The Newtown bee., 1897-10-01
The Home Circle.

John Shepherds Shy Wooing.
HE WAS PERHAPS TRIFLE FICKLE, YET
HE DID WIN WIFE, THOUGH HE COULD
NOT HAVE DESERVED HER.
The Frog, he would a-wooing go. And
so would John Shepherd. In fact, he
did, every Sunday evening. But then,
that was only over to Neighbor Hoover's
to see Katy. John had been "sweet" on
Katy ever since the family moved to the
state. He saw her first at school, blue
eyed, flaxen-haired little damsel; round
as a roly-poly pudding. And as she met
his gaze, she smiled. People, large or
small, did not often smile on John Shep
herd. He was always so sour and glum,
even as boy. So when blue-eyed Katy
smiled 1t stirred the-bit of parchment
that did duty for a heart; and he had
been going to see her, off and on, ever
since. He began by going to see her
brothers at first, but in quite an informal
way. Sometimes Mother Hoover asked
him to stay to the late Sunday dinner,
and he always stayed. He was too bash
full to say No. And people laughingly
wondered how he ever found the courage
to tear himself away and go home at all.
As the years went away, and Katy's
brothers and sisters had, one after an
other, sought homes of their own; and
she was left, stray rose as it were, peo-
pie began to remark that Katy would
have to ask him, for he would never have
the courage.
By this time, neither he nor Katy were,
strictly speaking, boy and girl. Indeed,
the youngsters already called them old
bachelor and old maid; but behind their
backs, of course.
Matters were at this stage when some
new neighbors came upon the scene.
They were respectable people, but not
very we'll off; while Johns and Katy
respective parents were the two wealth.
est families in the neighborhood. Katy
would have a snug little sum for a dowry
when she married, consequently Johns
parents frowned when he took to visiting
the new nelghbors. Pretty Rose Etheridge
was the attraction. She had a roguish look
in her dark, long-lashed, hazel eyes, and
q laugh that would charm the most cyni-
cal "old bach" that ever lived. John, as
usual, dared not make his visits toe
marked and formal. So he never asked
for Rose; he just sauntered over to the
Etheridge house, on long summer Sunday
afternoons.
On one such day, when he and Tom
Etheridge had talked about nothing for
two hours, they went into the house. AS
II often happened, there were other young
men already there, on wooing thoughts
intent.
These were rude enough to litter gent.
ly, causing our friend to turn red, look
sheepish and uncomfortable. Rose gave
a mischievous glance at her brother, out
out of the corner OF her eye, as she de.
murely welcomed John and placed seat
for him. But, In his confusion, he did
not notice 1t, but sank into cushioned
armchair. There was loud squall, and
the house cat sprang up as John rose In
CONSERVATION. He tried another, only to
spring up himself, as suddenly; having
settled down on projecting pin which a
lively youngster had deftly placed in
readiness. 1t was impossible not to laugh
not even to refrain when John awkward
ly turned around and knocked on the door
Roses pet vase. There was crash on
the door and pile Of bits Of china and
wet flowers. Some one cried, Snow,
John, you'll have to buy Rose new
vase" John blushed, sat still and said
nothing; but the girl good-naturedly re-
marked that "she did not care for the old
thing az she swept up the litter.
II was not Roses fault, but John chose
to take offense, and so he stayed away for
couple Of Sundays. But he put in an
appearance again and managed to find an
unoccupied chair and to avoid accidents
for several weeks. He had regained his
courage, so one Sunday evening he in.
vited Rose TO 20 to meeting with him.
10 his great delight abe consented.