Year: 1873

"Will you be at home tonight, An
nie?' The person who asked thi
question, tall, muscular, good look
ING young farmer, was leaning upol
Squire Moores front gate talking t,
the Squirrels pretty daughter, wh'
stood inside Oft. KS the simple
words passed his lips lie reddened sud
denly to the very roots Of his fair hair
as if he had just been guilty of som,
great impropriety.


He was bashful--eXtremely baShlu
was David Winthrop-at least in th'
presence OF young ladies, most Of al
in the presence Of the girl he loved
No young man in all Wilkes country
owned a better kept farm, or talkec
with more confidence among his
crones Of stock and crops and sucf
like. But the sight Of Il pretty foot Of
face coming his way affected him
queerly. On such occasions he never
knew what to do with his hands ant
eyes, and seemed always to be screw
inc himself into the nearest mouse
hole until the danger-that is to say
the young lady-was past.


This state Of things being consider
ed, no one ever understood how he
contrived tomuster up courage enough
to enlighten Annie Moore on the sub
ject Of his preference for herself. The
matter probably remains to this day
as much mystery to him as it is tc
others.


Miss Annie, however, had a fail
share Of tact and womanly cleverness
slowed away safely somewhere, in the
recesses Of her pretty little head, al
though it was carried jauntiIy upon
the inexperienced and rounded should
ers Of fresh eighteen.


She did not need to be reminded
that David was worth, in worldly
way, much more than any Of her othel
suitors, and that he was good looking
good hearted and intelligent enough
to satisfy any but an over fastidious
person Of her class. He was unex
ceptionable, in short, barring his un
cOnquerablc and excessive bashfuIness
which, indeed, was never failing
source Of merriment to the yong peo
pie Of their little circle.


And so, when David in his awk
ward, blundering, half frightened man
ner began shyIy to exhibit his pre-
ference for her in various little ways
such as Waiting on her to and from
singing school, constituting himsel1
her escort when she went Sundays or
horseback to the lonely little church
in the woods, and singing her out as
the recipient Of whatever attentions he
could find the nerve to pay. at the
frequent quilting parties in the neigh
borhood, Annie did not frighten him
out of his budding passion by any
show, either of surprise or marked
preference, but took it all in the cas-
lest, pleasentest, most unconscious
manner possible The girls Uttered
and nudged each others elbows, and
the young men cracked furtive Jokes
at the expense Of her timid suitor, but
she stood up for him like a real kind
hearted, Independent Western lass, as
she was, and tried to encourage him
out Of his shyness as far she consis-
tently could.


She never seemed to notice any of
his unfortunate blunders, and very
lively helped him along considerably
when his feelings reached the culmin-
ating point, one moon lighted autumn
evening, as they were walking home
together from a corn husking.


That had been just one week ago.
Annie had said "yes,' and had agreed
to take the responsibility of bringing
father and mother Ground" on the
subject. David had not been to the