Year: 1875

seat and tried hard to sing bass. He
could not, however, help seeing Elna-
than Rogers pass peppermint lozenges to
Jenny, and also write something on the
sblank leaf of her singing book which she
read and answered.


"Of course he'll go home with her to-
night" thought Hiram. "Itll be the
first time I've missed it for year. He's
welcome, though"


All intermission he kept his seat, and
pretended to be very busy looking for
some tune in his singing book that refus-
ed to be found. Jenny did not look at
him.


The doxology closed the school at last,
and there was grand bustling about the
door, and an eager pushing among the
young men to make sure of their favor
ties. Hiram was trying to make his way
through the crowd, when he found him
self at the elbow of Jenny Bates, and at
the same moment the hateful voice of
Elnathan Rogers was heard in the words


"Shall see you home tonight, Miss
Bates ?"


No, sir" was the prompt answer
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 of but himself.
I'm glad she mttened him, though"


The word mitten reminded Hiram that
he had left both his on his seat in the
school room, and he stepped back just as
the candles were being put out.


Here's Jenny Bates singing book"
he heard one boy say to another. "She
went off in such hurry tonight, she for
got it,"


Give il to me-" sad Hiram, who re-
membered what had taken place that
evening, and with eager look sought out
the written messages that had passed be-
tween Jenny and his rival. They were
as follows


"Tell your father he cheated me when
l bought old Jenny. I thought that by
her name she must be good for something
but she kicks and bites ten times worse
than he ever told me, so l wish now that
had spoken for 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 for your choosing betwiXt
the two you mention, you won't be able
to do that this year. You have got the
only Jenny you can ever 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. It's not too late,
now, thank heaven"


The departing crowd stared as Hiram,
with the singing book in his hand, rushed
down stairs, two steps at time, and up
the road which ed toward Deacon Bates.
If he was not too late he was nearly so'
for Jenny was just opening the gate of
the front yard.


"S.op Jenny |" he exclaimed, painting
for breath. You left it on the seat. l
tried to oyertake you"


You needn't have taken the trouble,
Mr.. Jenkins, | guess no one would have
stolen it," said Jenny with great dis
play Of dignity and making a show of
going into the house.


Don't, Jenny! Wait-wait just
minute. know I've acted like a fool
but just let me explain"


Jenny hestated moment, made an
other start toward the house, then turned
and went back to the gate where the dis
comfited Hiram stood waiting.


Well" she said in as freezing tone
as she could command.


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


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


stop! Let me tell you. Can't you
listen minute ?" asked Hiram in des-
peration. lie felt that there was no other
way than to make a clean breast of it,
and plunged into his story at once. He
related, word for word, 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 ap-
pealed for forgiveness. lie saw her
trembe and put her hands up to her face.
Poor girl, she pitied him His heart
rose and his hand was on the gate to open
it, when peal of laughter, louder and
longer 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 a sound sleep
in the upper front bedroom.


Up went the window and nightcappcd
head was thrust out, with demand as to
what was the matter. Still Jenny laugh
ed, while Hiram stood by the gate angry
and ashamed, not knowing whether to
advance or go back. At last Jenny found |
her voice.


$50 home, Hiram Jenkins" she said
"and 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 you don't go listening
at any horse barns 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
night is not recorded, but it is an estab-
III ha1 l,,.N l.e i