Connecticut western news., 1878-05-09
Hitty ThOrne'S Duty.

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 We might mortgage the place" said Miss Hitty, signing.
 cAnd retire to the almshouse, eh ?' returned her sister.
 "But what alternative Is open to us Shall we allow Tom to come to grief ?'' "Tom richly deserves all the grief S that will fall to his share, poor fellow. Such schemer! Expected to make a <, fortune for us all, forsooth, that we might Haunt in our yelyets, drive our span, and fare sumptuously every day One dollar for us and two for himself, I reckon. What should such boy know about Speculation? It's the old story over and soveE Speculating with other peoples money is little indiscreet, to say the least. I should have chosen sackcloth and ashes rather than velvets won by such means"
 Certainly. But now that Tom IS involved, nothing but money will ext1i- este him. There's my watch, the heir loom from Grandma Pentecost there . gre fifty diamonds bedded in the case, if there's one"
 Rose diamonds, every spark of them''
 Not to mention the pearls and en- eralds." -e..
 Doublets and split pearls; I dare say. ''
 You are so discouraging, Libby l We must have the money I don't sup pose that the watch would bring tenth of the sum, but it would help. Dear dear there's Hannah de Rothschild with two millions of income, while you and I can't raise five thousand dollars though .fwe should break our hearts-not even to save an old and honorable name from contempt, and a foolish young fellow from ruin. Alas alas p .sfS" You know, Hitty, it might have been different" suggested Libby, her eyes wandering toward the old-fashioned square mansion crowning the hill within sight, with it's fringe of elms and it's spicy orchards beyond. "You might have had enough and to spare, Hitty-enough to keep Tom out of temptation
 "And it was temptation to poor Tom no doubt, returned Hitty. ignoring the illusion, seeing so much money lying idle, and such 8 chance for doubling it over and over, as he fondly believed" "Pshaw A Thorne had no business to be tempted. Was our grandfather : tempted at the time of the embargo, when he could have had false papers made out, as every body was doing, and saved his fortune, and left us all independent? If we mortgage the place, it won't bring five thousand dollars and who could we call upon to take the mortgage, and what should we do afterward- in a tent, gypsy style? Oh, Hitty, if only you hadn't been SO headstrong about rSearle, all this would have been spared usr'
 Don't speak of it, Libby it hurts me still. How could know what would be best ?" and Miss Hitty, pacing the long room with head bent, paused at the easement, and saw the sunset reckoning upon Searle Hill, and touching the win dow-panes into jewelry. The twenty years of happiness which might have fallen to her share up yonder had proved twenty years of silent endurance merely She had watched the seasons as they passed over the Hill with an interest which she had hoped would die, but which had only strengthened with the yearsLthe lovely dallying of the spring time, the summers overflow of bloom the splendor that autumn wears, tho white magnifcence Dor rrowed from win ter. If, twenty years ago, Hltty hac loved Anson Searle we'll enough to di' for h1m, if need be, she had loved little Tom well enough torenounce happines and children and love for his sake, ant to live on through the barren, hopeless days without a murmur. Tom had conn to her arms forlorn and helpless two year-old baby, without father or mother when Hitty was eighteen, and her low bad grown with hergrowth and strength ened with her strength. Toms mother had eloped with her music-master, an, had broken his fathers heart and whel the old gentleman died, he had left respectable fortune, the interest for tn benefit of his two living daughters, tn rrinNiraI fa1lincy r., kha;r nb;11~,., .-