tlpgc, fell in shining folds close 10 her wal
red check, and was caught up 10 cunni
net behind.
Eight O'Clock and past! MrS. Thomas y
doing in her chair--her shadow on the O