Year: 1873

She was expecting him Sunday


night. The parlor curtains were down,


the old folks noticed that IL was
healthy TO 90 to bed at o'clock, and
Johnny, bribed with a cent, permitted
himself to be tucked away at sun
down. He sneaked up the path, one
eye on the dog and the other watch
ing for the cold man." who didn't


like him any too we'll, gave a faint
knock at the door, and it was opened,
and he was escorted into the parlOr.
He said he couldn't stay but a minute,
though he didn't mean to go home
for hours. She wanted to know how
his mother was if his father had
returned from York State if his


brother Bills rheumatism was any


better and he went over and sat
down on the sofa so as not to strain
his voice. The conversation tagged,
and he PLAYED with his hat and she
nibbled at the sofa tidy. He finally
said it was a beautiful evening, and


she replied that her grandfather pre-
dicted a snOW-stOrm. He said he
guessed it wouldn't snow, as the
moon wasn't crooked enough to hang
a powder-horn on the end, and she


said she didn't believe it would, eth
er. This mutual understanding seem
cd to give each other courage, and he


wanted to know if she had seen Bill
Jones lately. She hadn't, she said,
and she didn't want to. Then they


went to talking about the donation
visit which was to be given to Elder
Berry, and he carelessly dropped his


hand on hers-his right hand-while
l his left arm sneaked along the sofa,


to get behind her shoulders. She pre-
/ tended not to notice it, and he look
ed down at his boots, and wanted TO
know if she thought mutton-tallOW
rOtted out boots faster than lard or
| lampblack. She couldn't say, but
! she had an idea that il did. lie had
! Just commenced TO lock fingers with
I her, when she discovered something
allied the lamp. She rose up and
turned tie light down 4 half, making
! the room look dim. 1t took him
five minutes TO get hold of her fingers
again, and she pretended to want to
draw her hand away all the time Af-
ter a long pause, he lowered his voice


to a whisper, and said he didn't see


what made folks love each other. She


bit her handkerchief and admitted her
Ignorance. He said he could name a
dozen young men who were going to
get married right away, and his left
arm fell down and gave her hug.


Then he went over, and looked out


Of the window to make sure that 1t


was or was not going to snow, and,
coming back, he turned the light
down a little more, and then sat
down, aud wanted to know if she
! didn't want TO rest herself by leaning
1 her head upon his shoulder.


Ali, me we have been there, and
who of us cared a cent when the old
clock struck twelve, and we five
miles from home? The old man was
/ fast asleep, the Watchdog gone a


visiting, and the handsomest girl in
the county didn't see why we'need be
in q hurry.


Perhaps 1 shouldn't have written


of this, but, as was going by Saun-
ders' the other day thinking of the


night / heard him whisper in her ear


at spelling school, that he'd love her


verv shadow as long as he lived, hC


raised the window and called TO her,
! as she was picking up chips in the


road:


| find the bars grease for NY sor,


heel, or I'll break every bone in you


body!n