Year: 1875

| 'SlltlI L see you nome Tonight, MISS
Bates? ?"


mo, Sir" was the prompt reply. 81
shall walk home alone"


Hiram was totally unprepared for this.


perhaps it's one OF her fits" he said to
himself. The deacon said she had 'em,
that nobody knew but himself. Pm glad
| she mittened him, though"
The word mitten reminded Hiram that
he had left both of his on his seat in the
school-room. and he stepped back Just as
the candles were being put out.


Heres Jenny Bates singing book, he
| heard one boy say to another. "She went
off in such a hurry to. night, that she for
got it,


| Give it to me,n said Hiram who re-
membered what had taken place that
! evening, and with eager look sought out
the written message that had passed be-
tween Jenny and his rival. They We're
as follows


Tell your father he cheated me when
| bought old Jenny. | thought by her
name she must be good for something,
but she bites and kicks ten times worse
| than he ever told me. wish now had
spoken Tor the Jenny in the house instead
of the one in the barn
And the answer:


81 guess the horse is as good as you
deserve. AS tor your choosing between
the two you mention, you won't be able
to do that this year. You have got the
only Jenny you can get from my father"


A light broke in upon Hiram.


"Well, of all the internal fools ever
heard Of am the biggest A dog would
have had more sense. 'Tis not too late
now. thank heaven"


The departing crowd started as Hiram.
with the singing book in his hand, rushed
down the stairs. two at Il time, and up the
road which led to Deacon Bates If he
was not too late he was nearly so. for
Jenny was Just opening the gate to the
front yard


"Stop, Jenny" he exclaimed, painting
for breath (" Here's your singing book
You left it on your seat tried to over
take your


You needn't have taken the trouble,
stolen it, said Jenny with great dignity
and making show of going into the
house.


"Don't, Jenny Wait - wait Just 4
minute, | know Eve acted like 4 fool !;
Dul let me explain.


Jenny hesitated a moment, made another
start toward the door, then turned and
went back to the gate where the discom-
fitted Hiram stood waiting.


"Well," she said, in rs freezing a tone
as she could command


''Now don't look and talk that way,
Jenny Bates You know l never would
have acted as have if hadn't thought
had good reason tor it, | thought you
We're going to marry Elnathan Rogers"


''What business had you to think any
such thing" asked Jenny firing up.
g 4 pretty explanation that is. " and
again she turned away from the gate.


Stop! Let me tell YOU Can't you
listen a minute ?" said Hiram in despera-
ton He ielt there was no other way
than to make clean breast of it, and
plunged into his story at once. Word for
word he related the conversation he had
heard in the horse-barn, and the effect it
had upon him. He was deeply in earnest,
and in closing, humbly appealed for for
giyeness. He saw her tremble and put
her hands to her face. Poor girl. she
pitied him! His heart rose, and his hand
was upon the gate to open it, when peal
of laughter, louder and louder from being
SO long pent up, rang out upon the night
air, almost startling Hiram out of his
boots and waking the deacon and his wife
from Il sound sleepin the upper front bed
room.


Up went the window and anighi-capped
head was thrust ont with a demand as to
what was the matter. Still Jenny laughed,
while Hiram stood silent by the gate, angry
and ashamed, not knowing whether to ad-
vance or 90 back. At last Jenny found
her voice.


$50 home. Hiram Jenkins" she sud,
''say your prayers and go to Sleep and if
you want to say anything more to me,
come up tomorrow evening after supper.
But mind don't go to listening at any
horse-barn on your way home," and she
went off in another peal Of laughter


Hiram did not wait to say good night
Whether he slept or said his prayers that
fact that eight o'clock the next evening
found him in Deacon Bates parlor The
interview was long and probably inter
esting one, and its immediate result was
that before Thanksgiving the deacon had
neither Il Jenny in the house nor in the
barn.


That was years ago. and Hiram has
since done the town some service rs Sc
lectman, and is likewise dignilied JUS
tice OF the peace. But in the midst of all
his dignities and honors, if he ever hap
pens to insist upon having his own way,
the threat Of telling about the horse-barn
brings him to terms at once 1t is the
one check to his independence-the magic
charm by which Mrs. Hiram Jenkins welds
the household sceptre.