Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-08-01

mean, tHougn, IN tHc ueaCOn 10 HEX, rs IL
is for her to kick The old hypocrite!
Well, must say, I'm nightly deceived
in the Bateses. s'pose Elnathan Rodg-
crs feels cranky enough now he's got her.
just hope she'll just kick his head Off
Lucky for me overheard what l did,"
Notwithstanding this self graduation,
Hiram felt all the pains of disappoint-
ment and Jealousy He had not only lost
his "girl," but he had been cut ont in the
most Notifying manner by a man he held
in thorough contempt. He felt that
even with what he now knew of Jenny's
faults, if he could gain her hand he would
carry her off in spite of his rival or the
deacon either.
A week passed by, and Jenny was never
out of Hiram's thoughts. One night he
ing in front of the post Office, Elnathan
Rodgers drove by the deacon's mare.
II s'pose now he's got Jenny, he thinks
he's got right to the whole property"
muttercd Hiram. 81 wish to gracious the
old mare would put her foot through the
dashboard'
That night the singing school met at
the Academy. Hiram came late. He
used to sit with the tenors just behind
Jenny Bates. Now he chose different
seat and tried to sing bass. He could
not, however, help seeing Elnathan Rodg-
ers pass peppermint losengers to Jenny,
and also write something on the blank
leaf Of her singing book, which she read
and answered.
"Of course he'll go home with her to-
night, Thought Hiram. "It'll be the first
time I've missed it for year. He's well
come, though"
All intermission he kept his seat, and
pretended to be very busy looking for
some tune in his singing book that refused
to be found. Jenny did not look at him.
The doxology closed the school at last,
and there was grand busting about the
door. and an eager pushing among the
young men to make sure of their favor
ties. Hiram was trying to make his way
through the crowd, when he found him
self at the elbow of Jenny Bates, and at
the same moment the hated voice of Ell
nathan Rodgers was heard in the words:
''Shall see you home tonight, Miss
Bates2"
mo, SIR" was the prompt answer. 81
sudii Nulh hoInc dlOHc
Hiram was totally unprepared for this.
perhaps it's one Of her fits" he said to
himself. 1.-THE deacon said she had 'em;
that nobody knew but himself. I'm glad
she mittened him, though"
The word mitten reminded Hiram that
he had left both his books on his seat in
the school-room, and he stepped back just
as the candles were being put out.
"Heres Jenny Bates singing book"
he heard one boy say to another. "She
went off in such hurry tonight she for
got it."
"Give it to me-" said Hiram, who re-
mcmbered what had taken place that
evening, and with eager look sought out
the written message that had passed be-
tween Jenny and his rival. They were as
follows:
"Tell your father he cheated me when
bought old Jenny. l thought by her
name she must he good for something, but
she kicks and bites ten times worse than
he ever told me. wish now 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 choosing betwixt the two
you mentioned you won't be able to do
that this year. You have got the only
Jenny you can ever get from my father"
A light broke upon Hiram.
"Well, of all the internal fools ever
heard of am the biggest! A dog would
have had more sense. It's not too late
now, thank Heaven"
The departing crowd stared, as Hiram
with the singing book in his hand, rushed
down the stairs, two at time, and up the
| road which led toward Deacon Bates. If
he was not too late he was nearly so, for
Jenny was just opening the gate of the
front yard.
"Stop, JENNY" he exclaimed, painting
for breath. "Here's your singing book.
You left it on the seat. tried to over
take you"
"YOu needn't have taken the trouble,
Mr.. Jenkins; guess no one would have
stolen it," said Jenny with great display
of dignity and making a show Of going
into the house.
"Don't, Jenny! Wait--wait just min
ute. l know I've acted like fool; but
Just let me explain"
Jenny hesitated moment, made an
other start toward the door, then turned
and went back to the gate where the dis
comfited Hiram stood waiting.
SWELL" she said, in As freezing tone
as she could command.
"Now, don't look and talk that way,
Jenny Bates. You know l would never
have acted as have, if hadn't thought
l had good reasons for it. thought you
were going to marry Elnathan Rodgers"
"what business had you to think any
such thing3' asked Jenny, firing up. "A
pretty explanation that Is !" and again she
turned away from the gate.
"Stop. Let me tell you. Can't you
listen minute2" said Hiram, in perspira-
ton. He felt that there was no other way
than to make clean breast of it, and
plunged into it at once. Word for word
he related the conversation he had heard
in the horse barn, and the effect it had
upon him. He was deeply in earnest, and
in closing, humbly appealed for forgive
ness. He saw her tremble and cover her
face. Poor girl, she pitied him! His
heart rose, and his hand was upon the
gate to open 1t, when peal Of laughter,