Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-28
well you may be sure of that"

hoSC, dlu HustHy Sstid
"Sie's got some little tricks that
nobody knows nothing about but
me, and / don't want to impose upon
a neighbor."
"Oh, pshaw! that's only al ex-
cuse, deacon. Pm willing to risk it,"
"She kicked me me 10 the stom-
ach last winter, and bit little Sammy
not more'n six weeks ago. | can
show you the scar now"
"Great kingw thought Hiram,
land here | was going to pop the
question this very night. Who would
have thought it -
"I'lI get that out of herr said
Elanthan continuing the converse
ton. "Ifs she so much as lifts her foot
against me, I'll give her liclSin'
that'll last a month";"
click !" calculated Hiram to him.
self, astonished beyond measure.
click Jenny Bates Well, this goes
ahead Of anything / ever heard of.
And the old man doesn't say a word |!
What next %
A pause ensued, which was at
last broken by the deacon.
"Well, if you must have her, you
must. expect the old lady'll want
something to say about it, though.
She thinks as much of Jenny as |
do. Won'tyou come into the house ~
"Not now. I've go. to go down
to the village before dark. I'll be
round some time tomorrow"
Hiram Jenkins waited until his
successful rival climbed the fence
between the two farms. Then be de-
liberately unhitched his horse, got
into his wagon and drove off, never
casting a look toward the window
where the fair Jenny sat in watch
full expectation. Not until he reach.
ed his own door did he draw a long
breath.
1t seems just like a dream" said
he to himself as he slowly nnbuckled
the harness. "To think of Jenny
Bates kicking her own father and
biting her little brother, and she
looking as though butter wouldn't
melt in her mouth It's Just as mean.
though, in the deacon to lick as tits
for her to kick. The old hypocrite
Well, / must say I'm nightly de-
ceived in the Bateses. | s'pose Ell
nathan Rogers feels cranky enough
now he's got her. | just hope she'll
kick his head off. Lucky for me |
overheard what | did,
Notwithstanding the self-congrat-
ulation, Hiram felt all the pangs Of
disappointment and jealousy. He had
not only lost his "girl," but been
cut in the most notifying manner
by a man he held in thorough con
tempt. He felt that even with what
he knew of Jenny's faults, if he could
gain her hand he would carry her off
in spite Of his rival or the deacon
either.
A week passed by, and Jenny was
never out of Hiram's thoughts. One
day he went to the village, and while
there, standing in front Of the post
Office, Elnathan Rogers drove by
with the deacon's mare.
Il s'pose now he's got Jenny he
thinks he's got right to the whole
property" muttered Hiram. ! wish
to gracious the old mare would put
her feet through the dashboard p
That night the singing school met
at the Academy. Hiram came late.
He used to sit with the tenors
just behind Jenny Bates. Now he
chose different seat, and tried hard
to sing bass. He could not, how
ever, help seeing Elnathan Rogers
pass peppermint lozenges to Jenny,
and also write something on the
blank leaf OF her singing book, which
she read and answered.
"Of course he'll go home with her
tonight" thought Hiram. "It'll be
the first time I've missed 1t for q
year. He's welcome, though
All intermission he kept his seat,
and pretended to be very busy look
ing 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 bustling
about the door, and an eager push
ing among the young men to make
sure of their favorites. 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 Elnath-
an Rogers was heard in the words
"Shall / see you home tonight,
Miss Bates ~
No, sir,r was the prompt answer.
" shall walk home alone"
Hiram was totally unprepared for
this.
"Perhaps it's one Of her fits, he