Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-11-04
the blank-leaf of her singing book which she

''Of course he'll 60 home with her to-
night" thought Hiram. It'll be the first
time I've missed it for year. He's welcome
| though"
All the intermission he kept his seat, and
| pretended to be very busy looking for some
| tune in the singing book that refused to be
! found. Jenny did not look at him.
The doxology closed the school at last, and
| there was grand bustling about the door,
| and eager pushing among the young men to
! make sure of their favorites.
| Hiram was trying to make his way through
the crowd, when he found himself at the ell
bow of Jenny Bates, and the same moment
| the hateful voice of Elnathan Rogers was
| heard in the words
''Shall l see you home tonight, Miss
| Bates?"
NO" was the prompt reply, II shall walk
| home alone"
Hiram was totally unprepared for this.
s'Perhaps it's one of her fts," he said to
himself. ''The deacon said she had 'em, that
nobody knew but himself. I'm glad she nit
tened him, though"
! The word mitten reminded Hiram that he
| had left both his on the seat in the school
room, and he stepped back just as the can
dies were being put out.
"Here is Jenny Bates singing book" he
| heard one boy say to another. ''She went
off in such hurry tonight, that she forgot
'Give it to me-" said Hiram, who remem-
bered what had taken place that evening,
and with eager look sought out the written
messages that had passed between Jenny and
his rival. They were as follows:
''Tell your father he cheated me when l
bought old Jenny. thought by her name
she must be good for something, but she bites
and kicks ten times worse than he ever told
me. wish now l had spoken for the Jenny
in the house instead of the one in the barn.
And the answer:
81 guess the horse is as good as you de-
serve. AS for you choosing between the two
you mention, you won't be able to do that
this year: You've got the only Jenny you
can get from my father"
A light broke in upon Hiram.
'Well, of all the Internal fools ever heard
OF, am the biggest. A dog would have had
heaven"
The departing crowd started as Hiram,
with singing book in his hand, rushed down
the stairs, two at a time, and up the road to
Deacon Bates. If he Was not too late he
was nearly so, for Jennie was just opening
the gate of the front yard.
''Stop, Jennie" he exclaimed, painting for
breath. "Here's your singing book. You
left it on the seat. tried to overtake you"
''You needn't have taken the trouble, Mr..
Jenkins; l guess no one would have stolen
it, said Jennie with great deal of dignity,
and making show Of going into the house.
'Don,t, Jennie. Wait-wait just a minute.
l know have acted like fool but let me ex-
plain
Jennie hesitated, made another start to-
n <1Nal Md o1x
to the gate where the discounted Hiram stood
waiting
'Well," said she, in as freezing tone as
she could command
''Now, don't look and talk that way, Jennie
Bates. You know i never would have acted
as have, if hadn't thought had good rea-
son for it. Thought you were going to mar
ry Elnathan Rogers"
''What business had you to think any such
thing?" asked Jennie, firing up. "a pretty
explanation that is! and again she turned
away from the gate.
''Stop! Let me tell you. Can't you listen
a minute?" said Hiram in desperation. He
felt that there was no other way than to make
a clean breast of it, and plunged into his story
at once. Word for word he related the con-
versation he heard IN the horse barn, 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 |
heart rose, and his hand was upon the gate |
to open it, when a peal of laughter, louder |
and louder from being so long pent up, rang |
out upon the night air, almost startling Hiram
out of his boots, and waking up the deacon |
and his wife from sound sleep in the upper |
front bedroom
Up went the window and a night-capped |
head was stuck out, with demand as to
what was the matter. Still Jennie laughed,
while Hiram stood silent by the gate, angry |
and ashamed, not knowing whether to ad-
vance or 60 back. At last Jennie found her
voice.
''Go home, Hiram Jenkins, she said, 'tsay
your prayers and 60 to sleep, and If you want
to say anything more to me. come tomorrow
evening after supper. But mind don't go to
listening at any horse barn 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 not recorded, but it is an established
fact that eight o'clock the next evening found
him in Deacon Bates parlor. The interview
was long and probably interesting one, and
the result was that before Thanksgiving the
Deacon had neither Jennie in the house nor
in the barn.
That was some years ago, and Hiram has
since done the town some service as select
man, and is likewise dignifed justice of the
peace. But in the midst of all his dignities
and honors, if he ever happens to insist upon
having his own way, the threat of telling
about the horse barn brings him to terms at
once. 1t is the one check to his independence
the magic charm by which Mrs. Hiram
jenkins wields the houshold sceptre.