Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-08-11

1t would be unwiSe to encourage desires,
said Hester, averting her face still more,
which you must be aware, Mister avery
have not the means of gratifying. II"
But choking sensation prevented her CON-
pleting the sentence. .
Hester-for so must call you" said
Edward, drawing his chair nearer her side,
" will you permit me to come sometimes, and
bring few books have with met"
never knew exactly what reply Hester
made, but from that time Mr.. Avery was
conStan, evening visitor at the house of Mr..
Wilson, circumstance in no way pleasing
to his young lady scholars. Especially did
it offend Jemima Eldridge, whose growing
penchan, for the handsome schoolmaster had
rendered itself quite conspicuous. She was
a coarse minded girl, whose parents in their
desire to accumulate worldly wealth, had
neglected her moral cducaton,until she scru-
Piled at no means by which she might attain
her object.
Poverty, in her eyes, was one Of the dead
~ sins, aud never doubling that others tho't
likewise, she took every opportunity to speak
Of the unfortunate circumstances of Mister
| Wilson, affecting to pity Hester, whom she
represented as exceedingly proud, and suffer
ing the kcenest modification, because she
could not hold up her head with the other
girls in the village. To all this, Edward
deigned not the slightest reply, and she pro-
ceoGed TO hint that Hester was volatile 10 her
friendships, and heartless, besides being so
vain of her good looks as to suppose they
| would one day procure her the situation in
life to which she aspired. Her malicious in
situations fell powerless on the ear to which
they were addressed and Jemima Eldridge.
with her affected airs of gentility, became his
utter aversion. Finding tho evening visits of
Edward still continued, she changed her at
tack to more vulnerable quarter.
"Do you know" said she to Hester, as
she called one morning at Mr.. Wilson's,
"what folks say about you?"
"About me! Nothing bad, hope" said
Hester, looking up In surprise from an
apron she was making for little Molly.
! "Bad enough, / should think" retorted
Jemima. "when they say it is very impru-
dent in you to allow Mr.. Avery to visit here
| SO often, and you young girl without a
mother or an elder sister! And am sure
Mr.. Avery don't think any the better of you,
| for he wrote in little Molly's copy book
Familiarity breeds contempt as if on purpose
| for you to see it."
Poor Hester covered her face with her
hands, and burst into tears.
SNOW don't cry," said her tormentor, re-
joicing in her heart that she had at last
touched the right cord, cor shall believe
what they say, that you are in love with Mr..
Avery"
She shut the door, and left Hester writh-
ing in all the agonies of wounded pride, and
the humiliating belief that Edward thought
lightly of her. -
The fact was, Jemima had invented and
| uttered wilful falsehood, for "they say"
f-whose authority she quoted-was Just no.
body at all but Hester, who was truth it.
self, believed all she heard. ~ have in
! deed been imprudent in seeing him so often,"
she exclaimed.-"I have listened to his
voice to long, and, fool that Twas. some.
times thought-oh am wretched-wretch-
ed" And she wrung her hands. "But he
shall find am not the weak, vain girl he
| That day the book they were reading was
returned to Edward With the lreassas e1SO uAf1
no further need Of Mr.. Avery's instructions"
But oh how long were the days to Hes
ter, as she sat at her monotonous toll, un-
cheered by the anticipated pleasure of the
evenings. Weeks passed on, and rumors
OF the schoolmaster's attentions to Jemima
not unfrcquently caused her heart to sink
like lead in her bosom. Yet what, to her,
was Edward Avery? And quick blush
| would spread over her features.
To crown her trials, Mrs. Eldridge called
one day, and requested Hester to take great
to lay by the linen for Jemima "You know.
Hester, she gets no time to spin, now that
she is so taken up with learning; indeed,
we don't wish her to do such drudgery-we
can well afford to hire it done; but as to
TINS piece Of linen-to be sure Jennima is
close enough on the subject, but if one can
believe what other people say, there is no
telling how soon she may want it. Mr.. Ave.
ry' you know, boards altogether at our house
now and though he never speaks to Jemima
when l am by, I've no doubt it is done on
purpose to blind me-young people are so
sly. Mr.. Avery is nice young man, though
/ can't say but Jemima might do better."S
And here she fairly stopped for lack of
breath.
For a long time after Mrs. Eldridge de-
parted Hester sat motionless by her wheel,
with her hands crossed on her lap, while
the paleness that stole over her features told
OF struggle going on, deep, deep beneath
the placid surface. From that time the ut.
most care was bestowed upon her work, for
was 1t not to grace the table of Edward!
The winter came to close, and so did the
time during which Edward had engaged to
fill the office of schoolmaster. Hester had
SO often said to herself, "He might have call
cd once more at least to know WHY sent
him such message" that she had almost
persuaded herself she had Just cause to be
quite angry and was really vexed but the
! more she strove to Danish it, the more con-
stantly it required to mind. When the day
came which she knew was fixed for his de-
parture, she asked herself again and again,
"Will he not come to bid US good bye!S In
the words Of the old song,
~ How could she think Of spinning 2"
so she put away her wheel, and looked I'D
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