The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-17
(Fronl the Independently
HETTY'S BARGAIN.
BY AUGUSTA 1ARNED.

!
and windy, Bruce Hunt, Squire Fir
mans hired man, was crossing from
the farmyard to the house with two
large pals of milk, which he carried on
a yoke swung over his shoulders.
Bruce had beeu thinking a long time
about Hetty-thinking,, perhaps: OF
| how impossible 1t would ever be for a
hired man like him to climb up and
stand beside the rich Squirrels daughter,
although he loved her, and she knew
that he loved her.
But just now Bruce was thinking
more about certain placard he had
seen posted at the liberty-pole at the
Corners, advertising runaway slave,
and calling upon all law-ablding citi-
zens to assist in his capture and rendi-
ton into bondage.
The county was Southern one, not
far from the border; and Bruce thought,
with q sensation of disgust derived from
his free New England parentage, that
if he was often called upon to do this
dirty slave. cAtchiGg business he would
turn his back on Bascomb forever, and
give up all hopes ofwinning Hetty Fir
man for his wife.
The old Squire was stern advocate
of the Fugitive Slave Law. He had de.
clared more than once that he would
abandon his own son to its penalties, II
such a sacrifice seemed needed to carry
out his principles. All the obstlnacy
of the Firman stock appeared to be
concentrated in this old man. He was
too obstinate to die, folks said, in spite
of the old. fashioned, long kind of con-
sumption which had been eating away
at his vitals for years. Mehitible was
nodded OF the same stuff, and that was
what made Bruce despeiring and low
spirited.
He scraped his feet on the kitchen
scraper (Hetty was very particular
| Il mi II
Hetty had what country people call
"snap." Nothing stagnated where she
was. She ruled despotically in doors;
and the talk was that she would have
been glad to rule the farm too, but tie
old Squire was his own boss yet awhile.
and he meant to be for the next dozen
years.
Everything shone in Hettv's kitchen.
Her floor was white enough to eat from,
so Bruce thought; and the tins ranged
along the dresser shelves glistened like
silver. She had been ironing since dim
ner with the help, Betsy Ann, and the
kitchen was filled with the odor OF clean,
sweet clothes, that depended in glossy
Wilderness from the arms of the horse.
Hetty had smooth black hair, and
abundant eyebrows of tho same hue,
contrasting with clear and almost
colorless complexion. Her thin, posi-.
tive lips were set together in scarlet
line. Nothing escaped her dark, pene-
traling eyes whether they ever soften
ed or grew misty with tears but lew
had the power TO tell. There was
marvellous neatness about her trim and
rather spare person that her occupation
never disturbed; she could wash and
scrub all day long without mussing the
curls behind her ears, or scattering her
immaculate skirts or the pure stockings
of white wool that showed above pair
of tidy buskins.
Hetty carried n sharp tongue in her
head. Bruce had heard her scold more
than once "up hill and down." as he
expressed it; and he wondered. soft
hearted, easy-Eoing fellow that he was,
how he had come to like her. But
nevertheless every fiber in his being
yearned toward the Squlre's daughter,
and the memory OF certain Sunday
when she had given a curt, decided No
made the blood Jingle up to the roots of
his hair every time he came into her
presence. or late he had reflected
good deal on the propriety OF giving the
old Squire notice, and clearing out
West. To his mind, winters chop.
ping and logging on the Wisconsin
River, with his brother Joe, would act
on love In the same way that thorough
sweat acts on hard cold.
Bruce walked straight through the
kitchen to the milk-room with his
pals, and was straining the fonmy
fluid into q row of bright pans set
ready to receive it, when Hetty came TO
the door, holding u hot flat up to her
clear cheek-which showed rosy
flush-to test its fitness for starched
shirt bosom that lay damped down in
the basket.
'Bruce," said she, in her usual tone,
II wish you would go down in the cell
lar and tighten the hoops on the pickle
cask."
The great, slow fellows hand grew a
bit nervous, and little dash OF milk
came over on the spotless shelf.
Fright away, Miss Hetty ?" he ask
ed, without looking round. "Wouldn't
it do as we'll after chore-time ?"
81 shouldn't have asked you now II
hadn't wanted it done now" was all
the answer he got, as she stepped back
into the kitchen:
Bruce said not another word. he
went to the cellar-door, took the ham
mer from a shelf over the stairway,
and silently Hetty handed him light
ed candle. He had been working away
at the coopering few minutes, when
the outside cellar-doors parted in the
middle, admitting the person of Hetty
Firman. She wore limp hood OF
black silk, partly shading her face;
and, though the candle made but a
splash of light on the murlc of the cell
lar, Bruce could feel as she came to-
ward him that singular excitement
possessed the girl. Her small, sinewy
hands were frightened over each other,
and a sparkle shone from the plain
9old,ring which had been her mothers.
Bruce" said she, speaking almost
in a whisper, but distinctly, III want to
make bargain with you"
Bruce Strengthened up, and awkward
~ brushed his face with the cuff of his
sleeve. A film had come before his
eyes, and he felt-to use his own e1-
Observation-Disclosures Qaeer,n
''You asked me once to be you wife,"
continued Hetty; land said no. Now
if you want me bad enough to agree to
what shall ask, beforehand, and with
out explanations, will marry you,
Bruce Hunt"
Bruce settled back against the potato
bin and gasped, in the extremity of his
establishment"
"Mebbe you've changed your mind"
said Hetty, approaching little nearer,
and twitching her words out, while
flush of color oVerspread her face.
"No, Hettys But 1t took me so I'M
expected, it almost knocked the breath
out of nv body. Pm slow horse, any
way; and things don't get through my
hair as easy as some fOlkss When water
runs up hill, then I shall stop liking
you, Hetty; but not before. Ask me
TO do anything for you, and I'll go on
my knees to do it, il it amt crime"
"It may be q crime in your eyes. L
know 1t would be in fathers. The Sc
cret don't belong to me to give away"
tThen 1 will go it blind, I'll be blamed
II DON'T" and great glow came up
into the honest fellows cheek and eyes.