The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-21

usual, she showed no signs of it. She
appeared to be merrier than she had
been for some time. Early in the day
when she and her mother were en-
gagged in the labors of the household,
She surprised the latter very much by a
season of laughing,-a season of
very violent laughing.
"Jenniem exclaimed Mrs. Long at
last, dropping into a chair, "What does
all you?'
"Why, mamma, it's the funniest
thing-Ive been proposed to-"
Proposed to? By whom?''
"By JIM"
"By oar Jim, Jennie?''
"Our Jim, mamma"
"The foolish boy Of course you
told him, kindly, that you both were
too young to think of marriage, Your
father was twenty-six, and l was
twenty-five when we were married.
What did you tell him, Jennie?''
Il told him--non'
THAT was right; only l hope you
did not hurt his feelings any more than
was necessary. | trust he will forget
all about it soon''-
"What, mammaPn
"Imean, Jennie, that Hope he will sec
how foolish he has been, and forget all
about you before he goes away"
80, certainly II hope he will-will
forget--and-see how it is, before tbSA
He's poor, you know-very poor. T.
| told him so. | wanted to-help-
him for-forget, as you say, and so l
said in case married, in the course of
twenty or twenty-five years, l should
probably wed very rich man; and
then | shouldn't be any trouble to my
-hus-husband; but that l shouldn't
do for poor man at ALL"
"Well, Jennie, do sincerely wish
that he may soon care as little for you
as you do for him"
As the months passed away, Mrs.
Long, watching Jim, concluded that he
had not suffered much by the rejection
he had received. The kind-hearted
woman was glad to think it was So
Considering all things, the less attrac-
ton her daughter had for the young
fellow the better.
Jennie also, hoping as we may sup
pose that Jim, for the sake of his peace
of mind, would outgrow his affection
for her, after a little while, decided
that he had. She was very glad of it.
| And yet there was a tinge of melan-
choly in the discovery She was glad
for his sake, because he had suffered
so; but it was--abstractly considered
a very solemn thought that SO strong
an attachment was so short-lived. Not
that she would have had it last longer
in this particular case %, no; but there
might come a time when she should
want to know that the one who had so
great a regard for her was to have it
forever. But what was she to expect?
Was Jim fair sample of mankind in
this respect?
If Farmer Long had been an observ-
ing man, during these days he would
have seen coming into jim face some
thing that could not have failed to re-
mind him of the time when the youth s
mother and Mrs. Long were girls; and
the best-looking ones in the village.
The father strength had come into
Jim's body and limbs, but he was get
ting his mother face, by installments
These were to be his possessions when
he was of age.
AS his twenty-frst year drew toward
its close, he could not tell whether to be
glad or sorry for it. His reason told
him to go; and forget-he had not for
gotten you see-in the excitement of
business somewhere, his disappoint-
ment. But that heart of his kept for
ever answering Stay another year. :"
He was in this state of mind the day
before he was twenty-one. After din
ner that day he went and sat on the
bench under the great maple. He
went there that he might be alone to
decide whether he would follow the
dictates of his reason or give way to
the longings of his heart. Reason at
last carried the day. He arose from
his seat, and said aloud, and decisive
ly: 81 shall 60" 1t was settled. He
had told the family all along that he
should 90 away when he became of
age. He was glad they knew it and
had become reconciled to (perhaps
wishedD it. He was set upon looking
straight ahead now, and determined
not to look back.
And he did look straight ahead
Look? he stared, for just second or
two, and then went ahead, straight and
fast. Up the slightly extending meadow
Jennie was running toward the house;
and not far behind her was the four
year-old limeback, pursuing. 1t was
fortunate for Jennie Long then, that
Jim was near; and that he was g big''
and strong and brave. Jim was bent
on getting between Jennie and that
mad brute and he could not stop to
find weapons. He rushed past and at
that moment her strength gave way
and she fell If Jim had made mis-
move-but he did not. With great
dexterity, he seized the animal by the
horns as it came up, and putting forth
all his strength drew its head with such
force and suddenness to one side as to
throw it down. Then springing to
where Jennie had arisen and stood una
bic to move, from fright, he caught her
in his arms and bore her to a place of
safety over the wall.
When Jennie could speak, she turned
to Jim and asked, "What if YOU had
been killed."
40, there would have been beggar
less that's all, 'said be, and walked away.
An hour later jim, in a deep reverie,
was sitting under the old maple. He
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