The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-03-05

the surprise ana eno looked eWo8
quickly, while the color rushed to her
pale cheeks. Before she had time to
speak they turned q corner and found
themselves surrounded by the pio-
nicxers.
"Come along" called Bess Springer.
"You are the very last. Hurry up and
tic your horse, and let's climb the blufa
before supper-time."
The sisters were waiting to talk IL
oil over with Jen when she got home.
After her speeches Of the morning
they hesitated about questioning her,
but she sat down by the kitchen table
where Peg was finishing the ironing,
and told all about It.
eyes, a very good supper. We spread
IL on the grass beneath the big elm
tree. The only trouble was that there
were too many black ants. We had
lots of good cake and fried chicken.
Mrs. Woods lemon pies and your cook
les, Sue, were the best things" She
did not tell that when the cookies we're
passed, aftt several rich cakes, Bess
Springer h4.>. exclaimed: "Cookiesi
Oh, yes, from the Whitneys!"
'Was the river pretty?" asked Nan;
she had never been to bluff picnic.
"Oh, yes, real pretty, and everybody
enjoyed climbing the bluffs. The
Brown girls were afraid they we're 60
ing to fall, and made lots of fun" She
rose, went to the shelf where the bucket
of water stood, and drank little sips
aimleesly from the tin cup.
"Hurry and get your drink and tell
us what happened besides supper and
climbing the bluffs" said Nan, impa-
tiently.
Jennie turned and faced the sisters.
"On the way over" she said, quietly,
Jim said he loved = liked me, and
wanted me to marry him."
Peg dropped her iron. They all
| gazed silently at Jennie. Through
Pegs mind passed vision of Jennie in
u two-story home of her own on tile
next farm, nice parlor with tides on
every chair-tidies made by Jennie's
sisters-sweet little children about the
| place, always clamoring to go over and
see their aunties. Her thoughts trav.
eled so rapidly that before the silence
was broken one of these children had
grown into very pretty girl, who
stopped on her way home from picnics
| to tell her dear old aunts what lovely
time she had. They knew she had
been the belle of the picnic, though she
was much too sweet to mention the
fact. Liza's voice dispelled the vision
Liza was always the first to speak.
"You dear GIRL" she said, II just
know you will be real happy. Jim wal
always good boy"
II am not going to marry him." said
Jennie.
Jennie! why no ?" The four asked
the question together.
Jennie hesitated. "Well," she said
II am not set on it; and suppose an
liable to have consumption some day
and perhaps I ought not to get mar
ried."
'That's silly" said Sue. Because
mother had it is no sign you will. 70,
have never had any cough to speak of.
The others began their protests, bu
she interrupted them.
Consumption hasn't got anything
to do with it," she said. II wanted t<
think 1t over-proposals being sort o.
new to me, you know-so went of BY
myself down by the spring under ths
bank for a minute or SO after supper
Bess Springer and Tom johnson were
there, and I heard Bess telling how jim
proposed to Sally last night and WA
awfully cut up because she would no,
have him. So it was not much of ar
offer after all, you see. Goodnight
girls"
AS she turned to leave the kitchen
she stopped for second by the iron
ing board and laid her hand on Peg'l
shoulder. peggy" she said, tenderly
with her voice trembling little
there certainly never was as good {
man in all Missouri as pa-unless it wa
grandpa. Midland Monthly.