The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-04-10

to the village, and while there, standing in
| front of the postof1ice, Elnatban Rogers drove
| by with the deacon's mare.
81 spose now he's got Jenny he thinks he's
got q right to the whole property" muttered
Hiram wish to gracious the old mare
| would put her feet through the dashboard j.
That night the singing school met at the
| Academy. Hiram came late. He used TO sit
with the teners just behind Jenny Bates
| Now he chose different scat, and tried hard
to sing bass. He could not, however, help
seeing Elnalban Rogers pass peppermint
lozenges to Jenny, and also to write some
thing on the blank leaf of her singing book,
which she read and answered.
"Ofcourse he'll go home with her tonight"
thought Hiram. It'll be the first time I've
missed it for a year. He's welcome, though"
| All intcrmission he kept his seat, and pre-
tended 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 grand busting about the door,
and an eager pushing among the young men
| TO make sure of their favortes. Hiram was
| trying TO make his way through the crowd,
| when he found himself at the elbow of Jenny
Bates. and The same moment the hateful voice
of Elnathan Rogers was heard in the words
| "Shal | see you home TO night, Miss
Bates"
mo, sir" Was the prompt answer. 81
| 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 nit.
tened him, though"
The word mitten reminded Hiram that lie
| had left both on his seat in the school room,
| and stepped back just as the candles were put
out.
Here's Jenny Bates singing book" he
| heard one boy say to another "She went off
in such hurry tonight she forgot it"
give it TO me-" said Hiram, who remem-
bered what had taken place that evening, 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
good for something, but she kicks and bites ten
times worse than he ever told me-. L wish now
had spoken for the Jenny in the house instead
of the one in the barn.
And the answer:
II guess the horse is as good as you Deserve
As for you choosing betwixt the two you mem
ton, 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.
"Well fall the internal fools | 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 to Deacon Bates. If he was
not too late he was nearly so, for Jenny was
just opening the gate ofthe front yard.
stop, Jenny y he exclaimed, painting for
breath. Here's your snging-book. You
left it ON your seat. l tried to overtake you"
"You needn't have taken the trouble, Mr.
jenkins guess no one would have stolen
it," said Jenny with great display ofdignity
| and making a show of going into the house.
Don't Jenny Wait-wait just minute
l now Eve acted like fool but just let me
| explain"
Jenny hestaied moment, made another
start towards the door, then turned and went
back to the gate where the discounted Hiram
| stood awaiting.
"Well," she said, in as freezing tone as she
could command.
"Now don't look and talk that way, Jenny
Bates. You know l never would have acted
as have if | hadn't thought l had q reason
for it, thought you were going to marry
Elnathan Rogers
"What business had you to think any such
thng?" 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
minute 7" said Hiram in desperation. He
felt there was no other way than to make
clean breast OF it, and plunged into his story
at once. Word for word he related the con-
ion hp had ri in ha has,
and the effect it had upon him. He was
deeply in earnest, and in closing, humbly APP
pealed for forgiveness. 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 it, when 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 waking
the deacon and his wife from sound sleep
in the upper front bed room.
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
ashamed, not knowing whether to advance or
60 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 to NOR
you go to listening at any horse-barn on your
way home" 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 parlor. The interview was
long and probably an interesting one, and
and its immediate result was that before
Thanksgiving the deacon had neither Jenny
in the house nor in the stable.
That was years ago, and Hiram has since
done the town some service as sclectman, and
is likewise dignified justice of the peace
But in the midst of all his digniti,s and hon
ors, if he ever happens TO insist upon having
his own way, the threat oftelling 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.
The Editors Condition Described,