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

me1t and displeasure. The combined noise
roased Mrs. Thomas, and starting to an erect
position, she rubbed her eyes, settled her cap-bor
der, and exclaimed: "Bless My soul, Hetty,
what was that2 Somebody at the door? Who
can be coming here at this time ofnight2" otis
not late, mother-only little past o. clock I'll
60 and see who ii is" says Hetty, demurely,
taking the candle from the table. 'fNo. Here,
you wind up my ball and sweep up the hearth,
while go to the door," says the old lady,
whose feet were struggling in the meshes of the
unravelled yarn. " Drat that cat.''
And all this time Josiah was standing on ono
foot cut in the cold porch, with his hands in his
overcoat pockets, wondering if Hatty had fallen
asleep and every now and then giving the doer
a smart rap by way of variety: In her hurry
Mrs. Thomas forgot to take the candle, and as
she stepped out into the little front entry the sit
ting room door slammed after her. She had her
hand on the handle of the hall door at the mo-
ment, and opening it, she suddenly found her
self in the embrace OF stont pair of arms, whis-
kered face il close proximity to her own, and
before she could think about the strangeness of
her situation, she received prolonged kiss-a
hearty smack-full upon her vrtuous matron
lips
She had by this time divested herself of the inl-
preston that it WAS her usually sober spouse,
who must have come home in an unusually ex-
cited condition thus to indulge in such an ur-
wonten expression Of affection. "Get out Get
out say. Who are you, anyhow Murder !
thieves Hetty, come here. Here's man kissing
me like mad /"
But the intruder had by this time discovered
his mistake--it did not need the indignant pun
melting and scratching of the old lady's fists to
cause him to release his hold and fly as if pursued
by some indignant ghost. Hetty, nearly choking
with smothered laughter, in spite of trepidation,
now came to the rescue.
"I was never so frightened in all my life =
The mean scamp! Who can it be, Het ty2'
But that dutiful daughter was, to all appear
ances, rs innocent as a turtle dove. She soothed
the old lady by representing 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 scufia, rearranged the
stirred the fire--all in the most arabe manner
possible-and at length had the satisfaction of
seeing her neither subsde into her chair and her
accustomed tranquility.
Mrs. Thomas was fully awake now.
She had a new idea in her head, and in :
stead of settling herself for another nap,
she pursued the train of thought and her
knitting, both at the same time, with
wonderful rapidity. At length stopping
and looking keenly at. Hctty--'I suppose
it's queer idea Of mine. Hetty, but
have a notion that man was 'Siah Haw-
ley"
My but if Hetty's face dill not fire up
then! You might have lit candle by it.
These incipient symptoms dill not escape
the wary inquisitor. Pears so because
those big whiskers were so much like his'n,
and the awkward way he gripped me with
his great paws"
Hetty was wonderful busy. She bent
over her work and drew the needle through
so quickly that the thread snapped, and
then she was 50 mnch engaged in thread
ing her needle again that she didn't have
time to answer. 81 don't believe that
kiss was meant for mo after all. Wonder
who it was intended for? and I wonder
if you don t know something about it,
Hetty?" "Ms! mothsr?" "Yes, you,
Hetty. You was mighty anxious to get
me and pap of to Aunt Martha's this
evening, bus | noticed that you were
slicked up extraordinary, for all you wasn't
going. Now, Hetty, am getting old; ]
know it, but I haven't quite lost my eye
sight yet. I've heard something about
this between you AMI 'Siah Hawloy. Now
what are you playing possum for? Oat
with it, I sayp'
Our little schemor, thus aljnrel, made
u clean breast of it much relieved to find
that ''mothor hadn't nothin' agin him,
and would "give father talk about it,
and bring him round" - "But, Hetty, ]
want you to tell 'Siah I'd rather he'd no
make such mistake again 1 don't like
the feel of his big whiskers about nay face
I don't approve Of p'omiseuous kissing" J."
'Siah never heard tho last of tiat blum
Ger. OLD Squire Thom.s used to delight
to rehearse the story whenever all the
parties Interested happand to bo'.pr esent.
He would shake his fat sides at Jusiah's
discontinue an his wife's tart replies,
and IIctty would join him, and both
would laugh until tears ran down their
checks.
"Never mind, 'Siah,' Mrs. Thomas
would say, consoliagly; "lst him laugh
He'd have been only too glad to hav,
been in your place twenty years ago. He
had hard work to get kiss from mo then
And l hope it will be lesson to you and
Hetty agin the the inlpolicy of conceal
ment and uuderhand d9ngs of all sorts" J"