New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-04-26

60 to her Unclc's "a thiag she had no
idea of doing) she had just before tea
indulged in an indiscriminste, fixing
up a neatly fitting dark calico, with
the store look still on it; fresh linen
collar and tasteful black silk aporn-
these were the chief items of Hettv's
toilet, but she looked,as sweet and dain-
ty in her plain dress as if hours had
been spent in donning lace and jewels.
Her rich hair of the darkest auburn
tinge fell in shining folds close to her
warm red cheek, and was caught up in
cunning net behind.
Eight o'clock and past! Mrs. Thorn
as was doziag in her chair-hsr shad-
ow on the opposite wall bobbing about
in grotesque mimicry, as she nodded
to and fro-now crushing the volumni,
ons white satin bow: on her spruce cap
against the back of her chair-now al
most falling forward and her ball of
yarn had rolled out upon the hearth,
and puss was busy ~coyerting it into
gordlan knots.
And just then came double rap at
the door-so loud, sudden and selfas.
sured that Hetty started up with little
shrek, and set her foot on puss' tail,
who in turn gave voice to her amaze
ment and dlspleaure.
The combined noise aroused Mrs.
Thomas, and, starting in an erect
position, she rubbed her eyes. settled
her cap border, and exclaimed:
'bless my soul, Hetty, what was
that? Somebody at the doors Who can
be coming here this time Of the night?
It's not late, mother only a little
past eight: I'll 60 and see who it is,
says Hetty, demurely taking the can
die from the table.
No. Here you wind'up my ball and
sweep up the hearth, while 60 to the
door, says the old lady whose feet were
struggling in the pcrplexing meshes of
unravcled yarn. 'Drat that cat!,
and all this time Josiah was stand
ing on one foot out on the old porch,
with his hands in his overcoat pockets,
wondering if Hetty had fallen asleep.
and every now and then give the door
a smart rap by way of variety.
In her hurry Mrs. Thomas forgot to
take the candle, and as she was STEP
ping out into the little front entry, the
sitting-room door slammed after her.
She had her hands on the handle of the
door at the moment: and opening it, she
suddenly found herself in the embrace
of a stout pair of arms, and whiskered
face in proximity to her own, and be-
fore she could think about the strange
ness of her situation, she received a pro-
longed kiss hearty smack, full upon
her virtuous matron lips.
oh, murder! Taint Obadiah, nei--
ther!'
She had by this time divested her.
self of the impression that it was her
usually sober spouse, who must have
come home in an unusally excited con-
ditlon, thus to Indulge in such unwon-
ted expressions of affection.
Get out! Get out, I say! WHO are
you, any how? Murder! thieves! Hst-
ty, come here; here's man kissing me
like 'mad! But the intruder having
by, this time discovered his mistake did
not need the indignant pummelling and
scatching of the old .lady's vigorous.
fist to cause him to relinquish his hold,
and fly as fpursued by some indignant
ghost.
Hetty, nearly choking with smother
ed laughter, in spite of her trep;dation
now came to the rescue,
4 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 :es a sucking
dove. She soothed the old lady by|
representing that it might have been
one Of the neighbors who having drank