Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-01-24
MISCELLANY.
KISSED BY MISTAKE

VIII you be at home tonight Hetty ?" and
the speaker, a tall, muscular, well-looking
young farmer, REDEEMED to the roots of bis hair,
as though he had committed some very wicked
act, instead of asking simple question.
He was bashful, extremely so was Josiah
Hawley, at least in the presence of young ladies
most of allin the presenceof the girl he loved
No voting farmer in all the country possessed a
better kept farm, or talked with moreconfdence,
among his compeers, Of the stock and crops,
and on kindred subjects. But the glimpse of
one pretty face, or foot, coming in his direction
affected him like fash Of lightning. On such
occasions he never knew what to do with bis
hands and eyes, and always felt like screwing
himself into mouse hole. How ne ever con-
trved to approach Hester Thomas on the sub
ect of his preference for her, probably remains
to this day as much a mystery to himself as it
is to Others.
But that young lady bad quite an amount Of
tact and cleverness slowed away somewhere in
her pretty little head, albeit it was set on the
dimpled, inexperienced shoulders of seventeen.
Josiah was worth, in worldly way, much
more than any of her other suitors; gOod-look
ing and intelligent enough to satisfy any but
an over-fastidious person; uneXceptionable, in
short, barring his excessive bashfulness, which
was a fruitful source of merriment among the
young people in their little circle. And so,
when Josiah, in his awkward blundering way,
began to exhibit his preference for her in va.
rious little ways, such as waiting on her to and
from singing school, constituting himself her
escort. when she rode on horseback to the soli-
tary church in the woods, and singing her out
at quilting parties, Hctty took it all in the easi
est, pleaSantest manner possible. The girls
laughed, and the young men cracked sly Jokes
at the expense of her timid suitor; but Eetty
stood up for him Independently encouraged
him out of shyness-never noticed any unfor-
tunate blunder-and very likely helped him
along considerably when his feelings reached
" the eliminating point" one moonlight Au-
tumn evening, as they were walking home to-
gether from prayer meeting. That was week
ago. He,ty had said Eyes" and agreed to
"bring Gather and mother around on the sub
ject"
J siah had not been to the house since
probably feeling very muchlike dog venturing
upon the premises of person whose sheep-fold
he had just plundered. Asyet neither had had
the courage to speak to the ''reignng powers"
on the subject; and Hetty, feeling as if she
wanted to put the ordeal off as long as possible,
at any rate q have one more confidential talk
with him on the subject, said:
"Motl er is going over TO Aunt Ruth's to
spend the evening, and wants me to 60 But
| gu.ss l won't. I've been working ON fathers
shirts all day, besides doing the dairy work, and
am as tired as | can be. So | guess they will
have to 90 without me. Do not come until
eight o'clock. ! shall be putting things to
rights then, and will let you in.
OF course Josiah was not too obtuse to un-
derstand that, and forgot his bashfulness so far
as to petition for goodbye kiss, which was
peremptorily refused of course.
"No, shant Dotake yourself off, Think
didn't see you fidgeting around Sarah Jones
at Deacon Badgers last evening? I've not for
gotten that, sir !"
"Now Hetty-"
But the appeal was broken of by tantali-