Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-08-18
Learn to keep house
Toms Adventure.

BY EBEN i. REXFORD.

The prettiest girl i'm Kent Corners
was Clara Tabor. She had the most
bewildering blue eyes, and knew how
to use them To the best advantage in
ensnaring the hearts of susceptible
Young men. There wasn't a youth for
miles around who wouldn't have given
all he was worth for the sake of win
ming her.
But Miss Clara had narrowed her fas-
cinatiOns down in much the same way
our grandmothers used to narrow a
stocking. Among the young men who
besieged her, like moths who singe
their wings in the light of a candle,
there were only two upon whom she
seemed to look with much favor.
John Croft was well-to-do young
farmer, with a good, sturdy heart, and
hands brown with toll. He had always
had a strong liking for Clara. and of
late that liking had developed into most
marked attention on his part. Clara
was all smiles and fascination when he
was with her, and he believed he could
win her: and such was the opinion of
those who knew the young lady best.
But she was rather inclined to play the
coquette, and John was not quite as
sure about the state of her affections as
he would have liked to be. But he re-
solved to take his own time in carrying
on the courtship, and not be hurried
into premature proposal by any jealous
fear of his rival.
Tom Roberts was clerk in the little
store at the village, and had some money
in his own right. He was dapper
DO p,rah
show i'm society than John Croft did;
but John was not at all ambitious TO
show OFF, and his manly modest way
was vastly more to his credit than Toms
forwardness. But some young ladies
like snowy fellow, and many people
thought Clara would prefer Tom to
John, because he was fOnder of parties
and gayety of that sort, and would be
apt to take her into more brilliant
circle. in time. than she could ever hope
10 shine in as the wife of farmer.
There were others who thought that
Clara really cared for only John, and
kept Tom dancing attendance to give
her other lover the idea that he had
dangerous rival, and in that way hurry
up his rather slow courtship, OF which
she was beginning to tire. BE that as 1t
may. John did not hurry in the matter
until he began TO think ii was impera-
lively necessary for him to do so.
He began to think it time for him to
find out how matters stood between him
and Clara one Sunday afternoon, when
he and friend of his overheard con-
yersation between Tom and a friend of
his. John and his friend had been
strolling about in the woods, and had
sat down under a tree to rest, COM
pletely hidden from any passers-by by
the dropping branches. Pretty soon
Tom and his companion came walking
up the road slowly, and they were
talking about Clara.
"Fm going up to see her this even
ing" said Tom; ''and Pm going to ask
her to marry me. Idon tknow whether
she cares more for me than she does for
John Croft, or not, but l think If L ask
her first, I'll get her."
''I'll tell you what it is" said John,
10 his friend, 'I'm going to see Clara
and ask her the very same question. III
get the start of him."
Tom was visiting at his cousins that
day, and this cousin lived opposite
Johns farm. John thought he would
start quite early, and get the start OF his
rival by getting there before he did; but
a friend came in and John could not get
away from him: and when he announced
his intention of staying to tea, matters
began to look dubious.
sIll tell you how I'll fix il, said
John Lee, who had been with him that
afternoon, and overheard Toms an
uouncement of his intention, I'm going
home now, and I'll stay and see him,
and tell him You are going up there,
and advise him to cut across lots, II he
wants TO get there first. Now Brown
has turned his old sheep out in that lot
of his, and you know he'll knock over
ANYBODY that comes along. He'll be
sure TO see Tom, and il he sees him, he I'll
tree him, sure rs fate, and you'll have
chance TO get ahead of him.
.Do il, and I'll give you new hat,
said John, enthusiastically.
agreed" and George was off.
He was al good As his word. lie
stopped and saw Tom, and in the most
natural way i'm the world let out that
John was going over to see Clara, and
he guessed he was going to propose.
of course Tom was on the alert then,
and George, much interested in Tom s
welfare and success, innOcently advised
him TO take the path over the hill
through the field, or he would be too
late. as he was sure John had started.
Tom set off, and reached the field.
He clambered over the fence unsuspect-
inglv. Ii was quite dusky. He had
sImost reached the road when he heard
a horse bleat behind him, and turned
20 see Il sheep with ferocious looking
horns hearing down upon him ike a
gGnbOat. s,n
He looked wildly around. His only
refuge was a stump close by, and he
clambered on it jnst as the sheep came
laundering up, giving the stump blow
that must nave made it freinble 10 the
end of its roots.
Good Lordr' cried Tom, pale as
death. "He'd have killed me II hadn ~ :
got out of his way. what'll l dor Hen
keep me here all night?"
He began to make frantic gestures AT
the sheep. who only lowered his head
and shook his horns threateningiy.
"Go long, you old brute, said poor
Tom, flourishing his nat In tne lace VI
his Woolly majesty. ".ShoO" -,
But the sheep didD'tchoose to "shoo.
He evidently had made up his mind 10
keep his prisoner there ill he capItnia-
ted.