Year: 1875

The prettiest girl in Kent Corners
was Clara Tabor. She had the most
bewilderiDg blue eyes, and knew how
to use them to the best advantage in
ensnaring the hearts of susceptible
young men. There wasn't a youth
for miles around who wouldn't have
given all he was worth for the sake of


winning her.


But Miss Clara had narrowed her


destinations down in much the same
way our grandmothers used to narrow
a stocking. Among the young men
who beseiged her, like moths who
SINCE their wings in the light of can
die, there were only two upon whom
she seemed to look with much favor.
John Croft was q well to-do young
farmer, With a good, sturdy heart, and
hands brown with toll. He had al.


ways had . strong liking for Clara,
and of late that liking had developed
into most marked attention on his
part. Clara was all smiles and fascin-


alton when he was with her, and he
believed he could win her; and such
was the opinion of those who knew
the young lady best. But she was
| rather inclined to play the coquette,


and John was not quite as sure about
| the state of her affections as he would
| have liked to be- But he resolved to
take his own time in carrying on the
courtship, and not be hurried into
premature proposal by any jealous fear
of his rival.


Tom Roberts was clerk in the little
| store at the village, and had some
money in his own right. He was q
dapper sort of fellow, and made


much more show in society thap John


Croft did; but John was not at all
ambitious to show of. and his manly


modest way was vastly more to his
| credit than Toms forwardness. But


some young ladies like snowy fellow,
| aud many. people thought Clara would


prefer Tom to John, because he was


fonder of parties and gayety of that
| sort, and would be apt to take her in


to a more brilliant circle, in time,


than she could ever hope to shine in
| as the wife of farmer. There were


others who thought that Clara really


cared for only John. and kept Tom
dancing attendance to give her other
lover the idea that he had danger


Gus rival. and in that way hurry up


his rather slow courtship, of which


she was beginning to tire. Be that


as it may. John did not hurry in the
matter until he began to think it was
imperatively necessary for him to do
so.


He began to think it time for him
to find out how matters stood between
him and Clara one Sunday afternoon,


when he and friend of his overheard


a conversation between Tom and q


friend of his. John and his friend


L = Ab H.


and had sat down under tree to rest,
completely hidden from any passers-by


by the dropping branches. Pretty


walking up the road slowly. and they


were talking about Clara.


Pm going up to sec her this even


ing" said Tom; "and l IN going to ask


her to marry me. [ don't know


whether she cares more for me than


she does for John Croft. or not, but [


think if / ask her first, I'll get her"
Ill tell you what it is, said John,


to his friend, I'm going to see Clara


and ask her the very same question.
I'll get the start of him"


Tom was visiting at his cousins
that day. aud this cousin lived oppo-
site Johns farm. John thought he
would start quite early, and get the


start of his rival by getting there be-
fore he did; but friend came in and
John could not get away from him;
and when he announced his intention
OF staying to tea, matters began to
look dubious.


III tell you how I'll fix it, said
John Lee, who had been with him
that afternoon, and overheard Toms
announcement of his .intention, IN
going home now, ard I'll stop and see


him, and tell him you are going up
there, and avise him to cut across lots,
if he wants to get there first. Now
Brown has turned his old sheep out
in that lot of his, and you know IL
knock over anybody that comes along.
He'll be sure to see Tom, and If he
gees him, he'll tree him, sure as fate,
and you'll have chance to get ahead


of him."


DO it, and I II give you a new hat"
said John. enthusiastically.


Agreed, and George was off.
He was as good as his word. He
stopped and saw Tom, and in the most
natural way IN the world let out that
John was going over to see Clara. and
he guessed he was going to propose.
OF course Tom was on the alert then,
and George, much interested in Toms
welfare and success. innocently advis-
ed him to take the path over the hill
through the field, or he would be too
late, as he was sure John had started.
Tom set off, and reached the field.
He clambered over the fence unsus-


pectiDgly. 1t was quite dusky. He


had almost reached the road when he
heard hoarse bleat behind him, and
turned to see sheep with ferocious
looking horns bearing down upon him
like a gunboat.


He Looked wildly round His only


refuge was a stump close by, and he
clambered on it just as the sheep


came laundering up. giving the stump
a blow that must have made it trem-
bic to the end of its roots.


''Good Lordr' cried Tom, pale as


death. He'd have killed me if l
hadn't got out of his way. What'll l
do? lie II keep me here all night?"


He began to make frantic gestures


at the sheep, who only lowered his


head and shook his horns threaten


aGo long! you old brute,' said


poor Tom, fourishing his hat in the


lace of his wooily majesty. "Shoo!'


But the sheep didn't choose to
"shoo." He evidently had made up
his mind to keep his prisoner there
till he capitulated.


Tom heard steps coming down the
road, and pretty soon the steps were
accompanied by whistle that he


knew belonged to John Croft. The


sound of it made Tom desperate. He