The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-07-24

between the two farms. Then he de.
liberately unhitched his horse, got in
the wagon and drove off, never
casting look toward the window
where the fair Jennie sat in watchful
expectation. Not until he reached hi.
own door did he draw long breath.
ut seems like a dream" said he,
slowly unbuck'ing the harness. ITO
think of Jenny Bates kicking her own
father, and biting her little brother,
and she looking ~ though butttr
wouldn't melt in her mouth. 1t is just
as mean though, in the deacon to lick
rs It's for her to kick. The old hypO
critic Well, must say I'm nightly
deceived in the Bateses. | 'spOse Ell.
nathan Rogers feels. cranky enough
now he's got her. just hope she'll
kick his head of. Lucky for me
overheard what l did"
Not withstanding this self-congratu-
lation, Hiram felt all the pangs of dis
appointment and jealOusly. He had
not only lost his girl. but had been cut
out in the most Notifying manner by
a man he held in thorough contempt.
He felt that even with what he knew
of Jenny's faults, if he could gain her
hand he would carry her Oft in spite of
his rival or the deacon either.
\ week passed by and Jenny was
never out OF Hiram's thoughts. One
day he went to the village, and while
there, standing in front of the post
Office, Elnnthan Rogers drove by with
the deacOn's mare.
81 'spose now he's got Jenny. he,
thinks he's got right to the whole
property" muttered Hiram. 81 wish
to gracious the old mare would put her
feet 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 ne chose different
seat, and tried hard to sing bass. He
could not, however, help seeing Elna-
than Rogers pass peppermint lozenges
to Jenny, and also write something on
the blank leaf of her singing book,
which she read and answered.
"Of course he'll 60 home with her
tonight" thought Hiram. It'll be
the first time I've missed it for year. A"
He's welcome, though"
The doxology clossd the school at
last, aud there was n grand bustling
about the door, and eager pushing
among the young men to make sure OF
their favOrites. Hiram was trying to
force his way through the crowd when
he found himself at the elbow of Jen-
ny Bates, and at the same moment
the hateful voice of Elnathan Rogers
was heard in the words:
"Shall see you home tonight, Miss
Bates?'
"No, SIR" was the prompt reply; 81
shall walk home alone"
Hiram was totally unprepared for
this.
perhaps it's one of her fits" he
said to himself The deacon said she
had 'em, that nobody knew but HIM
self. Pm glad she mitIened him,
though"
The word mitten reminded Hiram
that he had left both of his on his seat
in the schOol-rOOm, and he stepped
back Just as the candles were being
put out.
Here's Jenny Bates singing.bOOk,"
he heard one boy say to another.
"She went off in such hurry to-
night, that she forgot it."
Give it TO me, said Hiram, who
remembered what had taken place
that evening, and with eager look
sought out the written message that
had passed between JENNY and his
rival, They were as follows;
Tell your father that he cheated
me when l bought old Jenny. l
thought by her name that she must
be good for something, but she bites
and kicks ten times worse than he ever
told me. l wish now l had spoken
for the Jenny in the house instead Of
the one in the barn"
And the answer;
II guess the horse is as good as you
deserve. As for your choosing be.
tween the two you mention, you won't
be able to do that this year. You
have got the only Jenny you can from
my father"
A light broke in upon Hiram.
"Well, of all the Internal fools |
ever heard of, 1 am the biggest! A
dog would have had more sense. IT'S
not too late now. thank heaven"
The departing crowd started as Hi
ram with his singing-bOok in his hand
rushed down the stairs, two at time,
and upon the road which led to 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, pant
ing for breath; "Here's your singing
book you left On your seat. l tried to
overtake yOul"
"You needn't have taken the truble,
MIR. jenkins; ! guess no one would
have stolen It," said Jenny, with a
great dignity, and making a show Of
going into the house. ...
"Don't jenny Wait-wait just a
minute. l know I've acted like a
fool; but let me explain"
Jenny hesitated a moment, made
another start toward the door, then
turned and went back to the gate
where the 9iscOwGtted Hiram stood
waiting.
"Well," she said, in as freezing u
tone as she could command.
"Now don't look and talk that way,
Jenny Bates. You know | never
would have acted as | have if l hadn't
thought you were going TO marry FL
nathan Rogers.
"What business had you to think
any such thing?" asked Jenny, firing
Fup. "a pretty explanation that isl
and again she turned away from the