The Newtown bee., 1897-10-01

j EN~SSSNA
were ready to 60 home, when to Johns
dismay he found that the bride had been
firmly fastened to the hitChing-post with
a bit of wire. A lantern and a pair of
pincers had to be procured from the near
+ est house before they could start for
home. John was very angry at this,
which he called IAN insult" and he VOW
ed to "get even;" but the secret was well
kept. Although Rose sympathized with
him, he was not consoled and punished
her, as he imagined, by staying away for
. time.
However, he regained his temper, and
began to visit them again. He went there
one morning early to invite Rose to go
with hum to singing school. He was
standing with his back to the stove in the
kitchen. Rose came in suddenly, which
so confused John that he stepped hastily
backward, lost his balance and sat down
in the bread pan, containing the sponge"
set for next days batch of bread. He had
managed to knock off the cloth and cover
and the most of the sticky mass adhered
to his coat and trousers. Tom cleaned
him off as we'll as he could; doubling up
the irrepressible laughter afterward :;
| while Rose fed to her own room to in
dulge in paroxysm; which she had no
trouble to restrain, when she came to
clean up the floor. The youngsters
made life a rocky road for him for a
time, but they presently forgot all about
it; and John went on with his wooing,
in his own fashion.
Among the other visitors was one Lo-
renzo Clark, commonly called "Ren."
He played on the violin (the fiddle they
called it), and played we'll, too. He was
in great demand at parties, huskings,
apple-bees and the other frolics in vogue.
Tom Etheridge and his sister Rose were
musical. They possessed no instrument
but an accordion, but they had good
| voices, and could sing many songs. Tom
Etheridge's sweetheart, Miss Martha Jen-
nings, was also a pretty fair singer. The
four made very good quartet; and were
in the habit Of meeting at each other's
homes for practice. They were invaria.
bly, asked to sing after the inevitable
| silence and attempts at conversation had
become uncomfortable. And they "Dream-
ed Dwelt in Marble Halls" through
which poor, Lost Lily Dale" walled
and mOurned. And they sang sometimes
about the "Blue Juniata" and "Bold
Rory O'More" and other lively or sorrow
full ballads, winding up with "Yankee
Doodle" On Sunday evenings "Flow
Gently, Sweet Alton" was allowed, il
followed by "Old Hundred"
John did not take much part in the
music, but he was always present, al
through considerably older than most OF
the company. Nearly all of his com
panions were married; these were the
next generation. During all this period
he never went near Katy Hoover. But
1t was not remarked, even by the most
critical, that she was pining away in
consequence. On the contrary, she was
as plump, rosy-cheeked and smiling as
ever. If she was piqued or grieved she
gave no sign, but maintained the same
philosophical calm. Not so Mother
Hoover. She blamed John severely; de-
claring that "when Rosy Etheridge
gives him the mitten, he needn't think be
can come back to my Katy" But Father
Hoover smiled as serenely as did Katy
He gave no expression to his feelings
so no one could tell whether he was
ehagrined at the slight to his daughter,
or pleased at getting rid of so grumpy a
son-in-law. Public opinion was divided
on the subject.
Matters could not remain in state OF
calm forever. AS winter came on, John
determined on more pronounced at.
tentions. He decided that he wished TO
90 and spend the evenings with the fair
Rosy alone; as the sole and favored
sutton. He limited this wish to her sever
al times, but she seemed somehow dull
of comprehension. BE was so unfortun-
ate. No matter what evening of the
seven he chose,--and he tried them all,
some other gallant was sure to be
there ahead of him. IL it happened there
was no one, brother Tom would sit as If
glued to his chair; and he seemed not to
notice Johns black looks.
Finally, ir occurred to him to make a
confident Of Rem Clark. When he had
revealed the state Of his heart and his in
tentions, that young gentleman lifted his
eyebrows trifie and whietled. "A look
OF mischief came into his eyes. John
was so intent upon his own wishes tba