Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-02-28

hearth, anu puSS was busy converting 1t
into goriian knots.
And just then came double rap at the
door-so loud, sudden and self-assured,
that Hetsy started up with little shrek.
aud set her foot on puss'S tail. who in turn
gave voice to her amazement aad displeas
ure.
The combined noise aroused Mrs Thom-
as and. starting into an erect position, she
rubbed her eyes, settled her cap border, and
exclaimed:
Bless my soul Hetty. what was that?-
Somebody at the door? Who can he COM
ing here at this time of the night?'
It's not late. mothcr-only little past
eight. I'll so ani see who it is, says Het-
ty demurely, taking the candle from the
table.
No. Here. you wind up my ball and
sweep the hearth. while go to the door,
says the old lady. whose feet were strug-
Cling in the pcrplexinS meshes Of the un-
ravelcd yarn. 'Drat the cat'
And all this time Josiah was standing on
one foot out on the cold porch, with his
hands in his overcoat pockets. wondering if
Hetty had fallen asleep. and every now and
then giving the door a smart tap by way of
variety.
In her hurry. Mrs. Thomas forgot to take
the candle. and as she stepped out into the
little front entry, the sitting room door
slammed after her. She had her hanl on
the handle of the hall door at the moment.
and opening it, she suddenly found herself
in the embrace ofa stout pair of arms: q
whiskcred face in close proximity to her
own; and before she could think about the
strangeness of her situation, she received
prolonged kiss-a hearty smack-full up
on her virtuous matron lips
% mnrder' 'Taint Obe1iah, neitherp
She had by this time divested herself of
the impression that it was her usually So
Der spouse. who must have come home in
an unusually exalted condition. thus to in
dulge in such unwonted expressions of af-
fection.
Get ontl Get ont. say! Who are
you. anyhow Murder! thievesl Hettyl
come here. Here's man kissing me like
madl'
But the intruder had by this time dis
covered his mistake, it did not need the
indignant pummeling and scratching of the
old ladv's vigorous fists to cause him to
relinquish his hold, and fly as if pursued by
some indignant ghost
Het;y nearly choking with smothered
laughter. in spite of her trepidation, now
came to the rescue.
Il never was so frightened in all nv lifel
The mean scamp Who could it be? Het-
ty, have you any idca?'
But that dutiful daughter was to all APP
pearancc innocent as a sucking dove She
soothed the old lady by representing that
it might have been ono of the neishbors,
who having drank too much, had mistaken
the house and the housewife. She search
ed the entry for the missing spectacles,
dropped in the scuffle and arranged the
rumpled cap-border; wound up the tangled
yarn; stirred the fire-all in the most arnia-
BILE manner possible; and at length had the
satisfaction of seeing her mother subside
into her chair and her accustomed tranquil
ity.
Mrs. Thomas was fully awake now
She had a new idea in her head, and in
stead Of settling herself for another nap she
pursued the train of thought and her knit
ting, both at the same time with wonder
ful rapidity. AT length, stopping and
looking keenly at Hctty.
L suppose it's queer idea Of mino Hct
ty, but I've notion that man was 'Siah
Hawley.' My! but If Hetty's face did not
fire up then! You might have lit can
die by it-These incipient symptoms did
not escape the wary inquisitor.
Pears so to me. Cause those big
whiskers were so much like his'n, and the
awkward way he gripped me with his
great paws AL sis6
Hetty was wonderfully busy. She bent
over her work and drew her needle through
so rapidly that the thread snapped. an |
then she was so much engaged in thread
ing her needle again, she didn't have time
to answer. T s. 80, Is nsa
Il don't believe that kiss was meant for
me after all. Wonder soho it was intended
for; and wonder If you don't know some.
thing about it. Hetty?' .ss ;lni edE
Ne, mothcr?' ,.asl seam -. iiss
Yes, you HeHy You was mighty anx
ious to get me and pap off to see aunt Ruth
this evening; but noticed you were slick
cd up extraordinary, for all you wern't
going. Trd slii ai8 sfon 8 es.i s.
Now, Hetty, I'm gettin' old. know
it; but havn't quite lost my cye-sight
yet. I've heard something about this. be-
tween you and Siah Hawley What are
you piayin' possoin for? Out with it I
say! ss s9H g. sst a
Our little schciner Thus abjured, made a
clean breast of the matter. much relieved
to find that mother 'hadn't nuthin' agin
him. and would give father talk about
it, and bring him round e7es4'es
But. Hetty. want you to tell Siah I'd
rather he'd not make such mistake again.
don't like the feel of his big whiskers
about MY face. | don't approve of pro-
miscuous kissing oaee -
Siah never heard the last Of that blunder,
Old Squire Thomas used to delight In
releasing the story whenever all the par
ties interested happened to be present. He
would shake his fat sides at } osiah's dis
comfiture and his wife's tart replies, and
Hetty would join him, and both would
laugh until the tears ran down their
cheeks. 9di Ietss aR smis ssi Is ss,fd
Never mind. Siah. Mrs. Thomas would
say, consoling. Let him laugh. He'll
ve'bcen only too glad to have been in
vour r,laro tsvenfv voerc .<xof :. H h,d