The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-11-16

tears which were streaming down
her flushed cheeks.
Neither of them saw the old
man, and he spoke to make his
presence known.
"Good ladies, I've been tax
ing little tramp hereabouts, and
as I got rather tired, I thought ]
would stop in and rest little"
"You are welcome" said Hatty,
turning her fearful face toward him,
But Maria spoke tartly:
"We do not keep a hotel You
will find one at the village"
"But I am not at the village, y
said the man, cooHy taking a seat,
and chuckling to himself as he saw
the dark cloud gathering on Maria S
face. 81 am very tired, too, and
quite hungry"
The cloud grew blacker; but ere
the storm burst, John Hayward
entered the room.
Instantly Maria's face was all
sunshine.
"Storm is past for the present, "
thought the little man; but there
is no knowing how long we shall
have fair weather, so I will make
the best of it." Then to John Hay
ward: Il just stopped in to rest a
moment, and get a bite to eat"
"You are welcome, sir" said
John, frankly ''Hatty, will you
get a lunch? Or, perhaps you viii
stay to tea?"
"Thank you, sir; but I viii go on
to the village, where that lady tells
me there is a hotelr'
Maria shot him q look out of her
flashing eyes that called a smile to
his face. But John did not see it;
for he was watching Hatty as she
fitted here and there, preparing the
lunch for the visitor. Then he
and Maria left the kitchen.
The man was apparently very
hungry, judging from the length of
time required to satisfy himself.
And all the while he was plying
Hatty with questions about herself
and her parents, till the poor girl
began to think he was crazy. But
at length he arose to go, and with
many thanks to Hatty, and a prom
ise to see her again soon, he took
his departure.
A week passed, and the old man
again stood at the door Of the Hay
ward farmhouse. 1t was quite
dark, and he sat down on the stone
step, listening to the joyous music
and the happy laughter that came
from the house.
Presently a 1.-the figure fitted
past him, and he recognized Hatty
Sinclair. He hurried after her, and
soon overlook her.
"You have left them at last?'
said he inquiringly. Where are
you going?'
81 cannot tell" said she stopping
and looking back to the house.
Poor child! She had not
thought of that.
"You can go home with me-"
said the man. "Your father was
my brother, Hatty! I am your
Uncle Jamesr'
Hatty gave a glad cry; but the
next moment she thought of the
misery that had driven her away,
and burst into tears.
"Poor girlr Did they drive
you away"
"He is going to be married to
Maria, tonight" said she mus
ingly.
at is falser' said the old man.
'Maria told me so,' replied Hat
ty, yet in a state of abstraction,
sand I could stay there no longer"
at is falseT repeated the man. 1
heard John Hayward say that Maria
Dalton should never be his wife,
and he will not break b word. She
told you a falsehood. But never /
mind now. Go home with me, and
we will show Miss Maria Dalton
that she has overreached herself"
"Oh, I hope he will not marry
ler?' exclaimed Hatty; ''for I fear
ne would not be happy with herT'
aYou unselfsh childr' exclaimed |
her Uncle James. 'He does not |
deserve to be happy, if he does /
marry that empty headl But he |
will not, so we viii hurry on to the
7illage, and take the train for /
home"
There was much CONSERVATION at
he Hayward farmhouse the next /
Mrs. Hayward was
'eally vexed when she learned that
9atty had left her, for she had been
yery faithful; but withal was a feel
ng Of relief that the ''girr' was out
If Johns way.
Maria Dalton pretended to be
greatly shocked, and limited in vari-
'us subtle ways that nothing bet
er could have been expected. /
John was very much grieved, and
anne very near being angry with
rs mother.