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

words spoken which dismiss the wor-
shippers, who stream out into the mar
row aisles, the older ones gravely ex-
changing bits of local gossip the
younger, to whom this is the moment
of eliminating interest, wishing, fear
ing, and hoping. The girls cast blush
ing glances toward the phalanx of tall
youths on either side Of thu door, and
the youths, having already made a Sc
lection, only await opportunity Happy
those whom no disappointment awaits ;
for, alas there must be some 'previe Hs
engagements" Then comes the deli
cious saunter homeward in the soft
summer evening, the elders having con
siderately gone on before the linger-
ing at the gate while the trees softly
whisper overhead, and the goodnight
reluctantly murmured beneath the stars.
Alas that youth comes but once, and
will not return after disappointments
have taught us to value Alright its sweet
dream-life
Hetty walked demurely out of meet
ing that night by her aunt's side, con
scious, though they had not exchanged
n glance, that Frank Kennedy was await
ing her. A little lonely sense of separa-
tion from him came over her, but it did
not softer her resentment. 1t had be-
come ro,l r thing for Frank to walk
home with her after meeting; che was
vexed With herself when she thought
how regular it was. As this thought
passed through her mind, she became
aware, though her eyes we're 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 to the heart-she turned with one
of her brightest smiles to the latter,
and, with "Thank you, Mr.. Lowry"
she walked away with him, leaving
Frank gazing after her with look of
pain and perplexity mingled. As for
Hetty, though she talked and laughed
in her gayest tones, and leaned on Wills
arm and glanced up in his face in her
usual coquettish manner, her heart was
heavy within her, nor did she feel hap
pier, though she became much gayer,
when, few minutes later, Frank passed
her with Selma Burton clinging to his
arm confdingly.
is that an engaged couple, Miss
Morris @ asked her companion, as Sell
mas liaping tones died away in the dis
tance.
"I am sure I don't know" answered
Hetty, with light laugh; and then the
conversation drifted into the usual talk
of two young persons taking the longest
way home under the elms on a balmy
summer evening. They stood for some
time by the gate, trying to distinguish
various consultations in the sparkling
heavens-so long, in fact, that Frank
Kennedy, returning no doubt from sim
| liar astronomical researches with Sell
ma, heard Hetty's clear laugh, and
paused for a moment, half intending to
join her. But his better Judgment pre-
vailed; he walked away and disappeared
in the dsrkness. Then Will and Hetty
exchanged a goodnight over the low
gate-several good-nights, in fact-and
they parted.
Every thing had gone exactly as Miss
Morris wished. She had crushed Frank
to the earth with her scorn, and she had
shown him that she was by no means
dependent on his attentions. Certainly
no one could ask for more devoted
suitor than Will Lowry. Every thing
he had said during the evening had
shown her plainly that she had but to
stretch out her hand and take him; and
how manly and handsome he was II
will take him, too, if he offers himself
said Hetty to herself as she put out her
light Then she very consistently cried
herself to sleep.
The next day passed like a dream to
her. She performed her usual duties
as if she were somebody else Frank |
was still at work in the barn, having |
not quite finished his job; but he did |
not once look toward the house, as far |
as Hetty could see, much less come to- |
ward it; and she noticed that he had |
left off the customary whistling over |
his work. Even Farmer Baxter could |
not complain of any neglect on that |
day. Just at six o'clock, while she was
setting the table, feeling thoroughly |
wretched and forlorn, her heart gave |
great bound. There he stood in the
doorway! She had been feeling all the
afternoon that if he came to her aga
in spite of his offences she could not re-
sist him. She was too unhappy with
out him, and now he had come, as she
had hardly dared to hope he would do.
She hastily summoned all her pride,
that her surrender might not be too
sudden or absolute, and went forward
with frigid air quite contradicted by
her rapidly beating heart.
"This is the key to the tool-house,
Hetty,' he said, placing in her out
stretched hand cold door-key instead |
of the fervent clasp she expected. Tell |
your uncle I've got through. Good !
night - and he was gone before she |
could form reply.
This is the end of everything"
thought poor Hetty. "Now if Will |
Lowry comes l will accept him."
viii Lowry did come in the evening,
but she had no pportunity of carrying
out her resolution, as his aunt came
with him expressly to see Aunt Baxter,
and they all sat together in the front
room, except Uncle Baxter, who audibly
slumbered on the lounge III the kitchen
during the entire call, greatly to the
modification of his niece. What that
young lady said and did during the
evening she could not tell. She was
living over and over that cold parting
with Frank Kennedy, and feeling again
the chill of that disappointing door
key. As the visitors rose to go, Will
remarked,
"Aunt Martha, you have nearly for
gotten your errand."
"Surely," returned Miss Lowry, pro-
ducing from some mysterious quarter
a huge milk-pan. I'VE came specially
to return your pan. The cakes were
splendid. Did you make 'em, or did
Hetty For want the receipt"
az always make yeast cakes myself"
replied Aunt Baxter, looking bewildered.