Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-04
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1882

neatly wrapped in a linen cloth, for his
share of the donation; and old Mrs. Peck
his grandmother, had finished a jar of ap-
pie sauce out of the cellar, and dressed
some tender spring chickens. tt
"I'm past going to church myself" said
Granny Peck, ''but I always was one tt
believe In the dissemination of the Gospel
SO don't grudge the chickens and the ap
ple-sass. Be sure you carry 'em careful, Pc
ter, and"
Granny ~ suddenly burst in the honest
st Young giant, who was tying his cravate
before the glass with laborious' fingers
show many years is it since granfathel
courted you 20
GOOD land o. Gosh en-! said Granny Peck
what is the boy talking about?''
because want to know what BIZ said,s,
said PeteE reddening to the very roots y
his hair. "I'm a-goih' counting myself
granny, and hahn It had no experience, ani
l don't know how to go to work.
"Well, never!'' said Granny Peck.
TRY to remember, there's good soul =
urged feLer, cOaXlngly.
''It's so long ago. said Granny Peck
with sympathy moisture beginning te
suffuse her bleared eyeballs. Times il
changed now
'But human natur' is human natur.
just the same," said Peter. "How was it
granny"
HE took me out a riding'.' said the old
lady, assisting her memory with the goodly
pinch of rose scented snuff.
''That's it ezackly," said Peter. "I've
harnessed up Red Robin, and washed off
the buggy wagon, and 1 calculate to ask
her to ride home with me from the dona-
ton party"
;'And it was dreadful moonshiny night
-" refectively added the old lady.
Moons at the FULL" sxultantly NUT.
tered Peter. 81 believe there's a fate in
it ?''
And he set up close to me, and squeez.
ed my hand with the hand he WASH It a-driv.
in with, and he said was the prettiest
gal he'd ever seen, and could be content
ed to come and live at Hawks Farm. And
l said I didn't exactly know, but he might
ask father. And we was married the next
fall. Ah deary me, deary me! how long ago
all that seems ~
sit sounds easy enough, - said Peter de-
spondently. ''But I'd ruther clear off a
whole patch o. hickory woods"
"Don't be afraid, Peter" said the cid
1od u 1auiror yyipd1U hor on ic oh Tor
"If she's gal with havin', she'll know
you're good lad. And I'll bet cookey
she'll say 'yes.'"
Il only wish could think SO, granny
said Peter, with sigh.
SIS it Kate Laney," said Mrs. Peck, cor
Mary Elsley?"
"'Tain't neither one," said Peter sheep
ishly. tits Jessie Field ~ ~
Land o'massy!" said Granny Peck ele-
Yating her withered hands. "What on
airth is pretty pink-and-white piece of
china like her to do in wild place like
this ?"
"She's as smart as steel trap" said
Peter. ''Don't you worry granny Once
I get her here, you'll see that she'll be all
right!"
SO Peter piled his yenison and chickens
and jar of apple-sauce into the back of the
roomy old buggy, and drove away to the
donation party, as full OF hopes and fears
as young girl.
And when he saw Hiram Jellifer, the
village store-clerk. enter, all redolent of
pomatum and cologne, in a city-cut suit Of
clothes, and hair brushed to peak over
his forehead, his heart sank within him.
81 hain't no chance at all" he thought.
JESSIE y whispered Aunt Betsey to her
niece, as they were clearing the dining
room for the games which followed upon
the old-fashioned supper. "do take little
notice of poor Peter Peck! See how his
eyes are following you. And you have
hardly been decently polite to him!
peter Peck, indeed'' said Jessie, radi-
ant in the consciousness of being the pref
test girl in the room, 81 couldn't possibly
be bothered with him, Aunt Bess; none of
your backwoodsmen for mel You can 90
and talk with him yourself. il you pelaseln
But Aunt Betsey, shyer than any child,
shrank, blushing, away.
NO." said she, II couldn't do that. I
L am so little acquainted with himl''
Half an hour afterward, Peter Peck,
unable to make up his mind to ask pretty
Jessie to allow him to take her home with
Red Robin and the buggy, sided up to the
squire.
esquire" said he, jerking the words out
with an effort, lean 1 take Miss Field
homer"
'Much obleeged, I'm sure!'' said the
squire. II had the box wagon here; but I
don't mind riding home alone, if so be as
you'd like company"
Peter drew long breath.
''It's as good as settled now," said he to
himself
His heart beat high when, in the misty
slight figure came out, under
Squire Fields escort, all muffled, shawled
and yelled, against the chill, fresh air of
the autumn evening. And not until they
were safe out on the high road. at Red
Robin IS best trot, did he credit his extra
ordinary good luck in thus securing tete-
a-tete with the belle of the evening.
It's nice, shiny evening" said he,
VERY" answered a soft voice
Il hope DOM crowd your" he hazard
ed.