Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-27


Love has knocked Law on the head,
Hang this stupid speechifying!
will think it out in bed.
Married for Money.
"Dear me-" said Hettie Wynn, II
shall 20 crazy. Five children all cla-
moring at once. the kettle boiling over.
the pickles upset, moths in my best
shawl, and the dog running away with
the soup bone for dinner."l
John Wynn burst out laughing, and
that, in Mrs. Hettie's case, proved the
one hair that broke the cancels back.
She began to cry.
He tried to sOothe her.
H"I don't care" she sobbed, "I'm sick
of it all. I'm tired of patching old
clothes, hashing cold meats, and hoard
ing pennies. I'm tired Of"
"Your husband and your children"
gravely interrupted Mr.. Wynn. IT'S
that it, Hettie ?"
81 might have married rich, !" she said
slowly, twisting her baby's bib strings
round and round her finger. "Yes, l
might have been George Towards wife.
he is very wealthy man, they tell
me-"
"It's pity you didn't" said John,
provokingly."
Eyes it is pity" said Hettie, stung
beyond endurance, as she founced out
of the room.
Not but what she loved John, but
this wearing, grinding succession of
petty cares and toll was sapping all the
life and elasticity out of her.
She looked disdainfully down at the
Eo6o6 no1 in0 6rocc cho fol Cd n
darned in more than one place.
eff had married George Howard"
she said to herself, II could have worn
silks and jewels every day, with SER
wants to wait on me, and carriage to
drive out in whenever I pleased. Oh,
dear! what world of trouble this is. I"
And as Mrs. Wynn laid her little ro-
sycheeked infant down to sleep. she felt
as if her lot had indeed fallen in very
thorny places.
Just as she had taken her place once
again over the kettle, there came a
knock at the door.
"Come in" said Hettie. and the
housekeeper from Hadley Hall came
mincing across the threshold.
Hettie busted off chair in considera-
ole of hurry, for Mrs. Allison was a
grand lady in her way, who wore black
silks and laces, and had her bonnets di-
rectly from the city.
won't you sit down, Mrs. Allison ?"
said she, coloring to the roots of her
pretty hair, and secretly hoping that
Mrs. Allison did not observe the patch
on her calico dress.
"Thank you, my dear-I am in q
great hurry" said Mrs. Allison. 81
have great hurry" said Mrs. Allison.
hox EvN
Valenciennes handkerchiefs here, from
my lady at the Hall. The laundress
hasn't come down yet, and she amt
willing to trust the lady's maid with
'em, and they must be ready by dark
and so told her knew person, who
was master hand at laces, futing and
I depend on you, my dear, to do 'em for
me.n
Hettie hesitated an instant.
"She'u pay you," said Mrs. Allison.
"She amt none Of the stingy sort, my
lady amt"
aYes," said she, "I'll do it. Lay the
bundle on the table, please. So the
new family have arrived at the Hall at
last 2"
Mrs. Allison nodded assent.
She had been housekeeper for the
Hadleys, of Hadley Hall, for twenty
years, and was sorry enough when the
old place went into new hands.
But situation was situation, so she
stayed on.
"Yes," said she. 'Mr. and Mrs.
George Howard.
Hettle gave such start that the ket
tie had nearly tipped over into the fire.
hysterical laugh. "What funny
name"
Handsome, stylish people, with more
money, to all appearances, than they
know what to do with" went on Mrs.
Allison. II just wish you could see her
dresses and jewels. Stephanie, the
French maid, showed them to me when
she was unpacklng 'em."
Kettle said nothing, but stirred BUSH
ly, while the old housekeeper talked on
about the wealth and grandeur of the
new possessors of Hadley Hall.
And all this might have been hers.
"When shall send after the laces ?"
Mrs. Allison finally asked, when she
rose to depart.
"I'll take them home, myself, about
DUSK" said Hettie, inwardly resolvi ng
to get glimpse into this Paradice which
had so nearly been her own.
And so, at twilight, with the daintily
ironed and fluted laces in her basket
she walked up to Hadley Hall.
How stately it looked with its broad
collonaded facade, all glittering with
lights; its grand conservatory at the
back, and its terraced windows.
Oh, if she had only said Eyes" to
George Howard eleven years ago.
"Hush !" said Hettie, as Mrs. Allison
with some pride, pointed out the vari-
ono hoo oo IF tho Mo gsVNho 10 bot
noise like a woman crying? In the
next room, think"
Mrs. Allison's face clouded over.
Its Mrs. Howard, poor DEAR" said
she. 1.-THE masters brute he's been
drinking too much-Mademoise Ste
phanie says he always drinks too much
and he struck her. Oh, dear! she's
wretched, in spite of all her money.
"Has she no children ?" Hettie softly
asked.
"She had two, but she lost 'em both.
Mademoiselle Stephanie says she often
cries, and wishes she were dead, too.
And don't wonder much, with such q
husband. Hush, here he comes now"
And, shrinking behind group of
italian marble statuary, the two women
watched George Howard stalk gloomily
bv. with red, inflamed eyes, sullen face,
and unsteady steps.
Hettie Wynn then returned home.
God in her heart that she was
a poor mans wife.
"Haye pou heard of the accident? ?"
asked old Peter who was standing out
at his gate as she hurried by in the dee
pening dusk.
"No; what accident? What has hap
pened?"
.sThat house as your husband was
workin' on has all fell in. All heap
of ruins. Something wrong about the
foundation, they say, and"
~ Oh. my God!" wildly interrupted
Hettie, clasping her hands. "Was he
hurt-my husband?"
"Well," said old Peter, "there were
two men killed, and one had his arm
broke; but"
She waited to hear no more.
Swiftly she sped homeward, horri-
BILE dread winging her footsteps with al