Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-06-23

Greet intervals, until the matter finally
came to head.
After protracted night session OF
the domestic executive committee, 1t
was determined that Jehial should at
tend the glorious Fourth, with full
power to act.
- Jehial cheerfully accepted fifty cents
from his mother, and made his way to
Squire Jones's to obtain the consent OF
the Jones family.
AS he entered the Squire's gate and
passed up the narrow gravel walk be-
tween the balsam trees, vainly laboring
to formulate his request in graceful
words, and commit them to memory
before reaching the door, he would
have gladly exchanged his task for that
of breaking Canada pair of steers,
blowing a ten-acre field, or teaching a
trio of calves to drink. How his heart
thumped as the soles of his cowhide
boots grated on the coarse gravel of
the walk. He imagined that it would
not seem so hard were it not for the
fact that he was on hostile ground.
for Jayhawk had not set foot upon
the Jones premises since the immortal
battle of the line fence. But those
who can vividly recall the trepidation
with which they preferred their first
request for young lady's company
will doubt if any collateral circum-
stances could materially enhance the
terrors of the moment.
His footballs upon the front porch
sounded, to his own ears, like falling
planks, and the raps of his knuckles
upon the panel of the front door like
heavy artillery. But the calm that
settled down upon the house and all
nature, after his knock, seemed still
louder. Could it be that they were not
going to respond to h is rappings? Or
was she laughing at him from behind
the shutters before admitting him?
Before he had decided which of these
theories to accept he heard footsteps
approaching along the hallway, then a
hand upon the door-knob. One mo-
ment more and he would stand in the
presence of his fate He drew q full
breath and braced himself for the un-
known. But the door did not open.
1t had not been open since the minister
called, in the winter, and seemed averse
to establishing a precedent. In vain
the person on the inside struggled with
the key and clicked it backward and
forward. At last, when the suspense
had become intolerable, a voice from
within called forth:
"Go to the side door, please. "
To the side door he went and again
screwed up his courage, which had
reached ebb-tide during the period OF
suspense, and found himself admitted
by Mrs. Jones to the kitchen. A glance
revealed the fact that the lord of the
house of Jones was fast asleep in his
armchair, his boots of, and his calves
laid across kitchen chair.
els Miss Jones in?" timidly inquired
Jehial, fearful that his voice might
arouse the sleeper.
"Y-e-s," doubtfully replied Mrs.
Jones. "Do you want to see her in
particularly
"Yessum-I-I-"
"Well, she's gone to bed; but if
you'll wait I'll call her," interrupted
Mrs. Jones, going to the stairs door
and shouting:
"Ph'eb! Phoebe Jones. Git right
up an come down. You've got COM
panyl"
The sleeping father evidently recog-
nized the peremptory tone and awak-
ened with o snort-the fragments of an
exploded snore. He rubbed his eyes
and inquired:
"What's up?"
'|You are, an you'd better go on to
bed" responded his wife in the same
convincing tone.
He evidently shared her opinion, for
he Immediately groped and stumbled
along to an adjoining room, without
ever discovering Jehial in the uniight-
ed room.
It seemed to Jehial that hours passed
before Phoebe descended the stairs and
entered the room, and in response to
Mrs. Jones's questions he had told all
that he ever knew and considerable
that he only guessed at, regarding the
history of the Jayhawks and their an
tacedents and circumstances
Phoebe, clad in simple white dress,
that seemed to him marvel of ele-
gance, advanced and gave him her hand,
saying:
"Good evening, Mr.. Jayhawk; will
you excuse me while I get lght?"
She went into the parlor and lit the
center table Tampa ponderous affair
with an elaborately decorated globe Of
ground glass.
"Walk right in this way, Mr.. Jay
hawk" she called from the parlor In
her best parlor voice.
1t was the first time he had ever
heard himself called Mr., and it seemed
so ridiculously out of shape that the
ghost of grin began to twitch the
corners of his mouth.
Fortunately for Jehial, Phoebe di-
vined both his timidity and his inten-
tions and at once brought matters to a
successful issue by asking him if he
had seen the announcement for the
Fourth and if he purposed to attend.
eyes was thinkin' I'd like to go
if-if-if 1 might"
Certainly; l should think you
might Just as well as not. 1t would be
too bad TO miss such q Fourth as this