Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-28

uo-u III sue lOIS ~.
Give it to me- said Hiram, who
remembered what bad taken place
that evening, and with an eager look
sought out the written message
that had passed between Jennie and
his rival. They were as follows:
"Tell your father he cheated me
when bought old Jenny. Thought
By her name she must he good fol-
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.
VI guess the horse is as good as
you deserve. Asfor youchoosing be-
twixt the two you mention, you won't
be able to do that this year. You
have got the only Jennie you can
ever get from n,y father
A light broke in upon Hiram.
"Well of all the internal fools |
ever heard am the biggest! A Cog
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. 1t he was
not too late he was nearly so, for
Jenny was just opening the gate OF
the front yard.
"Stop, Jennyr' he exclaimed,
painting for breath. "Here's Your
singing book. You left it on your
seat. | tried to over-take you.n
{: You needn't have taken the trou-
BILE, Mr.. Jenkins; | guess no one
would have stolen it." said Jenny
with a great display of dignity and
making II show Of going into the
house.
"Don't, Jenny! Wait-wait just a
minute. l know Pve acted like n
fool; but just let me explain"
Jenny hesitated moment, made
another start toward the door, then
turned and went back to the gate
where the discounted Hiram stood
standing.
"Well," she said III as freezing a
tone as she could command.
G Now don't look and talk that
way, Jennie Bates. YOn know I
never would have acted as | have if
| hadn't thought | had reason for
it. | thought yon were going to
marry Elnathan Rogers
" What business had You to think
any such thing ?" asked Jenny, firing
up.
A pretty explanation that is p
and again she turned away from the
gate.
/" Stop! let me tell you. Can't
you listen a minute ~ said Hiram in
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 eff
feet it had upon him. He was deep
~ i'll earnest, and in closing, lumbly
for forgiveness. He saw
her tremble and put her hands to her
face. Poor girl, she pitied him His
heart rose aud his hand was upon
the gate 10 open it, when a peal of
londer and longer from be-
ing so long pent up, rang out upon
the night air, almost startling him
out of his boots and waking the
deacon and his wife from, a sound
sleep in the upper front bedroom.
Up went the window and night
capped head was thrust out, with a
demand as to what was the matter.
Still Jenny laughed, while Hiram
stood silent by the gate, angry and
not knowing whether to
advance or 60 back. At last Jenny
found her voice.
$50 home, Hiram Jenkins" she
said; say your prayers and go to
sleep, and if you want to say any
thing more to me, come up to-mor-
row evening after supper. But mind,
don't You go to listening at any horse
barns on your way home y and she
went off in another peal of laughter.
Hiram did not wait to say good
night. Whether he slept or said his
prayers that night is not recorded,
but it is an established fact that
eight o'clock next evening found him
in Deacon Bates's parlor. The in
terview was long and probably an
one, aud its immediate
result was that before Thanksgiving
the Deacon had neither jenny in
the house nor in the stable.
This was years ago, and Hiram
has since done the town some service
as selectman, and is likewise a digni-
he'd justice of the peace. But in the
midst of all his dignities and honors,