The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-07-01

| lHg up JIOm Ine Helu on top Ct lOal
Of hay in company with an indefnit
number of the Tufts children. He
shade-hat had fallen off, and her yellow
hair was tossed and tumbled by th
wind, while the laughter of the merr,
party came foating In at the parlo
windows with the fragrance of the new
mown hay.
GAS much achild as any OF them,
said Mrs, Tufts.
"Yes," assented Gilbert, absently
and wishing with all his might tha
something would happen which would
serve as an excuse for his going out t.
the cart; when just then, to be sure
Billy Tufts began to turn somersets or
the hay.
"See that boy-he's so venturesome,
said Mrs. Tufts; "there, he's falling"
Of course Gilbert ran to rescue Billy
from his peril, followed by the distracted
mother, but before they reached him he
had rescued himself and was standing
comfortably on his head.
Mrs. Tufts first administered rebukC
to her son, then introduced Gilbert and
Miss Bascom, whereupon he took of
his bat and bowed, and she laughed
and blushed, and allowed him to help
her down over the cart-wheel.
Here was an excellent beginning, and
Gilbert improved it by passing the re-
mainder of the evening, during which
be was introduced to the young woman
in blue speLtacles whom he had first
seen with Miss Bascom.
lie failed to catch her name, however,
and noticed nothing more than she was
quite plain and somewhat deaf.
Miss Bascom it was who occupied his
dreams waking and sleeping, and he
continued his attentions as assiduously
as circumstances would admit, but
with what success he hardly knew him
self.
Sic seemed TO him like a will-o'-the
wisp, now close within his reach, now
further off than ever. With the per-
verseness common TO mankind, this
only made him the more interested and
determined in his pursuit.
AT length time approached which
seemed TO favor his wishes. 1t was the
glorious Fourth, which the young
people were to celebrate by picnic at
Shamrock grove.
AS usual, on such occasions, Mr.
Flint's great wagon was engaged to con,
vey the party, but Gilbert had far other
plans, though he thought it prudent to
keep them to himself till he was sure of
carrying them out
He therefore wrote Miss Bascom a
note requesting her to favor him with
her company in private conveyance.
The note being finished, it popped into
his head to add this postscript:
If you accept my company now,
may not infer that you accept it for
lifeP"
He thought this a very neat thirg,
and sealed his note with q good deal OF
complacency.
1t then occurred to him that he had
never heard Miss Bascom's first name.
1t was of no great consequence, and he
was about TO direct it, "Miss Bascom,"
when he saw Billy Tufts coming from
the postollice, which was nearly oppo-
site. He beokoned him over. 1t was
the second time Billy came to his re-
lief, and he feltas though he could have
embraced him, although he did not
look particularly clean nor tempting.
Billy had letter in his hand which
he had just taken from the Office, and
Gilbert saw at glance that it was di-
rected to miss Jane Bascom," so he
directed his own accordingly, and told
Billy he would give him six packages
of India crackers and a pop. gun if he
would deliver his note and say nothing
about it to anybody.
Billy assented with frightening eyes,
and was off like flash. In less than
an hour he was back again with an
answer; it was propitious; Miss Bas'
com accepted the invitation, and would
take the other proposition into con.
sheraton.
There was no longer any occasion fol-
secrecy, and Gilbert openly boasted that
he was going to the picnic with the
prettiest girl in town.
The glorious Foulth rose clear and
balmy, and at the time appointed he
drove up to Mrs. Tufts door with o
housekeeping horse and a basket phae.
ton. Mrs. Tufts looked out the window
and said:
Don't leave your horse, Mr.. Nor.
cross; Jane is all ready"
There Immediately appeared at the
door, not the person he expected to see,
but the wearer ofthe blue spectacles.
"Good-morning, sir; you see l am
punctual; I make it q point never to
keep any one waiting" said she.
She wore scant gray dress, which
came just below her ankles, disngplayi
a pair of clumsy boots; a black hat
with green berege veil, and gray cot
ton gloves. All was to the last degree
proper and sensible, but also stiff and
angular and uncompromising.
Her very paiE. rs she stnlkad down 10