The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-06-29


Ensign IIartshorn lived at the
distance OF five miles. and ms | rode
leisurely along the road. l had abb
undapt time to reflect on the start
ling character Of tho expedition in
which had SD suddenly embarked.
and the moro I reflected the more /
felt conscious that Ishouli make
ninny, a complete boot-jack Of my
self, and / would gladly have given
up the project, or postponed it for n
time, were it not for giving oflSnse
to my mother.
hitched tho colt TO tho horse
shoe. nailed to the butternut tree Mt
the end of the house, and went in
my heart all The time beating in my
bosom, for all tho world like par
fridge drumming behind u stump.
found the family costly seated u.
round the fire-the. hearth was nice,
ly swept. and everything looked as
neat and comfortable rs wax-work -
The ensign looked little surprised
at my entrance but gave me cor.
dial grasp of the hand-and bis
good wife said she was delighted to
see me. As for Tom he grinned and
looked knowingly to Hannah. rs h.
ioculary asked me what on earth led
me to visit them at that time OF
night Hannah herself looked rath-
er flustered, and / Thought / had
never seen her cheeks look 40 rosy
but she sat as stiff and upright in
her chair as martingale-said but
little, and that was addressed to her
children-and seemed as quiet and
demure as a cat when intent on
stealing cream. The old folks, how
ever were sociable enough-and |
talked away as il for wager, utter
ing much nonsense, dare say,
about the weather, the late season,
the crops, the fall of stock, the rise
of hay aud grain, etc. The ensign
and | agreed won1erfully-for what
ever he would say, would repeat,
and go forward on the same track
SO by the the time mad been half
an hour in the house, began to feel
rather comfortable, and was inclined
to think that it was not so terrible a
thing to court Hannah Hartshorn as
[ expected.
Rut my aguo returned when saw
the considerate old lady making
preparations for leaving US together
The younger children were first sent
of'--and one of them, the saucy little
chit, about eleven or twelve years
old, as she was leaving tho room
threw knowing look, first 1T me
then at Hannah, and burst into Il
laugh. The old lady frowned, Hnn-
nah blushed, and 1 felt more Ike u
fool than ever. Tom, after some al
monitory winks from his mother, IL
SO disappeared-and the ensign, nf-
ter muttering something about be-
ing up late the night before aud
having to rise bright and early the
next morning, shuiiled ont OF the
room, aud was soou after followed
by his better half, who as she left
the apartment, gave mean encourag-
ing motherly smile, and then think
ing she was unobserved, silly SHOOK
her dumpy finger at her daughter.
My first impulse after the sound
of tho closing of the door died away
was to start up aud run oif-but
seemed pinned to my chair, and
could not rise--and there | sat fol
some minutes, looking earnestly iutC
the fire. which burned clear and
brightly, and with tho all of can
dle made of bay-berry tallow, cas-
a cheerful light around tho room.
wanted to say something but could
neither find IDEAS nor words. Al
length by desperate effort, l raised
my head slowly, end cast side!ons
glance at my oharmer. There sh'
sat about three feet off as firm and
collected US il nothing extraordinary
was taking place-rbat thought she
looked rather solemn and disappoint
cd. Iagain directed my look to th'
fire, making an inward determine
ton to say something soon, when w
were both started by coal, whicI
with loud snap few from the bacl
log to tho further corner Of th,
room.
! Hannah, affrighted, sprang from
her chair with wonderous agility :
but on seeing the cause OF her alarm
auitely resumed her seat, remarkin.
in rather u sarcastic tone, well tina
spark has got soma life in him, any
how
This hit. intended for me, inoreaa
ed my confusion. | succeeded, how
ever, in forcing dismd ''ha, Ia |!
and, feeling in every limb the neces
sity OF bringing tlre affair to Il crisis
with wonderful termerity, hitcheS
my chair sideways towards hpr.
"Ha-a. n-nah - Hartshorn!
swell. Mr.. Weevil,' replied she
rather pettishly, II hear YOU
! This was damper, nevertheless
, as my courage was rousod. aud ! go
. fairly started. determined to so on
"Hi.a-n. nah II think the oil
|, folks --were ve-ve-ry kind--to so o.
I --to---bed don't youF"
Her only reply was u stare. whicl
{ seemed to send an icicle, pointe
|, with steel, right through my bosom
: But as bad succeeded 80 well |
| getting out q few words, I was re-