Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-04-15


recspture. But before he had time to put his
plan into execution his tormentress. after
stopping to give one mocking farewell wave
OF her hand from the front porch, vanished
inside of the hall door. So there was nothing
to be done but to'turn reluctantly from the
gate and taking the road homeward.
If you could have looked into the family
sitting room at Squire Moore's shortly before
eight o'clock on that same evening you would
have had cherry picture before you. The
after supper clearing away was over, for the
sitting room was also the room where the
daily meals of the family were eaten. The
leaves ot the old fashioned dinner table had
been let down. and the table itself. covered
with bright oil cloth. set back against the
wall. The crumbs had been carefully brush
ed with a turkey wing from the neat home
made carpet, and Annie's workstapd was
drawn up in front of the ample aud blazing
fire of hick kory logs which cracked cheerily
in the old>fashioned fire. place
a bountfully piled tray of red>cheeked ap
pies and plate full of cracked wanuts were
on It. in close proximity to Aunie's coaucttish
work basket, made of pine cones by her own
dett little hands, and daintily lined with blue
silk
On one side of the FIRE place sat Mrs
Moore, fat, fair, more than forty. and at reace
with all the world. She eat swaying backs
words and forwards ut intervals in her low
rocking chair. knitting as she rocked and re-
treshing herself now and then with a mouths
fui from half eaten apple which lay within
easy reach. Just upon the corner of the fable.
or touching in carcssing manner with the
tip OF her foot sleek lazy looking gray cat
that Law purrng and blinking on the hearth
rug before her.
Annie sat on the other eide Of the table
deftly drawing her needle in and out nj n long
piece OF white cambric, and with her head as
busy ns her hands with irving to contrive
some clever way Of incidently mentinning the
? SIT. which she wos now mnmentarilv exT ec:>
ing, to her mother, without cxcitinr the sna
plclon OF its being a prc>arrangcd affair Sh,
would have given good deal to have been
able to say in off>hand manner that she
wouldn't wonder if Mr. Winthrop were to
drop in. as he in the habit of calling oc.
casi"nAIiv on Saturday evening at about this
time. But she recn'lected with twince Of
conscience how hard she had tried to persuade
the old lady IN accompany her husband on the
promised visit to Aunt Ruth's in snite Of her
t"rewarnings Of n coming smell Of f'neuroluv
which had intimidatcd her from vcrturico ont
into the damp night air; and also how she
had plead headache as an excuse fi,r not voinu
herself. She know thar her mother was onto
sharp enough to draw her own inference from
these tw" facts and the additional one Of her
he'ng dressed with more than usual care to
spend an evening at home.
''I shall not dare to tell her now" she saiI
to herself Shed he to think that
wanted to get her ont of the wnv. so that T
might have David all to myself" So, like n
wise little puss, she was silent
I'll word on ,.o,, ,ro,,I1 80.
have wondered at our bashful youny farmers
desper"t" cnthralmen. If You could have seen
Annie Moore as she sat sewing by the fire
that frosty night in November She had.
just hei're snnper. indulgci in what n West
ern girl would call "a fixing mp" 4 neat fit
ting dark chiutz dress, looking ns fresh az
when 1t h"d first came ont of the vilsgc store
81 dainty white linen collar aud cuff. and co
Hn"ttiSh frill"d apron Of white muslin, aud
blue neck ribbon tied in a cunning bow were
the chief items of Annie's toilette. But she
looked as sweet and pretty as il hours had
hPen spent in dnnning satin lace and Jewels
Her rich, wavv, unld>hrown hair was carried
in shining folds away from her warm red
cheek and caught upin the nlcshcs Of sIkcn
net at the back
Eight "'cl"ck and past! Worthy Mr..
Moore WAS d"zn9 over her knitting Her
gr"tesgne mimicry she nodded to and fro
now crushing the vnumninus white satin
bows on her spruce cap against the back of
her chnir-n"w almos. falling forward, while
her fat hands st length dropped Iistessly in
her lar. and her hall of warn rolled down
npon the hearth. Pussy espyne it, wns soon
hnsy in nnwinding and converting it into all
sorts of Gnr1ian kncts
All at once d"nble rap ut the door-an
nnC'acinns d"nhl" raD-whch said .sLet me
in - 90 loudly and imuat;entlv; and in such
self assured manner, that Annie. rendered
nervous hv susrcncr, started up with little
scream ard set I.rr inot on Madame Puz4' tail.
who in turn vav" vent still loudly, to her
amaz" mcnt and disreasnre
All these three combined or rather rapidly
successive noises, aroused Mrs Moore. and
she started wildly lit" IN erect vo.trre. rub.
hing her eyes, setting her cap border AID cx.
claiming:
''Blcss my sonl Annie, What was all tlIat9
Somebody at the door? What time is it anv
how. and who can il be So late as this tool"
''lt is not very late, mother Oily little
after eight. I'll 20 and see who it is" said
Annie, demure'y. at the same time taking the
one candle from the table.
No! Here, Annie, ynn wind M nv ball
and brush up the hearth while 90 to the
door. Drat that cat
For the old l"dy's feet we're all thi, while
struggling in the perple1ing mesles Of the
ravclled yarn.
In her hurry Mrs Moore forgot to take The
c"nd'" with her; and a. she a'tpped ont into
the small unIigh'ed front entry, she unwii>
t,ngLv closed behind ll'r the door Of the room,
she had just left. Almost al the same mo-
ment she put her hand on the latch Of the
outer door, and opcnin. it she suddenly found
herself in the ardent embrace Of nair of
stout arms a whiskered face was boru"ht
into close proximity wirh her own. and before
she could fully realize her position, she re-
ce'ved prolonged kise-a hearty smack.
given with significent gusto which indicated