Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-03-29

black hair, and frank, handsome lace,
with suu-burned, crimson checks, and l
forehead white as snow-trying, but fail
ing miserably! And then wondering
again whether the deacon at IS had not
been more agreeable rs lover than he
was now at 90.
"If only" thought little Esther,
glancing once more, muSingly, ut the
young man and the old.
And then she blushed hotly all over her
beautiful face. For the young man had
turned toward her to offer her 4 slice Of
golden honcy-conb, and his dark blue
eyes seemed TO read the thought of which
she was but half-conscious herself until
he looked at her.
"Why lid she blush like that?" was
Joe's first thought. And his second was
"What lovely little creature she is! /
must try and make this place endu:able
to her, while our elders are. making geese
of themselves by fancying that, al tier
age, they can fall in love-"
From that very evening the funniest
kind Of 4 Comedy of Errors" began in
the Uarlanl house.
The deacon was forever finding Joe in
lis way when he wished 10 say sweet
things to his prospective bride.
Sister IIetty wondered why her brother
took such pains-unheard-of pains-to
please his future step-daughter, when her
approval was of no consequence whatever.
Il wonder Julia S.mls it! wouldn't
if | was in her place." >hc continually
murmured TO herself, rs she noted the
daily increasing attentions that the poor
man tried his best to pay.
While the widow looked OH in sore dis
may, and finally (bcing urged thereto by
the deacon) gave her daughter so severe
"a-talking to- about what she termed her
"disgraceful coquctry" that Esthcr'S
heart was nearly broken.
Joe saw her that very evening, us he
WAS coming home from the village with
his colt and blackboard.
Her mothers lecture was not yet one
hour Old; and Esther was crying, down
under the maple trees in the lane, so that
she did not see Joe, till he had fastened
the colt to the next tree, and was knccl-
ing down beside her, asking in the kind
est Of voices what had gone wrong.
Esther gave little scream and sprang
to her feet when she saw him there, and
so very near.
"Oh, so away, please, and never let me
see you again." she sobbed. "Mamma
says that | have been so very wrong and
immodcst too-oh, dear, oh dear !-because
| have talked so much to you. Oh, won't
you 90 and live somewhere else, please,
where never shall sec You? I'm sure
never can marry your father, Joe, if you
stay here"
"ELat!n shouted Joe so loudly that the
bay colt gave tremendous jump and
nearly broke his halter.
In five minutes hc had coaXcd the whole
story from the weeping girl.
"Well, Of all the. However i won't
swear about my own father"" he exclaim-
ed. "Now, Esther, this mustn't go on an
other hour, you know. 1t is @bominablc
nonsense"
"Is.'t it, Joe," she sighed. "Only think
of my being your mother-in-law."
"You can be something better than
that, darling, if you will be guided by
me, !" said Joe, as his arm stole around her
waist, and his bearded check rested
against her smooth one.
They talked long and earnestly in that
shaded lane, willie the young moon rose,
and the bay colt listened, with his head
over Joe's shoulder, and looked remarka-
BIZ wise.
Finally, the colt and the blackboard
were turned toward Ellintown once more,
and the eight-day clock in the dcacon's
hall was on the stroke of 0 when they re-
turned.
lii the lane they met the deacon, driv
ing the widow in his onc-horsc chaisc,
drawn by the sorIcl mare.
They bad missed Esther and Joe at last,
and were just setting out to search for
them.
Esther, leave that disgraceful carriage
at once, and come home with u.s." cried
the widow, as she caught sight Of the buck
board and its double freight. GLOW dare
you? As for you, Mr.. Joe"
"As for Inc, Mrs. La Rose, Esther is my
wife, and you must not speak to her un-
less you speak kindly" said Joe. 1--WE
were married by Parson Willis, at his
house, ut $50 this evening""
Joe drove on toward home without an
other word.
The widow gasped for breath the dea-
con turned pale, then grew red with an
ger.
ooh, hush :" cried the widow, as Gun
parliamentary" words poured by the doz-
ell from his lips. perhaps lie WAS only
joking. You might 60 to Parson Willis
and sce."
"Joe never jokes. He has taken the
girl from me, and shall be the laughing
stock Of the country" suffered the dea-
con, who was quite wild with ragc-"un-
less"
He paused and looked keenly at his
companion.
She was handsome woman still. She
looked up, then down, and colored beneath
his gaze.
The days OF old seemed suddenly to
come to the old deacon. He was i farm