The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1864-12-17
RGA CITY TERRITORY, SATURDAY

talk in my natural voiee-the first night it t
was only queer husky growl-and could t
express my own ideas, such a. they were, q
in something like comprehensive language. t
Hetty had read more than had ever
heard Of. She wss well-educated for . girl {
in those days, and she made me wonder at {
her smartness when she was not afraid OF
talking. She wrote pretty hand, too, and
could sing the sweetest ballad. My only
fear WAS that was too homsly, and rough,
and eountrifed to suit her. Father knew
where went Sunday nights, and laughed
about my gong sparkling; but mother was
anxious. She thought that Hetty was not
just the girl for farmers wife, fancy,
and she had made up her mind that should
marry my far away cousin Ann Dolting.
But took my own way, and grew fonder
| of dear little Hetty every day. / hoped,
too, that she liked me better. Atlast there
had been an apple-paring at neighbor We'll
comes; dancing and games had kept US
up all night, SO that it was almost dawn |
when saw Hstty home. How peaceful
the green fields were in the gray twilight,
with the stars just fading out of sight, and
the dew, like diamonds, on every spear Of
the long grass! had offered Hetty my
arm, and the dear little hand lay like
snow flake on the black cloth. Something
not myself, Pm sure, for I'd not have
dared to--make me stoop my head and kiss
the pretty fingers, and the next minute we
we're standing face to face quite still, with
J both her hands in mine.
"Oh, Hetty! !" said, "please don't be
angry; but love you so-you are so very
dear to me: Ever since that 6rst evening
, Pve felt that if you should say might not
7 have that little hand to keep should want
r to die. don't know what there is in me
r to like; but, Hetty, for Heavens sake try
: to like me enough to be my wife. The best
8 and handsomcst fellow in the world couldn't
t be fonder of YOU than am.''
She wouldn't look up. She wouldn't
d speak. tried to see her face, and it was
r all wet with tears. Bat when put my
= arm about her she did not seem angry, and
It | drew her to my heart, and held her there
e long enough to kiss her twenty times and
d then we walked over the fields, and thank.
It ed God for giving me so great treasure.
e Old WILDER Trubb was not opposedrto the
20 match: but when talked to him about il
as Hetty bade me, he said,
|: "If the girl has set her heart upon it she
i, may marry you, but can't spare her yet
e, and you are both young enough to wait {
or couple of years.; so it was settled that WI
le should be married. two years from tina
I'd time on my Hetty's nineteenth birthday
$. " An the BETTER" said the old folks, ant
Id Hetty was content but felt anxious t.
a. i.re her all my own. She was 80 lovel.
ID that .ssncied every man in the world mus
Sc envy me.
er nv soul, and that's pretty heavy stake, tha
o. | never could have done It. was be
ut witched, think, or Satan took possesslo,
1t, Of me. But this is how it happened, "
b, had been engaged a ycar-Hetty and l.
if think, when a pretty Southern girl came
ch Butler to live. Butler was the next village
Ter She had an opportunity of makinga show
for her father owned plenty of darkey'
id. and gave her all the money she wanted
nd She dressed elegantly, and gave herse
ID airs, and wondered how any woman coul
do housework. A great black woman wit
it slipshod shoes came with her to wait
Ide her : and she never poured out the wat
or; to wash her own hands. She put silly M
see tions into many girls head, but Het
all only laughed at her. Why never kneN
ted but she took notion to me-she glance
ove and smiled-she wasn't troubled with bas
ece fulness; and after while l found myse
ted talking to her great deal, and thinEll
on how very pretty she was. Once or tWl
one iietty was silent and little pale after t
cut parties and husking-frolics where we b
The met Miss Princely but never thought
ted her being jealous, for loved her bet
,ers than any other living thing, and it seem
city to ME she must know it.
and One day, or rather evening, had be
title dancing with this Southern girl, and v
.e- about to leave her when she gave lit
own laugh and said,
"I thought you had ssaid quite as long
aid, you dared"
"What do you mean ?" asked.
rays ooh we all know whose apron-string
the are tied tot" she replied. i only won'
dull YOU dare leave her side at all"
81 dare do anything ch oose," said
>" / "No." she laughed, "you daren't dal
the next three dances with me-"
then "But WILL" ssid | !; and sat down
porn side her. saw her eyes glitter, and l
not dare to look towards Hetty. Soon
Miss music struck up, and we danced togeti
good Hetty had another partner. envied
ring her little white hand, but could bring
nd self to be laughed at, and danced not
and Iv threo but four times with Miss Prime
'"You'rs bravsr than thought,"
put said, when we were through. "Now
and away and be forgiven"
full MY heart gave strange little leap as
wing said those words, but answered by Ia
eyes and kept close to her all supper-time:,
.bou, were talking about it, knew, for all
good well aware th 1t Hetty and were eng'
to each other; but that girls sneer see
It on to have made fool of me, and deter
d me ed to show her that was my own ma
. who When left her at last, she said: g!
that going away the day after tomorrow
!, and good. II you dare come over ana see
- tomorrow evening"
away "Pl be there," said. and then
!, and in search of He,ty. She was not tae
DR.. Bray and his wife had gone home
g his, ly, and she had gone with them in thei'
send did not stay long after that.
day." The best part Of that night passed
made ing up and down before her winds
/ !" in There was light within, and every
earth and then littls shadow crossed the
7 oo,,ld h~ro soan her the