Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-07
All intermission he kept his seat. and

All intermission he kept his seat, and
pretended to be very busy looking for some
tune in his singing-book that refused to be
found. Jenny did not look at him
The doxology closed the school at last,
and there was a grand bustling about the
door, and an eager pushing among the
young men to make sure of their favorites.
Hiram was trying to make his way
through the crowd, when he found him
self at the elbow of Jenny Bates, and the
same moment the hateful voice of Elna-
than Rogers was heard in the words:
"Shall / see you home tonight, Miss
Bates ~
"No, sir" was the prompt answer. II
shall walk home alone"
Hiram was totally unprepared for this.
perhaps it's one of her fits" he said to
himself "The deacon said she had 'em
that nobody knew but himself. I'm glad
she mittened him, though"
The word mitten reminded Hiram that
he had left both on his seat in the school
room, and he stepped back just as the
candles were being put out.
Here's Jenny Bates singing-book," he
heard one boy say TO another. " She went
off in such a hurry tonight she forgot it"
"Give it to me" said Hiram, who re-
membered what had taken place that even
ing, and with eager look sought out the
written messages that had passed between
Jenny and his rival. They were as follows
Tell your father he cheated me when bought
old Jenny l thought by her name she must be
good for something, but she kicks and bites ten
times worse than he ever told me. wish now
had spoken for the Jenny in the house instead
of the one in the barn.
And the answer:
guess the horse is as good as You deserve. AS
for you cho ing betWiAt the two you mention,
you won't be able to do that this year. You
have got the only Jenny you can ever get from
my father.
A light broke in upon Hiram.
DWELL of all the Internal fools l ever
heard, l am the biggest A dog would
have had more sense. It's not too late
now, thank heaven"
The departing crowd started as Hiram
with the singing book in his hand rushed
! down the stairs, two at a time, and up the
road which led toward Deacon Bates If
he was not too late he was nearly So for
Jenny was just opening the gate of the
front yard.
"Stop, Jennyp he exclaimed, painting
for breath. Heres your singing book.
You lett it on your seat. | tried to over
take you"
"You needn't have taken the trouble
Mr.. Jenkins; | guess no one would have
stolen il" said Jenny with great display
of dignity and making show Of going
into the house.
Don't, JENNY Wait-wait just min
ute | know Ive acted like a fool but
just let ne explain
Jenny hesitated moment, made an
other start toward the door, then turned
and went back to the gate where the dis
comfited Hiram stood waiting.
well" she said in as freezing a tone as
she could command.
Now don't look and talk that way,
Jenny Bates. You know | never would
have acted as have if hadn't thought /
had a reason for it. | thought you were
going to marry Elnathan Rogers"
"What business had you to think any
such thing?" asked Jenny, firing up. "a
pretty explanation that is !" and again she
turned away from the gate.
Stop! Let me tell you. Can't you
listen nlinuteT said Hiram in despera-
ton. He felt there was no other way than
to make a clean breast of it, and
plunged into his story at once. Word for
word he related the conversation he had
heard in the horse-barn, and the effect it
had upon him. He was deeply in earnest,
and in closing, humbly appealed for for
giveness. He saw her tremble and put her
hands to her face. Poor girl, she pitied
him! His heart rose and his hand was
upon the gate to open ii, when a peal Of
laughter louder and longer from being so
long pent up, rang out upon the night air,
almost startling out of his boots and wax
ing the Deacon and his wife from Il sound
sleep in the upper front bedroom.
Up went the window and night-capped
head was thrust out, with demand as to
what was the matter Still Jenny laughed,
while Hiram stood silent by the gate,
angry and ashamed, not knowing whether
to advance or go back. At last Jenny
found her voice.
go home, Hiram Jenkins" she said !;
"say your prayers and go to sleep, and if
you want to say anything more to me,
come up tomorrow evening after supper.
But mind, don't you 60 to listening at
any horse barns on your way home )"
and she went off in another peal of
| laughter.
| hiram dld not wait to say good night
| Whether he slept or said his prayers that
night is not recorded, but it is an estab-
| lished fact that s o'clock next evening
found him in Deacon Bates parlor. The
interview was a long and probably an in
teresting one, and its immediate result was
that before Thanksgiving the deacon had
neither Jenny in the house nor in the
barn.
That was years ago, and Hiram has
since done the town some service as Select
man, and is likewise dignifed Justice of
the Peace. But in the midst of all his
dignities and honors, if he ever happens
to insist on having his own way, the threat
of telling about the horse barn brings him
to terms at once. 1t is the one check to
his independence-the magic charm by
virtue of which Mrs. Hiram jenkins
yields the household sceptre.-[Charles
H. lTurd