Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-19

"What stupid" cried Mahala as she
led him out. "Now stand over !"
So he did--over tie right shaft. Mahala
remembered that on such occasions the hr-
ed man swore at the horse and his brother
kicked him, but, not choosing to adopt
either of these methods, she rolled her dim
pied hand into the roundest of fists and beat
tattoo on Blackey's fat sides, while with
her left hand she jerked the bride rather VI
ciously. Thus admonished, Blackey put
himself into the right position, and Mahala
triumphanlly drew up the wagon little and
fastened the traces Sue then bucklud the
quilers, after cogitating for some time upon
tne best method of wrapping the straps
around the shafts. Then she carefully exam
ined the swngle-tree.
" | am sure Will said It was weak she
thought, "but to me 1t looks sound enough. "
Then she pissed the lines through the
rings, and her deit fingers looped them up
quickly. Now her task was accomplished
TO her satisfaction, and she led Blacky to
the post and fastened his securely with the
hitching rein.
Sac went into the house through the kitch-
en- to get a look at the clock. ssFiye min
ues OF ten, she said 81 will certainly be
back by three--in plenty of time to have hot
biscuits for supper"
She assembled the stairs into the second
story to her bed room, where she proceeded
to spread her long, soft, brown hair over a
great, ugly waterfall. Her front hair, al
ready as climpled and fuzzy as tangled
skcin OF floss silk, she threw back from her
face, aud giving the ends q mysterious twirl,
they disappeared in tue innernost recesses
| Of her waterfall. Then she arrayed herself
in light grass poplin suit, put on linen cuffs,
fastened her linen collar with u turquoise
pin, and hung earrings of the same in her
ears; and percning u large straw hat on tho
top of the mass oil floss silk, and putting on
a pair of stout, cotton gloves, she gave a
satisfied glance at the looking glass and skip
ped down stairs.
Give me piece Of gingerbread for my
lunch, mother, and now l am Off Tell
Susan there will be biscuits TO bake for
supper"
THE START.
Old Blackey surveyed Mahala from her
hat TO her boots while she was untying him,
but whether the snort he gave betokened ap-
probation or otherwise, has never transpired.
Mahala quickly UNFINISHED the lines, took
them gracefully in her left hand and made u
flying leap in the wagon, greatly to the di-
version OF Susan, the GIRL who was hold
ing the gate open. Mahala clicked encour-
agingy to the horse, whcreupon lie pricked
up his ears, whisked his tail and trotted
through the gate in fine style,and went gayly
up the road.
" There's an old SHOE said Susan; "Il
throw it after her for good luck. Here
goes /"
WHAT WAS SAID AT THE STAR TAVERN.
Blackey soon moderated his pace, but as
the road was level, he trotted along with
some attempt at briskness until he came to
| fret hi iot, ,.,i, Ia:
home. On the top of the hill stocd an
ancient stone house, long aud low. From
u tall pole in front swung n blue board with
q great, staring yellow star in its centre, thus
announcing to all travellers the whereabouts
of the Star Tavern. Mahala cast an evil eye
upon this luminary, now brightly rejecting
the rays of the sun, for she had her own
reasons for disliking it. But her thoughts
were recalled from this beautiful emblem by
an ominous creaking, which made her start
from her seat and look anxiotsly over ut the
swingle-lree. 1t was as she feared: there
was u gaping crack in it. Much as she dis
liked it, she was forced to stop at the Star
Tavern.
81 hope Anthony has gone to the srais-
ing" she thought as she reined up her horse
under the sign.
i A dirty, frowzy old woman appeared in
the doorway.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Murry. You don't
seem to know me 7"
"Why, Mahaly, is that you? didn't
know you in the old wagon, I'm used to
seeing you in your smart turnout. Ain't
you coming in r
"No, thank you. | am going to Har-
mony to the mill, as Will and Mike are both
away. Are any of the men folks about ?
My swingle-tree needs mendng."
81 believe Anthony is somewhere on the
place. There he is, coming out of the barn.
Anthony! Anthonyl this way!'
Anthony was a tail, numbering young man,
with his head and the lower part Of his face
covered with thick crop of black hair. II
he would only have looked people in the
face when he spoke, aud trimmed his hail
and beard, he would have been a very pre-.
sentable person, but, as it was, he was as
Unlocking fellow as one would care to
meet ON the open highway
Mahala gave little toss of her head when
Anthonys name was called, and he saw it,
He came up TO the wagon in a half-bashful
} half-sulky manner, and replied in sury
tone to Mahaas greeting. However, when
he found what was wanted vi him, his face
, frightened little, and he returned to Til,
barn for rope. While he was gone, Mrs
Murray entertained Mahala by asking ques
tiuns, but when he made his second appear
I ance she excused herself to return to he
baking
For few minutes there was silence
Mahala was thinking what she could say t
i him that would be pleasant and would no
lead to topics she did not wish touched
: upon, when suddenly Anthony lifted hi
q eyes from the rope he was winding.
81 wonder you amt afraid to trust NE t.
! mend your swinglc-tree," he said, "whei
you treat me so bad"
: =" | do not treat you badly" said Mahala
the color rushing into her face, for here wa
Anthony broaching the very subject sh
= wished to avoid.
h "Yes, you do. There amt slight yo
i can put upon me that you don't do it"
elf do, it is your own fault-you fore
IL me to it. Ifanybody sighted me, woul
y not speak to him again"
: 81 know you wish wouldn't, but / ain
~ going to give up when everybody know
: you are the girl I've had my eyes on eve
= since we went to school together. And Ii
1t not the man to be laughed at twice becaus
,f he can't get the girl he wants."
"a great, strong man like you should ne
y mind being laughed at. Can't you bear d
X much as Sam Peck? He courted Lu Mile
s. for two years, and she refused him at las
ID And there is Will Price, who has aske
= every pretty girl in the neighborhood. Nea
q ly all the young men around here have ha
er the mitten from somebody They don
s. mind it, but try their luck elsewhere. TIL,
h. is what you should do, for many nice ri
:, would jump at the chance of marrying Al
~ thony Murray.
am sorry to-day that Mahala did not b.
OF lieve this, but she was afraid of the man, AN
ve she was conscious that she had sometim,
- treated him with rudeness when provoke
u at his obtrusive attentions. Perhaps no
We he might revenge himself by tying the rol
In such cunning manner as to break HI
as neck on Long Hill.
- "Umph !" growled Anthony, feeling tn
Vi he was being stroked into good humor. al
ny determined not to submit T., coaxing "Tht
,st will have to jump to a tune ofanother man
nd playing, then. But know who will ha'
=, to jump to tune of my playing if he dor
~ mend his manners;" and he passed the Ell
a of the rope through loop, drew it fast al
er knotted 1t securely with angry force, as
ha the individual referred TO were under il.
no Mahala turned pale. ''Do YOU know
ey she said, quickly, ''that Mr.. Carey is goil
, it to marry Bessie Jones?"
X ''No, don't, and you don't, either" sa
| A Authnnu dpurndIu Hara ba ,cr.xL. 4. =