Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-01-09

associates as 'StOne-CrhCker' ana q .
'crankn-the last word being always
applied by fools to any one they think
to possess brains. The lover did not let
his hate for the stranger interfere with |
his siege of the maiden. AT all the pic
uics and rural festivities he followed .
Hetty like her shadow. She gave no
tokens of dislike at this, and every one,
even the professor, thought l. would
eventually be match. Why not 2
Jotham was even richer than the squire. |
There was nothing between the farms but |
narrow patch of land, which was in the |
market. That bought by either, and the
combined Jones and Martyrs places would !
cover nearly two thousand acres of the
best land in the county. The very prox-
unity suggested a matrimonial alliance.
The time of vacation had nearly slip
ped away, when there was a merry max
/ ing OF the farm. The aEartynses had al
ways given an old fashioned harvest
home to their neighbors after the main
crops were gathered in, and Henry Mar
| tyns was not man to slight the custom
of his forefathers. Aunt Lucy AIMS
resources of larder and kitchen were
taxed to their utmost The neighbors,
young and old, were all there. The
feast was held in the great barn, and
after 1t was all over the threshing- floor
upon stool, and dancing began, while
at a little distance of, on patch of
gycensward, party of young men
jumped, ran, and practiced all kinds of
muscular fun. The professor had been
great dancer in his student days, and
though he had not stopped to anything
so light while holding a chair at college,
felt it his duty to ask the daughter of
his host to open the hop with him. Just
as she had consented, Jotham came up
with similar request.
81 have promised the first set to Pro-
fessor McDougal," :" said Hetty, 'but the
next is at your service, Mr.. Jones; and
he had to be content with that. He saw
the professor dance in earnest, not
walking through, but falling into the
spirit of the occasion, pirouetting,
p pigeon -winging, and heel and-toeing in
the rustic style to the admiration of the
spectators and the chagrn of lothian,
to whom it was gall and wormwood.
When Jotham's turn came, the pro-
fessor watched in turn, and when it was
over, and Hetty seated, and Jotham bent
over her and talking earnestly, the pro-
fessor felt an uncomfortable sensation
for which he could not account. and went
and Joined the young men on the green.
There he found the old squire looking
on.
"Everdo anything of this kind ?"asked
Mr.. Martyrs.
Sometimes in my under graduate
days" said the professor.
But he took no interest in their sport,
and soon went back to the barn. Hetty
was not on the floor. She was still
seated, with lothian at her side. He
was talking eagerly, and she was blushing
while her fingers picked nervously at her
dress.
! II would like to take that fellow
down peg" said the professor, vicious
ly, and then walked back and rejoined
the squire. He stood irresolutely, and
made vague and inapt replies to his
- companions remarks. Suddenly the cry
arose.
''Here comes Jones! Now you'll see
jumpingl"
o Jotham dashed in among them ex-
citedly, looked at the heel marks OF
J. the others, and took of his coat. He
= was very much agitated. But seeing
=, the professor, he gave him a savage look,
and going to the starting point, made a
: great leap, and landed a foot farther
than any of the rest.
"Therel" he said "Id like to see any
" dude stone cracker beat that
This drew all eyes on the professor
y who walked forward, looked at the dis
y tance, and calmly handed his coat to The
! squire. Then he jumped fully eightcer
- inches farther than lothian. The latter
q did not like the storm of applause which
= greeted the feat. He determined t.
? show his supremacy in another way. Sc
J.. he said, in an offensive tone:
r. "You're good at the jump, Stone
q cracker. How are you at the rassle"
y Squire Martyrs frowned, but before
+ he could utter rebuke, the professo
replied, quietly:
81 did not come into the mountains
y to show myself off, Mr.. Jones; but a
this is a gathering of neighbors, l hav,
!. no objection to trying friendly fal
with you. Only, as am out of prac
q tice, you must be light on me-"
Il Thus saying, the Professor diveste(
,s himself of waistcoat and cravat. The
7 crowd eagerly formed ring, and tn
:, two antagonists stood facing each other
y lothian lowering and malicious, tn
"a other calm and indifferent. Afew feint
: and they locked. lothian was thickes
and sturdy; the other supple as an eel
n A struggle, aud then-so quickly tha
w no one could see how it was done-th
4 two went down together. lothian on th
, broad of his back and the professor up
:, permost. The latter sprang to his feet
~ but Jotham lay there for minute inca
~ pable OF motion. When he arose he wa
~ in no condition to renew the contest
~ ~ professor" said the squire, as the
walked toward the barn, "would yo
- =, like to be member of Congress?"
- 'I think not " said the professor. 9
- have no taste for politics. Why"
~ Because if you'll settle down hero
~ and fail half a dozen bullies, as you hav
aI ,d lothian Jones, you'll go in by larg
Of majority"
IN 1t was evident that MacDougal
III strength was restored, and his appea
N ance showed him to be in good health
vs. but his spirits were depressed. Durin
Sc the few more days he remained he mad
he no more neurological or botanical e!
he cursions, but fingered around the hous
he Hetty avoided him, and if they met W;
q shy.
he "She resents the humiliation of HI
lover" he thought. "And there
ne nothing in common between them. ST
a is beauty, grace, animation, and INTEL