The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-23


profits on its sale.
; Richard thus became q sort Of hero in
Helty,s Imagination. She watched him in
silence, for they seldom exchanged word,
and saw how greatly be improved as he
grew TO manhood, and his wcll.knit figure
lost the awkward angularity that had char
nc,crized the ungainy, growing boy. lie
would come in quietly at evening, and If he
had 10 wait for his mother, would sit down
in tho little sitting room, below stairs, take
book from his packet, or from the table,
and presently become absorbed in its persual
only TO be arousedby his mothers announce.
mcnt that she wns ready to go home. See
inc his love of hooks, and hearing from his
mother that he could spare but little from
his income for his luxury, Hetty would care.
fully place in his rench, at these visits, such
books as she thsught would most interest
him, and even suggested to her father that
he should offer the young man the use OF
his library.
This kind Intervention Of Hetty's coming
10 his knowledge, Richard took occasion to
thank her in a few well-chosen words, and
the two gradually fell into the first conver,,
sation they had ever had, though he had
| frequcnted the house for years.
The acquaintance thus commenced was
not suffered to die out. Richard had too
much self-respect to become intrusive, but
he was no stole TO resist the opportunities
continually thrown in his way Of convcrs-
ing with an intelligent, high.bred girl, who
possessed n considerable share OF beauty,
and whose kindly interest in his welfare he
had long since learned from his mother.
But a long time elapsed-several years
in fact-after Richard knew that he loved
Hetty May, before he dared to tell her that
his sentiments were warmer than the CRATE
ful regard her kindness would naturally
have inspired. He waited patiently, and
yet often with tremulous forebodings, as he
saw rivals more favored by fortune and cir.
cumstance bowing at her shrine; waited
until his sisters, whom he had educated and
supported, were well married; waited until
his two young brothers were each In sltut-
tions which yielded them comfortable
maintenance; waited until he had built
pretty cottage, with room for his mother,
still his charge. and thus made home, tiny
but beautiful, TO which he might invite his
bride.
Then he told IIetty Of his love; and with
out attempting to conceal from her the sac
rifces she would have to make in becoming
poor mans bride, he besought her to be-
lieve and trust in the love that would never
forsake her, but grow truer, and ionder' and
brighter, as together they walked up the
steps Of life, or hand in hand passed along
tits downward slopes. And Het,y laid her
hand in his, and promised to become his
wife, as unfearingly and proudly as IL ne
had been crowned king. :,
Her parents repined little that che had
not chosen one whose station more nearly
equaled her own; but, they too, had some
thing of the same regard for Richard Har-
word rLiSI. I,sI =, ,one rendered him hero
In her estimation. Her sisters could not
amply fill her place in the household, aud
they felt that they had no right to refuse her
the privilege Of seeking her own happiness
in the way that seemed best to her. ihey
knew well that such man as Richard llar-
word was sure to make his way IN the world,
to impress his mark on the community, and
they uttered none of those sage suggestions
which first disturbed Hetty's peace at Mrs.
Gardine,'s.
Hetty was greatly grievcd, as VIC have
seen, at the conduct of her friends, but II
did not deter her from doing what she knew
to be right. She only changed her plan oi
inviting them all to make the acquaintance
of Richard Harord on her wedding day.
She would not subject herself to the lnorti-
tication of reiusals, nor would she permit
the dignity of Richard Harvord s true worth
to be outraged by the sneers aud super
cilIiousness of those who, IN no respect,
perhaps, his equals, yet. might feel them
selves lifted, by wealth or position, Tar above
him.
So Richard Harvord and Hetty May were
married quietly in the parlor OF her fathers
house, Richards mother and family only
being present, save those who lived beneath
the root. Then they had short bridal tour,
Richards first journey, save the few hurried
iaunts undertaken for purposes OF business,
and rapturously enjoyed, of course with
such companion. Afterward they came
back, and Hetty took her place as mistress
of the little cottage.
II would be foolish to say that Hotty did
not find many lonely hours there, when her
husband was away, and no lively friends
came to relieve the tedium Of her solitude.
Il was no slight trial to find herself rigor-
ously excluded from nearly all the social
enioymen,s and the accustomed companion.
ships of her maiden days. But she bore 1t
patiently, found other employments and en-
ioy,nents, and the rich compensations of a
heart satisfied in its home, and, like Rich
ard, she 5ided her time. -,
Such a man as Richard Harvord could
not stand still. His course was steadily on.
ward and upward. His never-slunlbering IN
tellect, rich in scientific love, as 1t by this
time had become, was constantly elabora-
ting old principles. or discovering new ones.
Ue became a famous inventor, mingled
much with men Of thought and research,
md soon ranked high among them. Riches
nourcd in upon him. His name was in every
mouth and nation, and at length the whole
civilized world acknowledged him Its bene-
factor.
Ten wears from her marriage, Hetty found
herself in position to look down upon ev-
orv ono of the summer friends Of her youth.
She had married mechanios but her hus-
hand WAS now world.iamous man, a man
At whose feet the small people who once de-
spised him, bent in owly admiration. She
was in a situation to repay scorn by scorn,
bu, only moved quietly on in the path Of life,
finding now, as ever, her truest happiness In
her husbands unfaltering love.
{ And how had 1t Jared with Amy Gardi.
ner. her old playmate, and the daughter Of
the woman who had so deprecated Rich
nyd2 She, too, had married-marricd Ru-
dolph Briggs, the heir Of great wealth, a
youth whose vices, named iollies because of
their gliding, and whose weakness Of intel
iec,. becoming wisdom in the eyes OF the
worshippers OF Mammon, were forgotten or