The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-02-06

"a remarkably tender-hearted wo-
man. What wife she would have
made ?" he soliloquized that night as he
balanced TIE ear fixtures astride the
| head. board Of his bed. "Well, well, for
an offset to her fayors ] shall mount the
cat for nothing. yhat's no more II civil. "
Long he lay awake mnsing, while the
tricksy moon turned his head upside
down upon the pillow, comforting his
tawny whiskers into wig, and shaping
his forehead into beardless chin.
Merely lunar halucination, of course.
| II Mr.. Blodgett's head was turned. and
/ can't say it was not, il was in the iignr-
alive sense. He hid conceived sndden
and unprecedented regard for woman.
Nothing ardent, nothing to affect the APP
petite, but brisk honest liking akin to
that which he had entertained for his
mother. During that lady's reign he
would never have risked her peace OF
mind by bringing home wife, no, not
even If he had been rid Of his sad in
trinity. But now he had only himself
10 please, and hero was Miss Kittredge
smiling upon him in the very face OF
this infrmity. He fell asleep saying TO
himself, "Whats to hinder?'
1t was observed that after this he
made frequent pilgrimages 10 the Kit
tredge domicile. Now would Miss Lo-
vantia see if he wore the auricles arightY
Again, would she tell him whether or
not she could make him hear more
readily than at first? A third time he
dropped in to assure himself that he
had perfectly understood her wishes
concerning Moses. Serenely unconscious
Of the gentleman's growing attachment,
she received him with nnruilled equa-
nimity. her interest in him remaining
centred, 80 TO speak, in his ears. These
were benefited in degree by the au-
ricles nevertheless, he heard none too
well, and Miss Loyanta openly regretted
that he could not experiment with her
fathers audiphone, packed away in
chest at the old homestead.
81 shall drive over to the Centre to-
morrow, Miss Kittredge," said crafty
Mr.. Blodgett, despairing Of securing
private interview by other means, "and
I'd be glad to call ut the farm for that
mstrument-that is, if you'd take the
trouble to 60"
When did Miss Lovantia ever spare
herself the trouble OF doing q kindness9
From n pure desire TO accommodate, she
acceded to Mr.. Blodgett's proposal, and
the following morning the twain set
forth in a stable phaeton redolent Of
new varnish
"You'vc let the farm this year, your
brother tells me" Mr.. Blodgett was say.
ing, as they neared the old place.
The wearing Of his hat having re-
quired the disuse Of the auricles, he had
necessarily assumed the lead of the
! conversation, and he had advanced with
caution TO the present remark. 'Rather
lonesome for you here now, isn't it, so
far from neighborsp"
eyes, in some seasons."
"Ah | should suppose the summer
season would be the least lonesome of
any. We have more stir Mt the village.
! wonder how you'd like living thcrc?'
Miss Lovantia betrayed little interest
in the speculation. She was trying to
remember whether the reel her sister-in-
law wanted was slowed away in The attic
or in the shed chamber, and Mr.. Blod.
gctt's next words struck her like Il bolt
from clear sky.
81 know It's considerable for n deaf
man to ask, but you're alone in the
world rs well Ms I, and I've got means
enough to support You in good shape If
you're agreeable ngrocableto the propo-
sition, ] mean" he amended, in con.
fusion ; then paused nnxiously, under
the impression that he had made III
offer Of marriage.
He had chosen the singuarly mop
portunc moment IF their arrival Mt the
gate, and to avoid replying Miss lao
vantia aIighted III such 2enlous haste
that, despite his best efforts to protect
her garments she wiped impArtally
ench muddy wheel. Ten minutes later,
flushed and nervous, she emerged from
the house carrying black object re-
rombliug japanese fan.
"Well, here's the audiphonc," shouted
she. seating herself with business-like
alr. 81 va frightened the string about
as father had it. Hold it against your
upper teeth--so."
"Not if we were harncssed tandem 7
Ia be willing you should lead off; ] al
ways let mother" said he, iocoso from
habit, yet 20 much in earnest as to be
quito unconscious that he had heard
with case.
"Oh, nonsense I'd never he tied TO
anybody in that way" cried Miss
Lovantia, forcing laugh. "Nor in any
other she continued, hastily; "at my
time of life 'twould he ridiculous"
81 don't see Why" said Mr.. Blodgett,
casting Il troubled glance at her across
tie nudiphone, which he held in his left
hand, while he guided the horse with
the right. 81 wish you'd think the
matter over"
"Oh; nonsense p repeated Miss Lo-
vantia. "Why, Mr.. Rodgett, do you
see how well you hear?"-a paradoxical
query that brought her back to the
secure subject Of ears, to which she
chung during the remainder of the drive.
Some men might have been discour-
nged by such treatment. Not so, Mr..
Blodgett He had said Miss Loymtia
might lead off; all tho same he meant
70 overtake her. He would not make n
great rumpus about II; that was not his
way; but he had now set his heart
n big heart and warm one on marry
ing her, and failure would go hard with
him. Sedulously continuing his visits
ut the farmhouse, he was cordially re.
ceived by all except Miss Lovantia,
whose welcome was fidgety and uncer-
tain. Though more than willing to give
her fathers audiphone to one signally
helped by it, she shrauk from making it
mn object of merchandise, and had fatty
refused To take money for it; but she
could not 60 easily reject the stuffed
testimonials of gratitude which Mr..
Blodgett persistently urged upon her.
Day by day these camo in increasing
numbers-squirrels, black, gray, and
red birds of many hues, every rare or
curious creature the enamored taxidor-