Year: 1861

DE was bashtul, extremely josiah Hawley; at
least in the presence of young ladies; most of all in
the presence of the girl he loved No young farmer in
all the country possessed better kept farm talked
with more confidence among his compeerS of stock and
crops, and on kindred subjects. But the glimpse of
some pretty face, or foot coming in his direction aec
ted him like fash Of lightning On such occasions he
never knew what to do with his hands and eyes, and
always felt like screwing himself into mouse hole.
How he contrived to approach Hester Thomas on
the subject of his preference for her. probably remains
to this day much mystery to himself as it is to
Others


But that young lady had quite amount of tact and
cleverness slowed away somewhere in her pretty little
head albeit it was set the dimped, inexperienced
shoulders of seventeen Josiah was worth in worldly
way, much than any of her other suitors: good
looking, and intelligent enough to satisfy any but
over-fastidous person. unexeeptona in short barring
his excessive bashfulness which fruitful ource of
merrmen among the young people in theirttl circle.
And So when Josiah, in his awkward bundering way,
began to exhibit his preference for her in various little
ways such waiting on her to and from singing school
constituting himself her escort when she rode horse
back to the solitary church in the woods, and singing
her out at quilting parties Hetty took it all in the
pleasantest manner possible The girls laughed and
the young cracked sly jokes at the expense of her
timd sutor but Hety stood up for him very indepen-
IDENTIFY encouraged him out of his shyness never no
ticed any unfortunate blunder and very likely helped
him along considerably when his feelings reached the
eliminating point one moonghted autumn evening,
as they were walking home together from prayer meet
ing.


That was just week ago. Hetty had said Yes"
and agreed to bring father and mother around the
subject" Josiah had not been the house since prob
ably feeling very much like dog venturing upon the
premises of the person whose sheepfold he had Just
pundered As yet neither had he the courage speak
to the reignng powers the subject and Hetty feel
ing if she wished to put the ordeal off long pos
sible-at any rate, to have confidential talk
with him the subject said:


Mother ia going aunt Ruths to spend the evening
and wants me to 60 But guess l won't I've been
working fathers shirts all day, besides doing the
dairy work aud I'm as tired as can be. So / guess
they'll have to go without me. Don't come until eight
o'clock shall be through putting things ights then
and will let you i'm


OF course Josiah was not too obtuse to understand
that and forget his hashfnness far petition for
goodbye kiss, which peremptorily refused of
course.


"No, I shant. Do take yourself off. Think didn't
you fgetng around Sarah Jones deacon Badgers
yesterday evening? Pve not forgotten that, sir"


'Now Hetty---n


But the appeal was broken of by tantalisng little
laugh and he sprang forward to take pleasant
venge his tormenTess, she slipped away and ran up
the path the house where he saw her wave her hand
as she disappeared within the kitchen porch and then
he turned from the gate and took the road homeward


The tea things had been carried out the table set
back against the wall the crumbs brushed from the clean
home made carpet and Hettys work-stand drawn up in
front of the blazing fire. bountfuly piled waiter Of
great red apples and plate of cracked wanuts were
on it, in close proximity to Hettys work basket.


On side of the fire sat Mrs. Thomas fat and fair
and at peace with all the world rocking and knitting
and refreshing herselfat sundry interviews with bite
from half eaten apple that lay the Of the
table, and touching every and then in caressing
with her foot sleek, lazy looking cat that
purred aud winked on the rug before her. Hety sat
on the other side, sewing and busy in thinking how
chr han hat
She would have given the world to be able to say in an
o-hand manner that she expected Mr.. Hawley to drop
in about eight But she recolected with twinge OF
conscience how hard she had tried to get the old lady
TO accompany her husband to aunt Ruhs spite of her
forewarnngs of spell of neuralgia; how she had also
plead headache as excuse for not going herself And
she knew ner mother quite sharp enough to draw
her differences from these facts and from her being
dressed with usual care to spend evening home


II shall not dare to tell her now. She'll be sure to
think wanted to get out of the way might have
Josiah all to myself and should never hear the last Of
it," And like wise little puss she was silent


I'll venture my word on it, you would have won
dered at young farmers desperate enhralment if
you could have seen Hetty Thomas she sat gewing by
the fire side, that cold November night


Under preext of being ready TO 20 to her uncles "a
thing she had no idea of doing) she had, Just before
tea INDUCED in an indscrminate fixing up neatly


fitting dark calico with the store look ita fresh linen
collar, and tasteful black silk apron-these were the
Cuet items OF deJtyS toilet; DNt Sne looked sweet
and dainty in her plain dress hours had been spent
in donning lace and jewels Her rich hair Of the dark
auburn nge fell in shining folds close to her warm
red cheek, and caught up in a cunning net behind


Eight o'clock and past Mrs. Thomas was doing in
her chair-her shadow on the opposite wall bobbing
about i'll grotesque mnicry she nodded to and fro
now crushing the vquminous white satin bows on her
spruce cap against the back of her chair now almost
falling forward and her fat hands lay listessy in her
lap and her ball of yarn had rolled upon the hearth
and puss was busy converting it into gordian knots.


And Just then double rap at the door; so loud
sudden and selfassured that Hetty started up with
little shriek and set her foot pusss tall who in turn
gave voice to her amazement and displeasure.


The combined noise aroused Mrs. Thomas and start
ing into erect position she rubbed her eyes and set
tied her cap-boFder and exclaimed


BLESS nv soul, Hetty, what was thate Somebody at
the door? Who be coming here this time Of the
night?n


dts not late mother; only little past eight Tgo
and see who it is says Hetty, demurey taking the
die from the table


''No. Here you wind up my ball and sweep the
HEARTH while go to the door, says the old lady whose
feet were struggling in the perplexng mcshes of the
yarn. "Drat the cat!n


And all this time Josiah standing 90 one foot out
the cold porch with his hands in his pockets
il Hety had fallen asleep and every now and
then giving the door sharp rap By way of variety.


In her hurry Mrs Thomas forgot to take the candle
and she stepped out into the little front entry the sit
tingroom door slammed after her. She had her hand
the hall door at the moment and opening it she sud-
denly found herself in the embrace Of stout pair Of
arms; whiskered face in close proximity to her own
and before she could think about the sangeness of her
situation she receveda prolonged kisaa hearty smack
full upon her matron lips


''0h murder Tant Obadiah neitherf


She had by this time divested herself OF the impres
sion that it her usually sobers who must have
come home in an unusually exalted condition. thus TO
indulge in such unwonted expressions of affection.


Get out! Get out! say! Who y0n, any how?
Murder! thieves Hetty, come here! Here's man kiss
ing me like he's nad!"


But the intruder had by this time discovered his mis-
take; it did not need the indignant pummeng of the
old lady's vigorous fists him to reliuqush his
hold, and fly as if pursued by some indignant ghost


Uetty, nearly choking with smothered laughter in
spite Of trepidation, now came to the rescue


II never was so frightened in all my life The mean
scanp Who could il be? Hetty, have you any ideaq"


But that dutifu daughter vas, to fappearance inno
cent as sucking dove. She soothed tie lady by rep
resentng that it might have been one of the neghbors
who having drank too much had mistaken the house
and the housewife. She searched the entry for the
missing spectaces dropped in the scue rearanged the
rumped cap BORDER wound up the tangled yarn stirred
the ire-aIl in the most amiabe manner possible and
at length had the satisfaction of seeing her mother sub
side into her chair and her accustomed tranquility


Mrs Thomas Bas fully awake now. She had new
idea in her head and instead Of settling herself for