The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-11-03
KISSED BY MISTAKE.
by R. A. w.


by r. A. W.
"Will you be at home to night,
Mary ?"
And the speaker, tall, muscular,
well.looking farmer, reddened to the
roots of his hair, as though he had
committed SOME very wicked act in-
stead of asking a simple question.
lie was bashful, extremely SO, was
James Brown, at least, in the pres.
ence Of ladies, and, most of all, in the
soclety of the girl he loved.
1 How be enntrived to approach Mary
Williams on the subject Of his prefer
ence for her, probably remains as
mucha mystery to himself as it is to
Others.
James was worth, in worldly way,
more than any 5f her suitors good
looking and intelligent enough tn sat
isfy any one but au over fastidious
person.
Mother is going over to Aunt Ems
to spend the evening, and wants me to
go; hut i vent, Pve been working
on fathers shirts all day, besides do
ing the dairy work, aud am as tired
as | can be; so they will have to do
without me. Don't come until eight
o'cilack ] shall be through putting
things to rights then, and will let you
in."
OF course James so far forgot his
bushfulness as to petition for a good
bye kiss, which was peremptorily re-
fused.
mo, | shau't !. Think | didn't see
you fdgeting ronnd Sarah Jones yes,
terday? I've not forgotten that, sir!'
"Nuw, Mary
But the appeal was broken off by a
tantalizing little laugh, and as he
sprang forward to take pleasant re-
venge on his tormentress, she slipped
away, and ran up the path to The
house, where he saw her wave her
hand as she disappeared within the
kitchen porch.
And then he turned from tlie gate,
and took the road homeward.
I e tea.thiDgs had been carried out,
the table set back against the wall,
and Mary's workstand drawn up in
front of the blazing fire, .''
Mary sewing aud thinking how
she could tell her mother she expected
a visitor.
She would have given the world to
be able to say, in au oF-handed man.
ner, that she expected Mr.. Brown to
drop in about eight.
81 shall not dare to tell her. shell
be sure to think | wished to get her
out Of the way, SO l might have James
ali &c myself. and | should never hear
the last of it,"
And, like wise little puss, she was
silent.
You would not have wondered al
our young farmers enthralment, il
you could have seen Mary William;
as she sat by the freside that cold No
vember eRening. &t
A neatly fttsaig, dark calico, with
the new look still on it, fresh lnel
collar, and tasteful black apron.
These were the chief items of Mary
toilet; but she locked as sweet anC
dainty in her plain dress as if hours
had been spent in donning laces anC
jewels.
Eight o'clock aud past.
Mrs. Williams was doing in hel
chair-her shadow on the wall hobbeC
about in grolesque mimicry as sh,
nodded to and fro. and her fat hands
lay listlessly in her lap, land her ball o
yarn had rolled out upon the hearth
and puss was busy converting it intC
Gordian knots.
/ And Just then came a double rap a
! the door-so loud, so sudden, SO self
assured. that Mary started up. with ;
little shrek, and set her foot on tht
cats tail, who, in turn, gave voice t,
her amazement and displeasure
The combined noise aroused Mrs
Williams. and, starting into an cree
posture, she rubbed her eyes, settled
her cap border, and EXCLAIMED:
BLESS my soul, Mary! What wa
that Somebody at the door? VIII,
can he coming at this time of night p
ut is not late, mother-only littl
after eight I'll go and see who it is,
said Mary, demurely, taking the can
die from the table.
"No You wind up my ball, AM
sweep up the hearth while go TO III
door," said the old lady, whose fee
were struggling in the meshes Of tn
unravelled yarn. "Drat that cat !"
And all this time James was stand
ing on one foot in the cold porch, wit
his hands in his overcoat pockets