Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-08

rate door.latch
" How unfair you are" he broke out i'm
patiently. You accuse me Of some mys.
terious offence, and then utterly refuse to
allow me to defend myself"
" don't accuse you Of anything" said
Hettty, shaking the door furiously. 81
know that you consider joking at every
tine and on every subject perfectly allowa-
Bile, but when had told you fairly what
uncle can be when be is vexed, | did think il
very cruel and inconsiderate that you should
set him on me Just for silly trick"
=" | give you my word, IIetty, that | had
no idea Of your uncle's really grudging me
those cakes, il that is what you mean, or
even knowing anything about it." Hetty
elevated her eyebrows. OF course |
know he is siingy, and all that, but | had
no idea you were in earnest when you said
he would visit it on your head. My TAX
ing them at all was only bit Of fun, any
way"
And very stupid bit Of fun" inter-
polatcd Hetty. But just here the door
yielded to particularly vicious twitoh,
and Hetty rushed up stairs.
The tea-things were hurriedly washed
up and put away that evening, and Mrs.
Baxter set forth sedatoly through the viii
lage street, for it was conference meeting
night. Who does not know that meeting
well, with its swinging kerosene lamp, whose
light seems always in your eyes, whichever
way they turn, until you close them for
relief; the solemn countenauce Of the good
deacon who " "leads" the doubtful and vail
ing hymns the awful pauses the sense Of
personal gratitude to some long.wiuded,
prosy brother who rises and fills up the
time after deathly hush of unusual du-
ration and the blessed period which closes
the service and removes the restraint that
for two hours has bound the sense Of all
PRESENT. The closing prayer is offered aud
the words spoken which dismiss the worship
ers, who stream out into the narrow aisles,
the older ones grayely exchanging bits OF
local gossip, the younger, to whom this is
a moment Of eliminating interest, wishing,
fearing, and hoping The girls cast blush
ing gauces toward the phalanx of tall youths
on either side Of the door, and the youths,
having already made selection, only await
opportunity. Happy those whom no dis
appointment awaits; for, alas there must
be some "previous engagements" Then
comes the delicious saunter homeward in the
soft summer evening, the elders having con-
siderately gone on before the lingering at
the gate while the trees softly whisper over
head, and the goodnight reluctantly MUIR
INJURED beneath the stars. Alas that youth
comes but once, and will not return after
disappointments have taught us to value
Alright its sweet dream-lifel
Hetty walked demurely out Of meeting
that night by her aunt's side, conscious,
though they had not exchanged a glance,
that Frank Kennedy was awaiting her. A
little lonely sense of separation from him
came over her, but it did not soften her
resentment. lthad become regular thing
for Frank to walk home with her after
meeting she was vexed with herself when
she thought how regular it was. As this
thought passed through her mind, she be.
came aware, though her eyes were east
down, that Frank was approaching her on
one side, while Will Lowry was Offering her
his arm on the other. Fixing cold look
upon the former-a look which cut him tc
the heart-she turned with one of her
brightest smiles to the latter, and, with 9
" Thank you, Mr.. Lowry" walked away
with him, leaving Frank gazing after hel
with look of pain and perpIexity mingled
As for Hetty, though she talked and laughed
in her gayest tones, and leaned on Will'i
arm and glanced up in his face in her usua
manner, her heart was heavy within her
nor did she feel happier, though she became
, much gayer, when, few minutes later
! Frank passed her with Selma Burton cling
! ing to his arm con6dingly.
, ais that al engaged couple, Miss Nor
, ris 2" asked her companion, as Selma
| lispiug tones died away in the distance.
. "I am sure | don't know" answers
IIetty, with light laugh; and then tn
conversation drifted into the usual talk O
. two young persons taking the longest wa
e home under the elms on balmy summe
a evening. They stood for some time by tn
gate, trying to distinguish various constel
d ations in the sparkling heavens-so long
d in fact, that Frank Kennedy, returning n
doubt from similar astronomical researchC
n with Selma, heard Hctty's clear laugh, an
paused for a moment, half intending
a DIN her. But his better judgment prevaile
i he walked away and disappeared in tn
darkness. Then Willard Hetty exchange
!, goodnight over the low gate--several goo
r, nights, in fact--and they parted.
y Everything had gone exactly as Mi
: Morris wished She had crushed Frank
e the earth with her scorn, and she had show
h him that she was by no means dependent @
his attentions. Certainly no one could as
r. for a more devoted suitor than Will Lowr
e Everything he had said during the evenin
K had shown her plainly shat she had but
|. stretch out her hand aud take him; al
D. how manly aud handsome he was ="
d ,oU take him, too, if be offers himself
said Hetty to herself as she put out h
d light. Then she very consistently erie
le herself to sleep.
le The next day passed like dream to he
She performed her usual duties as if 81
O. were somebody else. Frank was still
Or work in the barn, having not quite fiuish'
u his job; but he did not once look towal
,e the house, as far as Helly could see, nut
less come toward it; and she noticed tn
if he had left off the customary whistliI
rt over his work. Even Farmer Baxter cou
not complain of any neglect on that da
id Just at six o'clock, while she was settii
or the table, feeling thoroughly wretched al
forlorn. her heart gave great boun
!" There he stood in the doorway! She HI
Q. been feeling all the afternoon that If
or came to her again, in spite of his otienc'
she could not resist him. She was too u
or happy without him, and now he had CON
st as she had hardly dared to hope he wou
d. do. She hastily summoned all her prit
ed that her surrender might not be too sudd
D. and absolute, and went forward with
&C frigid air quite contradicted by her rapid
beating heart.
he This is the key to the tool-housc, Hetty
in be said, placing in her outstretched hand
el- cold door-key, instead Of the fcrvent ella
ut she expected. "Tell your uncle I've Z
np through. Good night!' and he was 60
ut before she could form reply.
I'M "Ths is the end of everything" thoue
Or. poor Hetty. "Now, if Win Lowry con
at- I will accept him."
a viii Lowry did come in the evening,
l. la - a.,ro,t...t,, 80 oa.ry,no ont 4