Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-05-12
SeIeft Story.
The Crack in the Door,

The Crack in the Door,
The prettiest house, the prettiest gar
den, the best servants and the largest
bank account in X belonged to Mrs.
Mehitable Armstrong, widow. Some
people also declared she was the prettiestI
woman. in X. But these were. not
the other women. They said she had
red hair and was too fat, aud what the
gentlemen saw to admire in her they
couldn't guess, &C., &c.;r but say IL as
often as they might, every man in the
place was Hetty Armstrong; devoted
of them her lovers also. A bright, dash
ing, warm hearted woman she was. as
merry as though she had never known
a care Not that she had forgotten the
lover of her youth-the gallant, black
eyed sea captain, whose ship had gone
down in mid ocean five years before. and
whose pictured face lay-near her heart
night or day, sleeping or walkiag-but
she was too full of life and hope to live
entirely in the past, and loved neither
hours of melancholy musing nor what
some women call good cry" TO for
get all sorrow if she could, and be as
happy as she might, werethe two great
rules of, her life, and therefore people
who did not know Hetty Armstrong
thought her heartless, and made great
mistake.
They called her a fiirt too, and that
was not true, neither. She only fiirted
with those who began the game first and
that woman has right to DO. At
X ifa gentleman called twice on a
lady his attentions were reported to be
Every PECULIAR if he ''saw her home
meeting" rumor declared they were en-
gagged ; and if he spent an evening with
heEthey were to "be married next week"
for a certainty; but Hetty Armstrong
was not included in the general rule.
She had determined to do as she chose.
gentlemen of her set. She was friendly
when she chose to be, and flirted when
she liked. f ta ~
After setting gossip afloat q dozen
times, she gained her point, and people
let her alone. It was Hetty Armstrong; 5
way-that was all-and no indication of
matrimonial affections. For years
gentlemen had haunted her parlors, es-
corted her hither and thither, sang with
her, danced with her, confided in her
and adored her, and village gossip had
married her, until suddenly n stranger
made bis debut at X, and set tongues
going'beyond even Hetty's power of
silencing.
He was tall, he was handsome, he
was comparatively young. lie had just
that touch of the exquisite about him
which is so charming when "a mans a
man for all that;n faultiess in toilet,
faultless in manner, educated, accom-
plished. altogether charming-heo openly
flung himself at Hetty Armstrong; feet
and declared himself her admirer. OF
course. we do not mean to say that he
ruined the knees of his faultless habili-
ments by going down upon them, or in
any other way conducted himself as did
the knights of old when heart smitten;
bat after the manner of the XIXth Cen
tury, he declared his intentions quite
openly.
He sang to and at the lady. He haunt
ed her parlors like well dressed ghost.
He wrote poetry for the X -Luminary
addressed to "H. A." and signed &C.
RI
He breathed deep sighs, and gave soft
glances, and said things that might
have double meanings. And this, not
fora week or for month, but for year
at the end of which time Hetty Arm
strong began to understand that she
was expected by everybody to accept
Charles Rollewood when he offered hel
his heart and hand. Meanwhile the
soft eyes and the sweet voice the deli
cate attention and the winning songs O
her admirer were not without their eff
feet upon Hetty Armstrong; heart.
1t began to be conscious of certain
tremers and flutterings in his presence
Her cheeks flushed as they had in hel
girlhood. Her dreams were not sober
j Il,
and twenty should alone indulge, and
as the days rolled on she felt more con
scious that the "yes" that was expected
of her would be uttered.
She tried to be prudent and Judge The
man carefully. The result was she de-
clared him to be IAN angel" AT las
Hetty fairly let go of the rudder of self
will to which she had clHng so long, anC
allowed herself to drift down the tide o
circumstances which were to lead he
to the arms of Charles Rokewood. Sh
let her hand linger on his arm as be biz
her goodbye. She smiled up into hi
eyes as women can only smile into th
eyes of those they loved. She felt tina
life would be happier with such bosom
to repose on, and began to wonder
whether it really would'be necessary 10
awidow to be married in pearl colo
when white was SO becoming to he
complexion. So. matters stood Unit
Christmas drew near, and with it Hett'
Armstrong; regular Christmas Ey'
party. .-.. - .s.sa ss..,ii it..i4.
All X, or nearly all, would b,
there, even the Rev. Luther Paragon
who amiably forgot to say that he dis
approved of dancing and charades wher
Mrs. Armstrong declared that sht
"adored tilem.n 1t was always tht
merriest party lof the season at X
and this time Mrs. Armstrong, decided
she would outdo herself. There was
dash more of coquetty in her dress, ;
dash of extravagance in the supper, :
glitter of rare china, and perfume o
rare flowers in the parlor-just as thel
say wine warns up the wits and fancy
does love at times. Ali things woul(
be brighter, fresher, more sparkling jus
now, thought, or rather vaguely felt
the woman who had just begun to know
her heart Alright, and thOughtsshe knew
another's.
She stood in her rich dress of silk an
lace. flowers in her hair and Oh her 10
som, before her guests arrived, betor
the fire in the parlor, when some on
thouched her on the shoulder, and turn
ing, she saw Charles ROkewood.
Her face was little paler, her eye
more earnest in their look thai: usual
and sort of happy terror came upol
her as, she guessed why he had come s.
early.
al knew should find you alone,"' h
said, land I have something to say t
you-something-
There she stopped him. Don't sa.
itnow,u she pleaded. II have an even
ing before me which calls for ali calm
ness. If it is anything agiting, II
must ask you to wait. After those guest
of mine are gone-or tomorrow vii
hear " u; not now."
He bowed. "Your will shall be M