Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-26
NO. 229.
HETTY'S DOUGHyUTS.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. !

And poor Het.y began turning over i'm
her mind all sorts of excuses for the non
appearance of her uncle's favorite dclica-
cy, none of which would do in the least,
and In the midst of which she heard his
rough voice in the kitchen.
Supper ready ?n
"All ready" she answered, family,
from the depths of the pantry; and hasii-
| ly cutting several thick slices OF ginger
bread, she hurried out and took her seat
at the table.
"What time did Frank go?" inquired
her uncle of nobody in particular, at the
same time heaping his plate with meat
and vegetables.
Hetty said nothing, and her aunt re-
piled.
Somewhere between five and six; l
don't know exactly"
did he get through with that door be-
fore he went.' demanded the gruff voice
again.
"He did," replied Aunt Baxter, con-
cisely, Hetty breathed more freely.
"What that fellow does with his time is
more than l know" growled Uncle Bax-
ter. ''lts II ky for him he's working by
the job. or he'd hear piece of my mind"
Farmer Baxter's "womenkind," as he
was wont courteousy to term the ladies
of his family, understood his ways, and
usually passed over his ebullitions of tenn
per in silence, knowing that he would
doubtless cat himself into better humor in
due course
II believe he spends half his time Cos
siping with the women" he continued,
| rightly surmising that the subject was dis
, tasteful to his wife and neice, and there
fore doggedly pursuing it. "Has he been
in here this afternoon. Henrietta ?"
"No. sir,' replied Hetty, boldly, though
a recollection OF Franks parting attitude
came over her guiltily as she spoke.
"Well, just see that he don't, then; and
you tend to Your work. was the surly
rejoinder and the old man subsidized into
a discussion of his dish of greens.
For few moments silence reigned
about the table. Aunt Baxter, with the
policy induced by long experience, re-
naming mute, and Hetty because her an
CRY tears choked her utterance. Present.
ly subdued conversation commenced
and was for some time carried on in an
undertone between aunt and niece. Sud-
denly came the awful question, which had
all the time been hanging like a doom
over poor Hetty's head.
where's the doughnuts ?"
They were just done, and quite hot"
replied Hetty, flushing crimson. The GIN
gerbread is fresh, and thought you would
just as lief have it tonight"
"You know better" amiably returned
Uncle Baxter. Just you step quick and
get some"
Hetty mechanically rose to obey, when
her aunt quietly observed:
1T seems pity to let the gingerbread
dry; but presume Aunt Samanthy will
be glad of it.
"Aunt Samanthy won't get it, then,
that's all'i returned her lord and master,
quite unconscious that this was precisely
the response she wished and expected.
"Sit down. Henrietta, and another time
don't cut gingerbread when there's fresh
doughnuts in the house,
SO that danger was over; but in proper
ton as her fear of her uncle's displeasure
passed away her indignation against Frank
Kennedy increased. She could not readily
forgive him the scolding she had received
or the more formidable one she had es-
capped.
Il think III run up to grandma's." said
Aunt Baxter, the next day, as they left the
dinner-table, ''if you can clear away the
things alone"
"Oh !! | can do that easily enough" re-
piled Hetty. with alacrity, for the poor child
had been planning all the morning how
she could get an opportunity TO replace
that dreadful missing dish.
Every well," said her aunt sand if you
want something to do, you might sort the
rest of these fannels.'
81 want TO gather my dress skirt said
Hetty, family, blu.hng as she did so for
the deception.
"Well, don't care so you re not idle :"
and Aunt Baxter walked heavily and re-
| specially out of the gate, adorned with
her Sunday bonnet and her best mantilla
No sooner did the gate click behind her
than Hetty fell to work with the greatest
energy. Eggs were beaten, spice meas
ured, sugar and shortening weighed, and
worked into the dough which had been
surreptitiously rising behind the pantry
door since morning. The last was tested,
and the stripes of the yielding mass speed
lily reappeared in crisp, brown twists piled
up in a large yellow dish, which dish was
spitefully placed out of reach from the
open window, The young hdy ala NOT
blacklv instead, as she few from stove to
table. The frown deepened perceptibly
when, Just as she was contemplating the
last of the golden brown cakes, we'll
known voice was heard from the window,
excIaiming:
"Heaven defend us! What a capacity
Uncle Baxter must have for doughnuts, il
he has eaten all you made yesterday, and
now demands more !" ta
This was too much. Hetty felt the blood
leaping through her veins.
MIR Kennedyw she said. icily, .'t is
possible to carry joke too far am so
busy this afternoon that can not stop to
hear you talk nonsense " with which
cutting quotation she turned with much
dignity to leave the room, and presently
found herself wildly struggling with the
door-latch, which, with the usual peryer-
sity of inanimate things, chose this inau-
spicious moment for sticking fast.
Wont you tell me what l have done. ="
pleaded the delinquent, seizing his oppor-
tunity.
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