Litchfield enquirer., 1869-01-07
HULDAH.
BY MARION KIRKLAND.

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 'sBefore you go out, Katy, bring up ithe small tea-kettIe full of boiling water, and set it here upon the hearth. And leave ! I good fire in the kitchen I may want { i foot-bath.p e5t,4 .,itl sss sfssas i eff you are having one of your headaches mem, it would be best for me to stay Tn: 1 I'd every bit as lief. :" i'5 '-@
 "You are very kind, but am quite wei there is no need for you to stay at iome,5 answered the mistress, in the tone Of quiet 1 authority, that always checked inquiry and other visible evidences of curiosity as to her motives and plans. NggH ga 4a1ia She did not stir from her seat by the fire until the girl had obeyed her orders, and departed upon her New Years froIic. The knitting. which was: the slady's .1suql occupation i'll twilight and early evening, progressed steadily-not rapidly. Huldah Wright's motions were seldom auick or ab- rupt.' There was an air of leisurely thought in all that she said and did, betokening maturity of judgement and fixedness of purpose Neat and slow, her work Iad been called in her youth. At thirty eight neatness had become nicety, and dellber-
 
 people as peculiarly which was only hin dered from being offensive by thorough re- inement and kindness of. heart. She looked at the the clock, as the front door shut behind her of-all-werk. The hands pointed to eight. There was much to be done in the next hour enough to make nervous woman sfdgety in the anticipation; but the knittingaAa shawl for an invalid neighbor-was careful ly rolled up with needles and worsted, and deposited in a drawer; the fire replenished with lump by lump, put on With tue tongs, each in it's allotted and secure place upon the ignited heap in the grate; the hearth brush prudently shaken after. being used, and hung in the closet; the coal-scuttle set beneath it, before the mistress left the room for her chamber overhead. a She lighted fire there also, in the polished grate which had not been heated before that winter. and while it was kindlihg roll | ed low lounge to the side of her own bed the back outward, thus forming a crib-like recess. Within this she laid thick quilt, folded many times; over it fair sheet, redolent of dried rose leaves; then in due order, a second, a blanket and i. a white counterpane, adding, at last 3 pillow with rufded case. She stepped lightly, and handled each article carefully-one might have fanoied tenderly, as she arranged for the comfort of her guest and when all were done, stood for moment at tue. head !o1 the improvised crib, mechanically. smooth ing or rather batting the pillow as she might the dawny cheek. which was soon tc press it-her eyes full of strange light and meaning longing that was perplexity, ,o' fondness that had in it no gleanl of joy. She shook her head twice sadly in turning away, and went down stairs Her duties there required more time. small table was set out with tea service for two.h'' A cushion in the chair nearest the fire show. ed it was intended fyr child. Everything was ready, even to the spirit-lamp under the copper hot-water kettle set in the mid dle of the waiter, and still itlacked twenty l minutes of nine.; s,a4isl 5.s,esfafs.-t,,sl.
 ,l There was but one evening train from
 the great city, fifty miles away, to the vii. lage of Marshfield, and that was dne at g. 10 She could compel herself to sit still, and await with an outward show of patience
 the passage of the half hour, but she did not attempt to knit again. The hands us
 ually cool and steady, were throbbing hotly and there were vivid spots of red coming and going in her cheeks, the burning and tingling of which led her. presently, tc get up and examine her face in the mantle
 mirror, to see if they were very perceptible to the eye. Itwas not handsome visage
 that gazed eravely back at her from. the glass, but neither was it homely. A phys iognomist would have pronounced it ar ordinary type among American women - I sensible, ,amiable, and trife too thoughtful
 When she was young, plump, and more TO sy than now, she was pleasant to look upon l Once che had been told that she was beau tifull4s;l Id al ;i,l 'ad a4s4nsizs tiasii I That was on New Years night, fourteen years ago. The mirror over the mantel o ; her snug parlor, ihung then within .hel fathers drawing room, and she stood be
 foreiit arrayed for wedding at which tsh
 was to oficiate as bridemaid.4 i Her ssbe trothed lover. Philip Narton. had lentered q unperceived, while she was intent upol Esetting some white fowers--his gift-in he hair, and she remained unconscious of hi
 proximity until she beheld his laughing [ face reflected with hers from the. tell
 tale surface. When she would have escap ed, in her confusion, from his hold and tn
 apartment, he elasped her waist more tight f ly, and forced her, with loving violence, t
 contemplate the; tableau withinl the gil dcd frame. 1'''' '''
 'sYou look like bride yourself, II and
 beautiful one, my. woodside yiolet!' be aai
 "We shall be passable couple when ou '-1 time comes. aI wish it were this very houl 2 I shall be a better and a happier man :, Twhen I have you all the while with me- And as the happy, modest tears foflowe al close upon her rblnshes, he drew sher hen
 to his shoulder, and kissed her fondly--a t most solemly. ..a .t...-s.
 end of these tremblings-these' ti,nid Ire a1 serves. Will you never get used to tn e thought that am only your. other sell Our engagement is almost a year old, an
 ,yoti are as much afraid of me. as when
 stole the first kiss from your coy lips. , want you to make me a New Years 'gif
 my darling. Put your arms about my nee . here and now, and grant me one such Ri. as trusting, loving wives. give their hu'
 bands-for in spirit, we are weddedll ] .a lyou knew how my heart crayes such man ,. festations of your affection, you would b
 less shy" 5''i''s,s - s'7asss''aa Ii l1i Moved by his pleading tone, and forge
 full of her native bashfnlnesas forl one il
 Istant in the might of her love-, she obeye
 and was forthwith folded in his ethhrac
 and thanked in words of beauty and fervt