Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-10-12

sy cheeks.
When they grew older he exhibited
his preference tof Der, though in 'a
somewhat diffsrentsmanner. Every
Sabbath, after meeting was over, he
would post himself at the church door
to escort her home and, in the even
ing, arrayed in his Sunday best, he
might have been seen striking bee
line for. Squire Dearborn's. At about
9 o'clock the old folks would go. OF to
bed, leaving Joshua and Mary togetho
er. And there he would sit, looking
straight into the fre.sa scarcely dar-
hing to move or .'raa.s4e, with the mo-
mentous question on the very tip OF his
tongue, yet never leaving it; no near
er the object of his visit when he left
the house than when he entered it.
Things went on in this way for sew
eral months, but at last on event occur
red which gave Joshua quite start
A son of Dr. Hale. the village physician
came home from college, where he had
graduated, it was said, with considera-
{ ble distinction. He was a tall, lank,
smooth faced fellow, with more learn
ing than brains, and more brass than
either. He saw Mary in church the
first afternoon and took great fancy
to her, and commenced paying her cons
siderable attention.
Young Hale had always been her
particular aversion. She had disliked
him from, his boyhood. But she did not
scrpple to firt with him little, hoping
to arouse Joshua's jealousy and bring
him to the point.
1t seemed to have it's effect fUr
learning that Mr.. Lawrence, one Of his
neighbors, Intended TO give q party, and
having obtained an inklihg III some way
that THAI village chap, as he termed his
rival, intended to take Mary, he went
over to Squire Dearborn's early the
next morning and asked her himself.
Alarmed at the bare possibility of 10
sing her, Joshua appeared like a new
man and instead Of moping i'll some
corner, as was his wont. not daring to
speak to her CT any one else, he remain
ed by her side nearly the whole even
ing, scarcely quitting her for q moment
and then only when she requested him
TO bring her some refreshments.
Mr.. Hale, who had viewed Joshuas
attentions to Mary with a jealous eye,
heard this request, and, being well
aware of Jos!Ma's laundering propensi-
ties, very malriously placed stool in
his way. Pretty soon Joshua came
back, and instead of walking around the
stool, as any one else would have done,
he stumbled over it, and sprawling
full length upon the floor landed the
contents of his hands, which consisted
of cup of coffee, and plate heaped
with doughnuts, pumpkin pie, and va
rious other eatables, directly in Mary's
lap.
This unexpected feat produced quite
a sensation. Mary set up loul spream
and the rest rushed TO see what was
the matter, and it was some time be-
tore order was Restored.
When the tumult had in a measure
subsidized, Mary looked around for the
unluckv cause of it, but he was no.
where to be found. Mortified at the
ridiculous figure he had cnt, and the
merriment of those who had witnessed
it, he had rushed from the house and
never slackened his speed until he had
reached his room and bolted the door,
firmly resolving, as he did so, that he
would never speak to, OF even look at
q girl again, SO long as he lived.
Poor Mary was more annoyed at
Joshuas evident discontinue that at
the loss of her dress, which was nearly
ruined and she conceived stronger
dislike than ever to the young man,
who she was quite share was at the
bottom OF it all. She resolutely declin
ed his protfered escort at the close OF
the entertainment, gcing home with
one of her brothers, leaving him the all
tentative of attending some other lady,
or going home by himself.
Two Sundays passed, and Joshua did
not come near her and, on Monday
following Mary put on her bonnet and
shawl and vent over to his house, for
the ostensiblc purpose of having chat
with old Mrs. Wheat, who lived with
her son, but in reality to find out what
had become of her sensitive lover.
Much to her disappointment Joshua
was not at home, though she saw a
coat tail quickly disappear through an
opposite door as she entered the room,
which she shrewdly conjectpred belong
ed to him,
After sitting awhile aud chatting
with the old lady, with whom she wa,
quite a fayorite, Mary arose lie go, say.
as she did SO, that she guessed she
would go across the lots, as it was con-
siderable nearer.