The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-09-27
HETlY'S DARK DAY.

Hetty Lockwo d sat at the open win
dow-a big basket of uadarned sto, kings
by her side, new copy of "The Sunny
South" on the table close by, while
within reach bright butterfly hove,ed
about newly-opened honeysuckle grow
ing against the window. The spring
breeze breathed balm lily into the apart
ment, filling her senses with delicious
dreaminess; and her eyes wandered wist-
fully out beyond the shaded village
street to the green fields and budding
willows bordering the sparkling little
river. On q morning such as this, who
could endure to stay within doors
Who could endure to quietly sit down
and darn stockings ?-boys stockings,
too, with great holes in the heels of
them, which, merely to look at, caused
her despairing 81 gh. Then the new
magazine; how she longed to unfold the
crisp sheet, and luxuriate in its contents,
like the butterfly in the sweets of the
honeysuckle. But Hetty's life more re-
sembled that of the bee than the butter
fly. Though only eighteen, she was the
oldest of seven children. mostly boys;
and a goodly portion of the household
work fell upon her shoulders.
A glad, girish voice aroused Hetty.
Looking from the window she saw
Susie Lake, one of her few intimate
friends, leaning on the little front garden
gate.
ooh, Hetty, do come and walk with
me down to Aunt Ellen's. The morning
is just lovely; and I have something so
particular to tell you.
s:I'm afraid I can't, Susie. It is Sat
urday, you know; and am sewing and
watching baby asleep, while motheris in
the kitchen"
"Then I'll have to tell you now, I
suppose"
She came close under the window, and
said, in lower voice, and mischievous
smile:
"Who do you think I saw Just now 2"
81 don't know. But who was it ?"
"Why, it was just Mr.. Walter Hayes.
Now, amt you surprised?'
A vivid blush dyed Hetty's fair face.
She made no reply, and Susie con-
tinued.
ellis employer, Mr.. Mitchell. sent
him on business from Philadelphia to
c., and as this wasn't much out of
the way of his home, they gave him
leave to stop here for day or two; !; so
he told me when I met him just now.
He arrived only an hour ago, in the stage
from Cox's station; and that is how I
came to see him before you did, Hetty, :"
she added, laughingly.
She passed on, leaving Hetty with
flushed cheeks, frightened eyes, and a
heart thrilling with glad excitement. No
woder. For more than a year past the
thought of Walter Hayes had been the
brightest spot of her life, around which
all sweet, vague thoughts of happiness
had clustered. One year ago he had
stood at that same little garden gate, in
the moonlight, on their late return from
the church concert, and bidden her
goodbye before going away to the great
city to seek his fortune. She remembered
how the warm, lingering clasp of his
hand had thrilled her, and how he had
said at last, in a voice that almost
trembled:
"You must not forget me, Hetty I
shall think of you always, and when I
come back" y
And just then her mother had come on
the porch, and called her in out of the
damp air; and so he had left her reluct-
antly. But now he had come back, and
she would see him to-day.
"I do declare, Hetty," exclaimed her
mother, bustling into the room, warm
and flushed from her pie-baking, "you
are the LATEST girl ever saw. Here
you've been upwards of an hour darning
one pair Of stockings! What have you