Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-02-07
KISSED BY MISTAKE.

"Will you be at home to night, Hettyf" and
the speaker, tall, muscular, well-looking youngs
farmer, Redeemed to the roots of his hair, q
though he had committed some very wicked act,
instead of asking simple question.
He was bashful, extremely so was Josiah Haw-
ley, at least in the presence of young ladies'
most of all in the presence of the girl he loved
No young farmer in all the country possessed a
better kept farm, or talked with moro confidence
among his compeers, of the stock and crops and
on kindred subjects. But tho glimpse of one
pretty face, or not, coming in his direction, af-
fected him like fash of lightning. On such
occasions he never knew what to do with his
hands and eyes, and always felt like screwing
himself into mouse hole. How he ever con-
trived to approach Hester Thomas on the subject
of his preference for her. probably remains to this
day as much mystery to him as it is 10 9TH
ers
But that young lady had quite an amount of
tact and cleverness slowed away somewhere in
her pretty little head, al belt it was set on the
dimpled inexperienced shoulders of seventeen
Josiah was worth, in q worldly way, much more
than any of her ether suitors; good looking and
intelligent enough to SATISFY any but an over-fas-
tidious 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, laundering way, began to exhibit his
preference for her in various little ways, such as
waiting on her to and from singing school, con-
stituting himself her escort, when she rode on
horseback to the solitary church in tue woods.
and singing her out at quilting parties, Hetty
took it all in the easiest, pleasantest manner pos
sibe. The girls laughed and the young men
cracked sly jokes at the expense of her timid
sutor; but Hetty stood up for him independent
ly-encouraged him out of shyness-aever no.
ticed any unfortunate blunder-and very likely
helped him along considerably when his feelings
reached ''the eliminating point" one moonlight
Autumn evening, as they were walkisg home to
gether from prayer meeting. That was week
ago. Hetty had said 'yes," and agreed to
"bring father and mother around on the sub
ject."
Josiah had not been to the house since prob
ably feeling very much like dog g..venturing up.
on the premises of person whose sheep fold ht
had just plundered. AS yet neither had had the
courage to speak to the 'reigning powers" or
the subject; and IIetty feeling if she wanted to
put the ordeal off as long as possibly, at any rate
to have one more confidential talk with him or
the subject, said:
''Mother is going over to Aunt Ru!h's to spend
the evening, and wants--me to go. But guess
won't. I've been working on fathers shirts al
day, besides.doing the dairy work, and am a
tired as can be. So guess thsy will have tc
90 without me. Do not come until eight O'Clock
shall be putting things to rights then, and will
let you il.
OF course Josiah was not too obtuse to under
stanl that, and forgot his bashfuluess so fur al
10 petition for goodbye kiss, which was per
cmptorily refused ofc curse.
"No, shan't. Do you take yourself Off
Think didn't see you fageting around Sarah
Jones at Deacon Bldger's last evening? I've not
forgotten that, STRIP
"Now Hetty-"
But the appeal was broken of by a tantali
zing little laugh, and rs he sprang forward tt
take pleasant revenge on his tormen tress, sh,
slipped away and ran mp the path to the house
where he saw her waye her hand rs she disappear
ed within the kitchen porch; AMI then he turned
from the g,tc aud took the road homcward. The
tee things had been ctrriei out, the table SCI
against the wall, the crumbs brushed from tht
clean homemade carpet and Hetty's work-stan(
drawn up i'll front of the blazing fire. A bounti
fully piled waiter of great red apples and n plat,
Of cracked wanuts were on it, in close proximity
to IIetty's work basket.
On one side OF the fire sat Mrs. Thomas, ia
and fair; and at peace with all the world, rock
ing and knitting, aud refreshing herself at sun
dry intervals with bite from a half-eaten appl,
that lay on the corner of the table, and touching
every now and then in a earessing manner with
her foot, a sleek, lazy looking cat that purred
and winked on the rug before her. Hetty sat oil
the other side, sewing, and busy in thinking how
she would tell her m)ther thlt she expected n
visitor. Sh. would have given the world to bt
able to say in an of fhlnl mtnrcr that she ex
pectcd Mr.. Hawley to drop in about eight. Blu
she rccollected with twinge of conscience how
hard she had tried to get the old lady to accom-
pauy her husband to Aunt Ruths spite of he
fprewarnings of spell of neuralgia; how she hat
also plead headache rs IN excuse for not going
herself. And she knew that her mother wa
quite sharp enongh to drown her own Inference
from these facts and from her being dressed will
unusual care to spend an evening at home.
az shall not dare to tell her now. She'll b
sure to think that wanted to get her out of tn
way, go might have Josiah all to myself and
never should hear the last of it," And so, lik
little wise puss, she kept silent.
will venture my word on it, You would no
have wondered at our young farmers desperat
enthrallment if you could have seen iIetty Thoma
as she was sewing by the fre-side on that coli
November evening. Uudcr prctext Of being read
to go to her nncle's IA thing she had no idea G
dcing) she had just before tea, indulgcd in al
indiscriminate "fxing up" A neatly fitting
dark calico with the stere look still on it, res
linen collar and tasteful black apron-thes
were the chief items of Hetty's toilet; but sh
looked as swee; and dainty in her plain dress a
if hours had been spent iu donning lace an
Jewels. Her rich hair ofthe darkest auburn ting
fell in shining folds close to her warm red cheeks