Year: 1875

That night the singing-school met
at the Academy. Hiram came late.
He used to set with the tenors just
behind Jenny Bates. Now he chose
different seat, and tried hard to
sing bass. He could not, however,
help seeing Elnathan pass pepper
mint lozenges to Jenny, and also
write something on the blank leaf Of
her singing-book, which she read and
answered.


"Of course he'll go home with her
tonight, thought Hiram. "It'll be
the first I've missed for years. He's
welcome, though"


All intermission he kept his seat,
and pretended to be very busy look
ing for some tune in his singing book
that refused 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 favorites. Hiram was trying
to make his way through the crowd,
when he found himself at the elbow
Of Jenny Bates, and the same mo-
ment the hateful voice of Elnathan
Rogers was heard to say:


"Shall l SEE you home tonight,
Miss Bates?'


"No, 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. s'The deacon said
she had 'em; that nobody knew but
himself. am glad she mittened
him though"


The word nitten reminded HirRm
that he had left both of his on the
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 an
other. "She went off in such a hurry
tonight she forgot it.


"Give it to me, said Hiram, who
remembered what had taken place
that evening, and with eager look
sought out the written messages that
had passed between Jenny and his
rival. They were as follows:


"Tell your father he cheated me
when bought old Jenny. I thought
by her name she must be good fol
something, but she kicks and bites
ten times worse than he ever told me,
/ wish now 1 had spoken for the
Jenny in the house instead of the
one in the barn"


And the answer:


II guess the horse is as good as
you deserve. AS for 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
ever get from my father"


A light broke in upon Hiram.


"Well, of all the Internal fools ]
ever heard of 1 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 singing book in his hand
rushed down the stairs, two at a time,
and up the road which led toward
Deacon Bates. If he was not toe
late he was nearly so, for Jenny was
just opening the gate of the from
yard.


"Stop, Jennyf' he exclaimed.
painting for breath. Here's youl
singing book. Youlefti it on the seat.
I tried to oyertake you"


"You needn't have taken the
trouble, Mr.. jenkins; / guess no one
would have stolen it" said Jenny
with great display of dignity and
making q show of going into the
house.


"Don't Jenny! Wait-wait just O
minute, I know I've acted like fool
but just let me explain" 4"


Jenny hesitated q moment made
another start towards the door, then
turned and went back to the gate
where the discounted Hiram stood
waiting


WELL" she said in as freezing q
tone as she could command.


'fNow don't look and talk that way
Jenny Bates. You know l never
would have acted as I have if I hadn't
thought you were going to marry
Elnathan Rogers. 4"


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


"Stop Let me tell you. Cant
you listen a minute? ?" said Hiram in
desperation. He felt there was nc
other way than to make a clean
breast of it, and plunged into his
story at once. Word for word he
related the conversation, he had
heard in the barn, and the effect il
had upon him. He was deeply in
earnest and in closing, humbly ap-
pealed for forgiveness. 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 a peal Of
laughter, louder and longer for 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 sound sleep in
the upper front bedroom.
Up went the window aud a night
capped head was thrust out, with q
demand as to what was the matter.
Still Jenny laughed, while Hiram
stood silent by the gate, angry and
ashamed not knowing whether TO
advance or 60 back, At last Jenny
found her voice.