The Forrest City times., 1894-12-21

way and he and I got along very nice- iy together, and what time I was not worrying Joe enjoyed in his company, for he really intended to be a good fellow, though the circumstances that his father was wealthy had spoiled him to considerable extent. Hand. some, accomplished in all those things that make man attractive, if it had not been for n certain languid way which he had of taking life, he would have been good fellow to be with. As 1t was, he made me tired to de- gree that l used to leave him and tramp off after Joe that I might ab- sorb from him some of the energy with which he was so fully endowed It was not long before l discovered that Mir. Perrin was dead in love with Miss Kelley, and really stood ready to give them my blessing if they should by any chance ask me for it. l thought it would not be a bad match, a!l things considered, though if 1 had been consulted I should just as will ingly have advised her to marry Joe, but knew the young lady would very likely have some convictions on the subject of the fitness of things, and if she chose either would take Mir. Perrin rather than the hired man. I am forced to say that she did not seem at all inclined to become smitten with either of the young men, and if she had preference for either she kept it hidden with remarkable success.
 I don't think Joe and Mr. Perrin loved each other very fervently, though they were perfectly polite to each other. 1t must have been this perfect politeness that first got the notion in my head that they were maintaining sort of an armed peace with each other There was no demonstrative love-malling on either side in those days of early summer. and If anyone else noticed the condition of affairs that one kept his or her own counsel and waited. l was in position to watch the drift of events as intelli- gently as anyone, and finally there came time when I must talk about it to some one, and one day when Joe was field and Harry lolling in the shade down in the orchard and Miss Kelley was in her room taking nap, I suspect, wandered cut onto the back porch where Aunt Rachel was engaged in some mysterious operation that would show results at the supper table, and began on her.
 Miss Kelley is Q very charming girl" ventured.
 "Yes, Maggie's nice enough" an swered Aunt Rachel in non-commit- tai voice.
 ''She is one of the sort that attracts young men"
 ''I guess that's so."
 This was not encouraging, and I took plunge.
 Your hired mans in love with her" | Aunt Rachel broke two eggs before she spoke.
 Curious notions some people get into their heads," she said, ''an for the life of me don't see where they come from. I sometimes think the air is full of them, jest as it is of bees an things"
 This was not exactly relevant to the subject under discussion, from any point of view, and did not feel in the | humor for abstract argument. I be- gan to suspect that Aunt Rachel had l been as cbservant as l had and did not care for me to discover the fact
 Harry Perrin is going to propose to her before he leaves this place." I as serted as boldly as if I had the infor- nation from headquarters.
 ''He might go further and fare worse," was the not entirely original answer got from this, though in this case l was ready to assent to the truth of the saying.
 The interview was not as satisfac- ] tory as it might have been, and l l lounged down toward the field where Joe was at work without very def mite idea of Aunt Rachel's opinion or i information
 A few days after this abortive att | tempt to get confirmation of my sus- picions or some evidence to prove to myself that they were not well found ed, was compelled to go my way and leave fate to work out its designs without help or hindrance from me. ' As 1 said good-by to Aunt Rachel at l the station at Garrettsville I said:
 II am afraid Margaret Kelley is go- | ing to make fool of herself"
 ''So am l." answered Aunt Rachel, without making any sign to denote that she was at all surprised at my re- mark or that she did not fully under stand my eaning.
 A year IS not long when one is busy, | and it was a full twelve months before saw or heard from Aunt Rachel again You may be sure it was not long after that before I asked about 1 her niece and her lovers.
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