The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-03-12

self. he was ashamed OF the way he
spoke to the pale-faced little girl, who
did her duty and kept her word sc
bravely and well.
He did not come down TO supper.
Lizzie, at Mrs. Henson's bidding, went
TO his room and knocking on his door
called TO him. He had headache, he
answered, and did not want any supper
and babe her come in. Tremblingly
she obeyed.
He was lying on the bed.
"Come here" he said, holding out his
hand. He took one OF hers. "T'm sorry
I was cross with YOU" he went on.
you're a good little thing"
"Oh, I'm not, she returned, radiantly
happy. She let her hand lie in his.
She did not know that she ought not TO.
Eyes, you are. Upon my honor, !
would rather sit at the table with you, il
it we're the proper thing, than with the
Hensons."
"Shan't ] bring You any supper p
she asked timidly, still trembling, but
very happy.
"Not mouthful."
He dropped her hand. That seemed
n signal for her to go out, and she went
lie watched the queer, little, retreat
ing figure with much amusement. She
wore her Sunday -go-to meeting, long
wasted, full.skirted, best delaine, and
her hair was fairly screwed up, so tight
was the knot behind.
After that Sunday Mr.. Hicks often
stopped from his great height to talk TO
Lizzie. And she, loving him blindly,
Notwithstanding his ambition did not
0oint toward taking farm on shares,
was his slave. Jason Williams still lost
ls farming utensils and came over to
borrow Mr.. HensOn's. Lizzie never re-
mained in the room now, il she could
find an excuse TO leave it, when he was
there. Jason's eyes were sharpened by
love and he saw, what no ono else did,
that she had given her heart unasked to
this city "swcll." He never omitted an
opportunity in consequence, TO gently
insluuatc his own superiority and to dis
course freely ON the 'swell's" failings.
lI2z.r, who had little idea what swell
nn,, only that it WAS not nice or Jason
would not have called him by that name,
would not stay to hear it.
Meantime Jason was slowly gaining
courage 10 offer 10 her his own superior
baud and OVERLOOKING heart, thereby
tr ping her from dying Of broken
heart, and saving his own reputation for
destroying farming utensils.
Mr.. Hicks had been ut the Hensons
more than month when Jason finally
got his courage up to the sticking point
He came ono evening privately to offer
these aforementioned valuable articles,
ostcnsibly to borrow the cOrn-sheller.
Mr., Henson had gone to town meet
ing. Mrs. Henson, Lizzie and n large
majority Of the young tow-hoaded Hen
SONS were in the sitting.r0Om.
Mrs. Henson, without II suspicion Of
what was in his heart and on his mind
sat sill and entertained him by 4
graphic discourse on Mr.. Hicks --latest
sins. Lizzie, who had no idea of the
wonderful offer he was dying to make
her, said nothing. II made her angry tC
hear them talk against Mr.. Hicks. She
was wishing that there was al excuse tc
go ont OF the room, when there came
sounds of II disturbance in the hen
house. She threw down her work nnd
ran out. Jason made move TO follow
her. There were no dOubt chicken
thieves about, and he knew just how Ia
settle them, but Mrs. Henson detained
him TO tell him how Mr.. Hicks sent back
his cup Of tea at supper because there
was IL fly in it.
The chickens were cOmposcdly sleep
ing, not one missing, when Lizzie
reached the hen-house. She went
around TO the front yard, but turned
Immediately TO go back, for Mr.. Hicks
sat on the steps and she did not want 10
intrude.
He called to her in his condeacendinp
way to stay.
$50 you have company" he said.
ooh, no, sir" she replied quickly.
"Jason came over to borrow corn
shelter aud is waiting for Mr.. Hen
SON."
Doesn't he come over pretty often to
borrow corn-shrllers? he asked teas.
ingly.
"Not always for corn-sheller, but
he comes pretty often to borrow some
thing. never saw such people for
breaking and losing tools"
n.l,,,,, I,,,ul,n1 L. 4. i
Jason better than did either Mrs. Hen.
son or Lizzie.
"Oan you spare few minutes away
from him to talk with mop / shall moi
be mere long, you know"
cont" she cried, in great consterna-
tion, "what has happened nowp"
Nothing. only the summer liz almost
over. My health is restored, and must
go back to business"
He was vain enough to know how
much pain he inflicted on that little
heart.
"When are you going ?" she gasped,
.rying to speak quietly.
"On Thursday"
This was Monday.
She could not speak. She stood be-
fore him with her handwriting, brown
hands clinched together, feeling ms if
her life was going. Yet she must not let
him know.
"Will you miss me2' he asked,
cruelty.
"You have been very kind to me, sir"
she faltered.
"And You have been to me-" he
said, softly. Every kind, indeed. /
shall think Of you when am gone, but
! don suppose you will give me a
thought. That corn.shell;ng young
mall"
"Oh, sir, please DON'T" she cried,
stretching out her hands in agony.
Osborne took the hands in his own.
"You are too good for him." he
said
ale doesn't come to zee me no one
ever does. | shall never marry"
81 have heard girls say that be-
fore"
There was n moments silence She
stood still with her hands in his for lit.
tie while. then she said.