Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-03-04

not have wondered at the Young farmers
desperate enthrallment it you could have
seen lefty Thomas as she sat sewing by
the fireside on that cold November night.
Under pretext of being ready to 90 to
her Urcle's, "a thing she had no idea of
dOingl she had just before tea, INDUCED in
an indiscriminate fixing up" A neatly
fitted dark calico, with the store look still
on it, a fresh linen collar and tasteful black
silk apron-tbese were the chief items of
uetty's toilet; but she looked as sweet and
dainty in her plain dress as if hours had
been spent in donniug laco and Jewels
Her rich hair of tho darkest auburn tinpe
fell in shining folds clnse to her warm
red cheek, and was caught 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 grotes-
que mimicry. as she nodded to and FRO
nrw crushing the voluminous white satin
bows on her spruce cap against the back
of the chair-now almost falling forward,
and her fat hands lay listlessly in her lap,
and her ball Of yarn had rolled out upon
the hearth, and puss was busy converting
it into goadian knots.
And just then came double rap at the
door-so loud, sudden and self as sured
that IIetty started up with little Shrek
and set her foot on puss' tail, which in
turn gave vent to her amazement and dis
Measure.
The combined noise aroused Mrs. Thorn
as and starting intp an erect position, she
rubbed her eyes, settled her cap border,
and exclaimed:
BLESS my soul, He,ty, what was that /?
Somebody at the door? Who can be COM
ing here at this time of night?"
ut is not late mother-only little past
eight. FL 20 and see who it is" saws net.
ty, demurely taking the candle from the
| tatle.
No. Hero you wind up my ball and
sweep up the hearth, while go to the
door," says the eli lady, whose feet we're
struggling in the perplexing meshes of the
unraveled yarn. "Drat that cat"
And all this time Josiah was standing or
one foot out on the old porch, with his
hands in his overcoat pockets, wondering if
Hetty had fallen asleep. and every now aud
| then giving the door u smart rap by way
| Of variety.
In her hurry, Mrs Thomas forgot to take
/ the candle, and as she stepped into the lit
| tie fr, mt entry, the sitting room door was
slammed after her. She had her hand on
the handle Of the DOR at the moment, AMI
| opening it, she suddenly found herself in
the embrace of stout pair Of arms a
whiskercd face in close proximity to her
/ own. aud before she could think Of the
/ etrangeness Of her situation, she received u
| prolonged kiss-a hearty smack-full upon
her virtuous matron lips.
20, murder! 'Taint Obadiah. Meth
er!"
! She had by this time invested herself Of
! the impression that this was her usual V
! sober spouse who must have come home in
an unusually exalted con iition thus to in
dulge III such unwonted expressions Of aft
fectior.
Get out! Get out, l say Who are
you any how Murder thieves IIsttyl
come here Here's man kissing me like
mad ="
But the intruder had by this time dis
covered his mistake-it did not need the in
digEant purnmeling 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.
IIetty, nearly checking with smothered
laughter, in spite Of her trepidati n, now
came to the rescue.
III never was So frightened in all my life.
The mean scamp! Who could it be?-
lletty have you any idea p
But that dutiful taughtes was to all ap>
pearancc, Innocent as a sucking dove. She
soothcd the old lady By the assurance that
it might have been one Of the neighbors
who, having drank too much, had mir t ken
the house and the housewife. She searched
the entry for the missing spectaclss drOy.
& Il Al.
cap border; wound up the tangled yarn
stirred the tire-all in the most amiable
manner possible and at Inst had the sa'i5-
faction of seeing her mother subside into
her chair and her accustomed tranquility.
Mrs. Thomas was fully awake now; she
had new idea in her head and instead OF
settling herself for another nap, she pur.
sued the train of thought and her knitting
both at the same time, with wonderful ra-
pidity. AT length, stopping and looking
keenly at Hetty.
81 suppose IFS q queer idea of mine
; Hetty, but J've notion that man was 'Siat
Iawley" My! but if Hetty's face die
It fire Up them You might have lit 1
candle by it; and these incipient symp'
toms did not escape the wary iuquisitcr.
Pears so to me. Cause those big wi his
kers we're so much like his'n and the awk-
ward way he grip2ei me with his grea
, paws!"
Hetty was wonderful busy. She ben
over her work and drew the needle through
go quickly, that the thread SNAPPED, an,
she was so much engaged in threading hel
needle again she didn't have time TO answ
er.
II don't. believe the kiss was meant fo
me, after ALL Wonder who it was intend
+ ed for, and wonder if yGu don't know some
thing about it, Hetty ~
ME! Mother?"
ayes, yJu Hetty. You were mighty anx
ious to get me and pap off to Aunt Ruth
this evening; but l noticed you were slick
ed up extraordinary, for all you were no
going"
Now, Hetty, I'm getting DID, l know
it; but l haven't quite lost my eye sigh
yet. I've heard something about this be-
tween you and Siah Hawley. What arr
you playing possum for? Out with it
sayW
Our little schemer thus adjured, made {
clean breast of the matter; much relieve,
to find that her mother "hadn's nuthin
agin him." and would give father tall
about 1t, and bring him round"
But, Hetty, | want you to tell Siah II
rather he'd not make such a mistake agin
don't like the feel of big whiskers abJu
my face, | don't approve Of promiscuOu'
kissing"
Siah never heard the last of tina biund
err. Old Squire Themas used to delight il
rehearsiDg the story whenever all the par
ties happened to be present lie wOulC
shake his fat sides at Josiah's discontinue
and his wife's tart replies. and Hetty wouIt
join him, and both wouli laugh until tbs
tears ran down their cheeks.
iNever mind, Siah," Mrs Thomas woult
say consoling. Let him laugh. Ue'C
have been only too glad to have been il
your place twenty years age. He had hare
work TO get kiss from me then. And