Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-02-01

and tasteful black silk apron-these were
the chief items of Hetty IS toilet; but she
looked as sweet and dainty in her plain
dress as if hours had been spent in don
ming. lace and jewels. Her rich hair Of
the darkest auburn tinge fell in shining
folds close to her warm red cheek, and
twas caight up in a cunning net behind
] Eight o'clock and past! Mrs. Thomas
was doing in her chair-her shadow
on the opposite wall bobbing about in
grotesque mimicry, as she nodded to and
fro = now crushing the voluminous
white satin bows on her spruce cap
against the back of her chair-now al
lmest falling forward, and her fat hands
Aay listlessly in her lap, and her ball OF
yarn had rolled out upon the hearth
and puss was busy converting it into
gordian knots.
And just then came a double rap at
the door-so loud, sudden and self-as-
sured that Hetty started up with little
shrek, aad set her foot on puss's tail,
who in turn gave voice to her amaze
ment and displeasure.
The combined noise aroused Mrs.
Thomas, and, starting in an erect posi-
ton, she rubbed her eyes, settled her
cap border, and exclaimed
"Bless my soul, Hetty, what was that?
Somebody at the door? Who can be
coming here at this time of the night?"
ats not late, mother-only little
past eight; I'll 60 and see who it is
says Hetty, demurely taking the candle
from the table.
"No. Here you wind up my ball and
sweep up the hearth, while I 60 to the
door" says the old lady, whose feet was
struggling in the perplexing meshes of
unraveled yarn. ''Drat that cat!''
And all this time Josiah was standing
on one foot out on the old porch, with
his hands in his overcoat pockets, won
dering if Hetty had fallen asleep, and ev-
cry now and then giving the door a
smart rap by way CT variety.
In her hurry, Mrs Thomas forgot to
take the candle, and as she was stepping
out into the little front entry, the sit
ting-room door slammed after her
She had her hand on the handle of the
door at the moment, and opening it,
she suddenly found herself in the en-
brace Of a stout pair of arms, a whisk-
cred face in close proximity to her own;
and; before she could think about the
strangeness of her situation, she re-
ceived prolonged kiss, a hearty smack,
full upon her virtuous matron lips,
60 murder 'Taint Obadiah, neither!''
She had by this time divested herself
of the impsession that it was her usually
sober spouse who must have come home
in an unusually excited condition, thus
to indulge in such unwonted expressions
of affection.
"Get out Get out, I sa5l Who are
you, any how? Murder! thieves! Hetty,
come here; here's man kissing me like
madr' But the intruder having by this
time discovered his mistake, did not
need the indignant pummelling and
scratching Of the old lady's vigorous
fists to cause him to relinquish his hold,
and fly as if pursued by some indignant
ghost.
Hetty, nearly choking with smothered
laughter, in spite of her trcpidation,
now came to the rescue.
II never was so frightened in all my
life The mean scamp! Who could it
be? Hetty, have you any idea?'
But that dutiful daughter was, to all
appearance, innocent as sucking dove.
She soothed the old lady by represent
ing that it might have been one of the
neighbors who having drank too much,
had mistaken the house and the house
wife. She searched the entry for the
missing spectacles, dropped in the scuf-
fe; rearranged the cap border; wound
up the tangled yarn; stirred the fire
all in the most amiable manner possible;
and at length had the satisfaction of see
ing her neither subside into her chair
in her accustomed tranquility.
II suppose it's queer idea Of mine,
Hetty, but, I've notion that man was
Siah Hawley." My! but if Hetty's face
did not fire up then! You might have
held a candle by it, These iacipient
symptoms did net escape the wary in
QUESTION,
s'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!
Hetty was wonderfully busy She
bent over her work and drew the needle
through so quickly that the thread snap
ped, and then she was so much engaged
in threading her needle again, she didn't
have time to answer
Il don't believe that kiss was meant
for me after all Wonder a5Ro it was in
tended for and wonder if you don't know
about it, Hetty.''
Me! mother
Yes, you Hetty. You was mighty
anxious to get me and pap off to aunt
Ruth this evening; but noticed you
we're slicked up extraordinary, for all
you wer'nt going"
"Now, Hetty, L m gettin old know
it; but [ havn't quite lost my eye-sight
yet. I've heard something about this
between you and 'Siah Hawley. What
are you playin' 'possum fur?-Out with
it, 1 say''
Our little schemer thus abjured, made
a clean breast of the matter; much re-
lieved to find that mother "hadn't
nuthin' again him. and would "give
father talk about it, and bring him
round"
"But, Hetty, I want you to tell 'Siah
I'd rather he'd not make such mistake
agin. l don't like the feel of his big
whiskers about my face, 1 don't approve
of promiscuous kissing
'Siah never heard the last of that
blunder. Old Squire Thomas used to
delight in rehearsing the story whenever
all the parties interested would happen