National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-05
HETTY'S DOUGHNUTS.

The long rays of the afternoon sur
slipped in at Mrs. Baxter's open door
danced gayly over the spotless floor OF
the ample kitchen, darted in and out
for moment or two among the highly
polished tins which stood in orderly
rows on the dresser, and then suddenly
plunged into Hettys heavy braids, and
nestled there, as if they had at last
found what they were seeking, and had
no wish to wander more. They could
not well have found fairer resting
place than those same rich braids, red
liFhe shadow and gold in the sun, I'M
less they had chosen the long dark
lashes, or the roguish dimple, or the
soft pink checks, or the rosy lips. But
no the lips would have constituted
but an uneasy resting place, for they
We're in tolerably constant motion. Not
that any one who heard Hetty Morris
speak would have wished her to be
silent; still, silent she seldom was-at
least in her waking hours.
At the moment when the sunbeams
first pointed her ont to MS. as she stood
at the great table rolling out dough,
her sleeves fastened up, and her round
white arms here and there dabbed with
flour scarcely winter, she was softly
talking to herself.
Dear me | shall never get these
miserable doughnuts done by tea time, :"
she was saying, as she cut off strip of
dough and gave it an airy twist "and
that horrid fat gets hotter and hotter
every minute. The last two kettlefuls
are utterly ruined"
" If that is utter ruin, remarked
masculine voice, " | am willing to take
It off your hands. Pass me the pan,
Miss Hetty." And the vines trailing
over the east window were gently moved
aside, and dark curly head, adorned
with two or three shavings, proceeded
to insert itself into the open window,
as if portrait had suddenly pushed
Its way into its frame.
Hetty tossed herhead. "No, | thank
You, Mr.. Kennedy" said she, with an
othertwist of the light dough. Uncle
Baxter knows to doughnut how many
there should be in batch and if there
were one missing should suffer for it. .
Oh, nonsense /" said her companion.
He is not so bad as that. Tell the
truth, Hetty, and say it is you who
grndge me the poor satisfaction of a
solitary cake. Never mind. There's a
good time coming soon, when they will
be everyday affairs with me"
What DO You mean? ?" asked Hetty,
pauslng with her fork in her hand.
What should I mean, except that I
am thinking of getting married 2 re-
turned the young man in the window,
brushing off a shaving as he spoke.
Oh hadn't heard" observed his
companion, returning with supreme in
difference to her rolling-pin.
-" Haven't you? | am surprised at
mat, was the reply, for it has bee
laIked all over town for the last fort
night"
-" | wish you were not so fond those
silly jokes, Frank" said Hetty, de-
cidedly.
from this time forth for evermore," he
replied, looking very handsome and
penitent; "that is, if you will give me
a certain slight token that | am for
given"
Hetty drew rearer to the window.
What shall it be ?" she asked, with
deepening blush and very encour-
aging smile.
IF you love me. my dear, bestow
upon me that crusty doughnot which
adorns the top of yonder pile" he re-
sp9,nded, Electrically, striking an atti-
'ude as he spoke.
-, Hetty's heels clicked explessively as
81 sne walked to the pantry door, her head
high in air.
Help yourself" she said, briefly.
Thanks y responded Frank, reach
lhg long arm in at the window and
over to the table. cit is more conve-
nlent than l thought. 1 could easily
No reply.
Hetty, are you vexed ?"
A dead silence.
Come here, little girl, and give me
oetter token of forgiveness.
help YOURSELF" was the demure re-
sponse.