Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-11-16
o. Loves Willow.

= Loves Willow.
Twenty years ago the Bennett
Homestead stood, gray, massive, and
comfortable, on q grassy triangle of
land. that was bounded on three sides
by the East Bridgefori, West Bridge
ford, and North Bridgeford roads,
while the extensive farm lands sloped
sunnily towards Bridgeford proper,
and the southern horizon in the rear.
The grassy triangle had never been
fenced in from either road. Eight
magnificent naples grew in a symme-
trical row on its outer verge. Beyond
them the dust rose Whitley in summer,
il wagon or cart rolled by. But
under them spread a delicious golden
oheckered shade dear to the heart of
every Bennett born within those walls.
The house was wide framed struc.
ture of implanted wood, with q mon
strous chimney for its center, and vast
6re-places in all the sparsely Furnished
rooms.
Squire Bennett was considered by
his neighbors, and by his little world
at large, "a fore-handed man." And
although the great house owned no car.
pets, aud its infrequent guests did I'M
conscious penance for their sins by sit
ting in the hardest and most uncom-
Portable of wooden chairs: still Hapsy
Bennett, his daughter and only child
Was called an heiress by her compan-
ions, and wooed as such by all the more
careful young men within the town.
But Hapsy thus far had laughed at
lovers and at love alike.
She was trim, active girl of eigh-
teen, with soft dark brown eyes, and O
pensively pleasant smile, q fair COM
plexion, and regular features, and a
color like the heart of damask rose
upon her cheek.
Somewhat shy in manner and retiring
in disposition. ii was hard at first to
make her acquaintance; but after
ward. if you were worthy of true and
earnest friendship no stancher friend
than Hapsy could be found. .
The idol of her father and in her own
quiet way the village favorite and belle,
I think she had in her early years but
one trouble. That was her name.
It seemed to her q very grievous
thing that she should have been chris
tened "Hapsilonia" at the within of q
maiden aunt, who invented the name
after seven weeks of hard mental effort,
and who left to the child, in dying, one
hundred golden dollars for its every
litter.
Even the thousand golden reasons
for the hatred appellation, could not
console the child as she grew older.
She would so gladly have been called
blanche" Ethel" or Edith" But
whoever heard of heroine of romance
with name like hers
At seventeen, however, Hapsy's muir.
nurs suddenly ceased.
She was sent. by her indulgent
father, to famous boarding-school, or
rather, an academy" in neighboring
State. There. between the dusk of one
summers day and the dawning of an
ether, life took on q new meaning, and
VAS invested with q glory before I'M
known.
And there among many other start
ling discoveries she learned that the
name OF "Hapsy" breathed in loving
tones, beneath . harvest moon, was
eMite - sweet - any "Ethel" or them
I'll
Hapsy returned from that fatal acad.
any an altered being. Alwsys Quiet.
- vas now - shy and silent a . her.
nit thrush, and only when Philip Oil.
vsr had followed her to the homestead,
I'D greeted her - NO man should ever
grses . woman whom he does not mean
. win for his wife, only then did she
regain her Lost cheerfulness and reioin
~ old frisnds and playmates with her
Dsve1 By her aide.
Philip Oliver was young and Door.
Dat he was also ardent and deeply am
bitious. At one-and-tventy he already
lived in the future, and those Who knees
him hest. shook their heads and said
hat Hspsy's quiet beauty would never
have stirscaed him If il had not been
ssadered still more desirable BY her
1n1Aef's broad acres in the background,
Gsd By The dovry Of her own strange
nnme.
No one Vas bold enough TO hint this
g. ciung more and more fondly to
~ lover - the day Of separation drew
usar.
On Ne spot where they parted. she
p1snssd sAoot u the golden willow rs
ssss - Philip bad gone.
"rSs willow gross quickly" she
0s1ghe, - sAe labored over her task
rA6 vill he tall yoang tree by our
Welding -day.-
Alas. Poog Hspsy! The willow gree
in1~ 9sMive and mighty trunk. And
yrt thst wedding day had never davped