The Press., 1890-07-31

OI tHlS VISit, Su0uouly LOunO ucE IL7Q0 altnOSt completely occupied by the wonder as to where Mr. Smith found that coat Did they have those coats ready made anywheres Could any man go and get onel
 As for the rest of this persons dress, his black pantaloons were very short and small, as if all the cloth had been used in the coat and his shirt front bulged great deal, and seemed threatening to crack. ;.s-
 It had an effect as if it were veaeered.
 Mrs. Green made some inquiries about the hen business, and found that Mir. Smith had permanently taken the place of that young man who had "gone up." He was, oaiy driver now, but he fingered on gittin' in with the boss" =.
 After while Mrs. Green suggested that the front room was probably warm enough now, and Mehitable conducted her suitor into that apartment, where they both sat down somewhat awkwardly. But Mir. Smith was too much accustomed to this kind of thing,n as he would have said, to Bemuch at loss He did not attempt the sentimental. He talked good deal about what advantage it would be for them two women to have jest the kind Of man he was come there and set the old. farm ter goin' agin. He said he should bring his COW over, m his pigs, and M'hitable could take care of lem while he was pickin' up hens. His children were all shirkin' for themselves now, though his youngest was only l2
 As she listened to him Mehitable was con- scious of the most curious mixture of disap- pointment and exultation. She exulted over the mere fact that, she now had gentleman friend" of her own, and there he was visibly before her. Still there was an underlying sense that this mere fact was notsso very interesting after all Was it so lacking in interest to every womans She couldn't understand it in the least. She tried, to listen when he related how much meal he gave his COW, and when he expressed firm convic- tion that ''shorts did a critter more harm than good"
 His upper lip was certainly very dreadful, and it was particularly dreadful when be smiled. She supposed she should marry him, of course. It was almost as good as an en- gagement that she had allowed him to come on Sunday night, and she knew he thought so Her mind went forward to the time when she should have to ask the librarian to change the name on her membership card from Miss Mehitable Green to Mrs. Alphonso Smith. What would be her sensations at moment like thats -s s
 Would her mother rule Parrot as she had ruled every one with whom she had ever lived? Why did Parrot-looking at his mouth she found herself obliged, mentally,  brides home instead of taking his bride to his home! She could not know that a fore closure of mortgage was about to take place at the Smith estate.
 After her guest had conversed an hour about "critters," and hens, and cotton seed meal, and cracked corn, and kindred sub jects, and she had done her best to listen and reply occasionally, it became evident that 2 the visitor was getting very sleepy. His sem tences grew more isolated, so to speak, and he would close his eyes for some minutes then open them with 8 snap, and hold his head up straight. After what seemed an in- terminable time, the clock struck nine. MT. Smith tried to sit while longer, then he de- cided mentally that it was pesky foolish thing to spend much time in courting M'hita- ble Green. He rose from his chair, saying something to the effect that his "hoss was mighty uneasy if it was out much, m he s'posed he'd better be goin'; m he s'posed 1t was all settled between lem, and he'd come over next Sunday night agin, m she might have talk with her mother, m be sure m tell the old lady t he meant the fair thing by 'em both, m they needed a man. When he come ag'in they'd set the day, as 'twa'nt no use putin things off when they knew their own minds; sn' hed like to git settled all comfortable fore New Years"
 He stood looking at Mehitable, where she still sat in her chair, with her work worn hands folded tightly on her lap.
 II guess it's all settled, ain't its' he said
 She looked up at him, her honest, patient eyes having all unusual appearance under her auffed hair.
 ''I guess 'tis," she said, feebly.
 ''All right then" he responded, with brisk ness, "Ill be a-goin'," and he walked out of the room
 She did not follow him. She remained quiet. She heard him bustling on with his coat and talking to her mother; then the out side kitchen door shut, and soon after came the sound of horse and wagon leaving the yard.
 She was engaged. She kept telling herself that she was engaged, while she was doing the little things she did every night before going to bed.
 In half an hour she was upstairs. Her mother had continued amiable. She would try to inform her in the morning. It would be time enough in the morning.
 It was between 12 and 1 o'clock in the night that Mrs. Green became aware that her daughter was standing beside her couch, with bed comforter wrapped about her, and holding the lighted lamp in her hand.
 ''Mother," exclaimed Mehitable with ex- plosive force, .'you tell him can't do it, can't do it, m won't, won'tv
 Mrs. Green smiled as soon as she could re- cover herself sufficiently to do so z
 "So you've ben an ingaged yourself, have yep
 ''Yes, but I ain't goin' to stay engaged, can't bear him. I-oh-mother, you tell himl"
 sa Mehitable showed symptoms of hysterical sobbing.
 Her mother reached out and patted her daughters arm.
 Don't you worry," she sad, ''the Earns worths ain't afraid of nothin', m ain't lived to this day to be afraid of that Parrot Smith, l guess. I'll tell him wa'nt goin' to let him git ye, anyway. He's arter this farm. I'll tell him it was left to me, m I c'n will it 5 where please, m I sha'n't will it to Parrot Smiths wife. Sa;xesl did ye think didn't know what was up toa Go to bed, child. We'll git Tong here by ourselves spell longer, I reckon"
 Must it be confessed that, as Miss Green again climbed the narrow yellow stair, in the midst of her sensations of relief, there was dull pang that her mother should have thought, and have said, that this gentleman friend was "arter the farmT'-New York Tribune.
 Balls is more than com fortable; it is shapely, natural. has tha orace of noture. mo,a