Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-10-10

dinner, With dessert OF appie-dunP-
lings aud sweet-cream sauce, ready TO
be served.
While Martha Jane, in a pink plaid
frock. with futed rufles, stood waiting
10 welcome the expected guest.
she's moral humlv,' thought Hiram,
as he sat smoking, after dluner. on the
porch, and mentally reviewing Martha
James narrow forhead hard black eyes
and high colored cheeks. But, theu'
l amt a-lookln' out for beauty, an II
she suits me other ways, reckin 'Iaint
no great matter how she looks. A girl
with them kind OF eyes an mahoga-
nv colore skin kin d. The chores an
make butter, an sech. as good as If she
had blue eyes an goldy-lookln' hair,
like that girl they call Hitty, that
brought In the dumplin's an passed
around fur 'em at dinner to-day. At
any rate amt got time 10 hunt round
much, an 1 reckin Marthy Jane won't
mind chaugin' her name TO HoneydeW
afor long, an I've got 10 hurry up; l
ain't got no time TO waste a.courtln.
[ reckin' If pothin' bappins we kin be
married in a week, an git back home
l don't like to stay here a-settin' round
doin' nothin,' with all the fall work
a-gettin' behind at the farm
oh, dear!'
Down through the long grass and
crimson clover bobe, under sclubby
haws and tall Hersimmon trees, went
Hitty Mavis. a dcep-caped sunboanet
shading her violet eyes and tangled yell
low curls.
She was after the cows, standing
knee deep 10 the tall aftermath, where
they had been turned for rasturage'
after tue meadow hav was cut.
oh, dear !! sighed Hitty again, I'm
so tired, and here's the cows 10 drive
home, milking to do, sponge to set for
the baking tomorrow, and goodness
knows what else, and-Oh!
She started back, with little scream,
for seated on the fence, under The sha-
dow of crimson.eafcd sassafras tree,
sat Hiram Honeydew, coOlly watching
her.
Hilty's cheeks turned from pink TO
scarlet as she met the admriug glauces
OF bis frank, brown eyes. aud her heart
beat faster than common.
But Hitty was a sensible girl, so she
said, Good evening, Mr.. Honeydew y
quite coolly, and began driving home
the cows.
But Hiram sprang down from his
perch on the rail fence and followed
her.
Let me help you, Miss Hitty! he
begged. L amt use to loafn' around.
doin' nolbln', like I've been lur some
DAYS now; and i'll! be treat TO drive
home The COWS, evep.'
So they walked together through the
yelvety aftermath, dotted with scarlet
butteify-weed, and crimson. .petaled
'Dlgger-heads.' The lowing cows filing
slo WY home, lazily chewing their cuds,
and switching Their tails at the flies.
Hiram let down the bars, and turned
the COWS into the yard, while Hitty
brought out the milk-pails from under
a lunch of burdock.eaves, where she
had left them.
And somehow, in spite Of the milk
ipg and setting the sponge, and doing
up the chores, Hitty's heart beat more
lightly than it had for many day.
And instead of one week Hratn
Honeydew stayed two. but still Martha
Jane had not been invited TO change
her name.
She's mighty good housekeeper,
thought Hiram, meditatiyely. IF lit
tie Hltty could only cock an house
keep as good as her. I-don't-
know
He ended by building castle in the
air, wherein Hit,y Mavis, with her vio-
let eyes. and 'goldy' colored hair,
was the cbiei figure.
'Hnty Mavisp
l. Il.