Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-06-03


"Of course he'll go home with her &c
! night" thought Hiram. It'll be the fir.
! time Eve missed it for "A year. Hes we
| come though
All the intermission he kept his seat, an
pretended to be very busy looking 70
some tune In the singing book that refuse
to be found. Jenny did not look at him.
The doXology closed the school at last
and there was a grand bustling about tn
oor,and eager pushing amoung the youn:
men to make sure of their favorites. Iii
ram was trying to make his way through
the crowd. when he found himself at tn,
elbow of Jenny Bates, ard the same mo
mcnt the hateful voice OF Elnathau Roger
was heard in the words:
Shall see you home tonight, Mis-
Bates?''
No SIR" was the prompt reply. -.
shall walk home alone"
Hiram was totally unprepared for this
Perhaps it's one OF her fits. he said tS
himself The deacon said she had em
that nobody knew but himself. I'm glal
she mittened him. though
The word mitten reminded Hiram that
he had left both his on his seat in the school
room, and he stepped back just as the can
dies were being put out.
Heres Jenny Bates's singing book he
heard one boy say TO another. ''She
went off 10 such hurry tonight, that she
forgot it,"
Give 1t to me-" said Hiram, who re.
memb cred what had taken place that ey-
ening, and with eager look sought out the
written message that had passed between
Jenny and his rival. They wee "a fol-
lows:
Tell your father he cheated me when
bought old Jenny. | thought by her name
she must be good for something, but sire
bites and kicks ten times worse than he
ever told me. | wish now | had spok en-
for the Jenny In the house instead of the
/ one IN the barn"
And the answer:
Il guess the horse is rs good as you de-
| serve As for your choosing between the
! two you mention. you won't be able TO DO
that this year. You have got the only Jen-
ny you can from my father
light broke in upon Hiram.
well. OF all the Internal fools | ever
heard of. am the biggest. \ dog would
have had more sense. lis not too late now.
| thank heaven"
The departing crowd started as Hiram.
with the singing book IN his hand. rushed
down the stairs, two at a time, and up the
road which led To Deacon Ba;es's. II he
was NOT too late he was nearly so. for Jen.
ny was just opening the gate of the front
yard.
stop Jenny" he exclaimed. painting
Tor breath. Heres Your sinaIn. book.
ou lett 1t on your seat. | tried 10 over
take YOU.
~ ou needn't have taken the trouble. Mr.
Jenkins; | guess no one would have stol-
Ell II. said Jenny with great dignity and
making a show of going into the house.
Don't Jenny. Wai:-wait Just min
ute. l know I've acted like fool but let
me explain"
Jenny hcsitated a moment, and made
another start toward the door, aud then
turned and went back to the gate where
the discomforted Hiram stood waiting.
We'll" she said, in a freezing a tone
as she could command
Now don't look and talk that way, Jeu.
ny Bates. You know never would have
acted as have IL hadn't thought I had
wh7r 0uaiess had you to think any such
thing: asked Jenny, firing up. A pref
~ explanation that is" and again she
turned away from the gate.
stop. Let me tell you. Can't YOU listen
minuteT said Hiram in desperation. lie
felt there was no other way than to make
clean breast of il and plunged into his
story at once. Word for word he related
the conversation he heard in the barn house
and the effect it had upon him. He was
deeply in earnest, and in closing. humbly
appealed for forgiveness, He saw her
tremble and put her hands 10 her face
Poor girl. she pitied him, His heart rose.
anu his hand was upon the gate to open it,
when peal of laughter. louder and louder
from being so Ion. pent up, rang out upon
the night air, almost startling Hiram out
of his boots aud waking the deacon and
his wife from sound sleep In the upper
/ front bed room
Up went the window and night-caDped
head was thrust out, with demand as To
what WAS the matter. Still Jenny laugh
| ed. while Hiram stood silent by the gate.
/ angry and ashamed. not knowing whether
| TO advance or 20 back. At last Jenny
( found her voice
Go home, Hiram Jenkins" said she.
'say your prayers and 20 10 sleep. ana if
you want TO say anything more 10 me come
up Tomorrow evening after supper But
| mlnd don't 20 10 listening at any Darn
house on your way home" and she went
off in another peal of laughter
Hiram did not wait TO say good night.
Whether he slept or said his prayers that
night Is hot recorded, bit it is an establish
ed fact that eight O'Clock the next evening
found him in Deacon Bates's parlor. The
interview was long and probably inter-
! e>tlng one, and its Immediate result was
that before Thanksgiving the deacon had
neither Jenny in he house nor in the
barn.
That was years &o.and Hiram has since
done the town sOOe service as selecrman.
and Is likewise dignified justice of the
peace. But in tn midst ofall his dignities
and honors, if hf ever happens to insist
upon having hisown way, the threat of
telling about tn. horse barn brings him to
terms at once. 1t is the one check to his
independence-he magic charm by virtue
OF which Mrs. iiram Jenkins wields the
household scefre.