Year: 1861

young men cracked ely lokes at the eX-
pense Of her timid suitor, but Hetty
stood up for him very independently
encouraged him out of shyness-nev-
er noticed any unfortunate blunder, and
very likely lrelped him along considera-
bly, when his feelings reached the ,cul-
minating point one moon-lightel au-
tumn evening, as they were walking
home together from prayer meeting.
That was just week ago. Hetty
had said Yes and agreed to bring
father and mother round on the subject.
Josiah had not been to the house since
|--probably feeling very much like a
dog venturing upon the premises of the
person whose sheepfold he had just
plundercd. As yet neither had he the
courage to speak to the 'reiguing pow
ers' on the subject; and Hetty feeling
as if she wished to put the ordeal off as
long as possible, at any rate to have
one more confidential talk with him on
the subject said:


Mother is going over to aunt Ruth's
to spend the evening, and wants nae to
50; but I guess won't. I've been work
ing on fathers shirt all day, besides
doing the dairy work, and I am as tired
as can be. So I guess they'll have to
go without me. Don't come until
eight o'clock. Ishall be through put
ting things to rights then and will let
you in.


OF course Josiah was not too obtuse
to understand that, and forgot his bash
fulness SO far as to petition for a goodby
kiss, which was peremptorily refused Of
course.


No, Ishant. Do take yourself off.
Think I didn't see you fidgeting around
Sarah Jones at Deacon Badgers yes
terday evening? I've not forgotten that:
STRIP


Now Hetty-'


But the appeal was broken off by a
tantalizing little laugh, and as he sprane
forward Sc take pleasant revenge on
his tormentress, she slipped away and
ran up the path to the house, where he
saw her wave her hand as she disap-
peared within the kitchen porch and
then he tarned from the gate and took
the road homeward.


The tea things had been carried out,
the table sat back against the wall, the
crumbs brushed frola the clean home
made carpet, and Hetty's work stand
drawn up in front Of the blazing fire.
A bountifully piled waiter of great red
apples, and plate of cracked walnuts
were Or 1t, in proximity to Hctty's
work basket


On one side of the fire sat Mrs. Thom
as, fat and fair, and at peace with all the
world; rocking and knitting and refresh
ing herself at sundry intervals with a
bite from halfeaten apple that lay on
the table, and touching every now and
then in a caressing manner with her
foot sleek. lazy looking cat that pur-
red and winked on the rug before her.
Hetty sat on the other side, sewing,
and busy in thinking how she should
tell mother that she expected a visitor.
She would have given the world to be
able to say, in an offhand manner. that
she expected Mr.. Hawley to drop in
about eight. But she recollected with
a twinge of conscience how hard she
had tried to get the cid lady to accom-
pany her husband to Aunt Ruth's,
spite Of her forwarning Of spell Of
neuralgia; how she had also plead head
ache as an excuse for not going herself.
And she knew her mother was quite
sharp enough to draw her own lnferen-
ces from these facts, and from her be-
ing dressed with unusual care to spend
an evening at home.


L shall not dare to tell her now.
She'll be sure to think wanted to get
her out Of the way SO l might have Jo-
siah all to myself and should never
hear the last of it, And like wise
puss, she was silent.