Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-06-18
HIRAM KNKINS, MISTAKE.

= I
the hill road that led to the farm of
Deacon Bates. It was plain even to
the casual observer that the errand
he was bound upon was of no COM
mon Importance. No man would
have arrayed himself so gorgeously,
simply for the purchase of a tub of
fall butter, or a yoke of steers. His
hair was in a state of distressing
smoothness, and seemed almost part
of the glossy hat which covered it.
His coat and pantaloons were marvels
in their way, and his boots which
had been elabOrately blacked, reflect
ed back the rays of the setting sun
in a manner perfectly binding to the
beholder. And yet, Notwithstanding
his superiority in all these respects
to the lilies of the fields, there was
apparent in his actions singular sort
Of nervousness, a trepidstion almost,
which rendered his appearance at
once ridiculous and awkward. This
trepidation was in no wise lessened
by the sudden vision of red-headed
urchin, watching him from the barn
door, and who, as the team approach
ed, with an ever widening grin, sped
off in the direction of the farm
house, and disappeared through the
kitchen door. Hiram was conscious
a minute afterwards of being the tar
get for half dozen pairs of eyes
from the sitting room windows, and
it required extraordinary strength OF
mind on his part to drive past the
house to the shed where the horses of
all visitors were hitched. There are
few more awkward things to dc
than toiget out of a carriage when
women are watching, and though
Hiram had probably never thought
of the fact before he fully experience
ed its truth, as endeavoring to spring
genteely from the buggy, his foot
slipped on the wheel, and he came
down on his hands and knees in the
dirt. His remarks, as he scrambled
to his feet, were confined to one
word, but that, though short, was
the most expressive one in the Eng.
lish language.
q 'I1l have to go round to the barr
pump and wash my hands before
can go in;' he said to himself. 4 sup
pose they are having their fun out
of me in the house, now. Confound
it-wish hadn't started Hi
As he passed the door Of the horse
barn which was partly open, he
heard the sound of voices; he listen.
ed, and his heart sank as he recog.
nized the tones of his rival, Elnathar
Rogers. - E' zsi1ii as ,79ea-s- 81
81 want her bad, he was saying
she just suits me. You can't alway:
have her, you know, and you'd better
callthe thing settled lHs zais1
II don't know about that, ,'lanswer-
ed the deacon, doubtfully. IhaVe
always said, come what would, j
wouldn't part with Jenny. But you
hang onso, Z don't know
Say it's bargain, deacon; Ihaye
thought it over good while, and
Jenny z must have. Twill treat her
well-you may be sure of that
The deacon hesitated, blew his nose,
and finally said;
She's got some little tricks that
nobody knows nothing about but me,
and 7 don't want to impose upon a
neighbour
7o t0h, pshaw! That's only an ex-
cuse, deacon. I am willing to risk it.
a. 'She kicked me in the stomach last
winter,aEd bit Sammy not more than
six weeks ago-E can show the scar
now e'''
,qatGreat kingp thought Hiram, 'bat
here Z was going to pop the question
this very night. Who would have
Thought it?' > di-a o. ia
fi II will take that out of her. said
Elnathan, continuing the converse
tion; sif she 80 much as lifts her foot
against me, I will give her lickin'
that1 last month"; '3su go 30
a7 'Liekl' calculated Hiram to him
self, astonished beyond measure.-
Lick Jenny Batesi Well, this goes
ahead of anything lever heard of.
And the old man doesn't say word!
What next?' g i.asrog 7E
A pause ensued, which was at last
broken by the deacon: sr
! well, if you must have her, you
must. expect the old lady'l want
so something to say about it, though
she thinks as much of Jenny as ! do.
Won't you come into the house?'
Not now; rye got to go down to
the village before dark. rll be round
some time tomorrow
Hiram jenkins waited until he saw
his successful rival climb the fence
between the two farms. Then he
deliberately unhitched his horse, got
into his wagon and drove of, never
casting a look toward the window
where the fair Jenny sat in hopeful
expectation. Not until he reached
his own door did he draw a long
breath. laf. Eas 81 iHsnf
1t seems like a dream said he.
slowly unbuckiing the harness. TO
think of Jenny Bates kicking her
own father, and biting her lite broth
er, and she looking as though butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth. 1t is
just as mean, though, in the deacon
to lick as tits for her to kick. The old
hypocritel Well, 7 must say I'm
nightly deceived in the Bateses. Il 7
s'pose Elnathan Rogers feels cranky
enough now he's got her. Just hope
she'll kick his head off. Lucky for
me Iloverheardwhat did, ra ID
Notwithstanding this self-gratula
tion, Hiram felt all the pangs of dis
appointment and jealousy. He had
not only lost his 'tgirl," but he had
been cut out in. a most mortifying
manner by a man be held in thor
ough contempt. He felt that even
with what he knew of Jenny's faults
if he could gain her hand ne would