South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-10-08
MARRIED FOR MONEY.

Dear me- said Hettie Wynn, Il
shall go crazy. Five children all
clammoring at once, the kettle boiling
over, the pickles upset, moths in my
best shawl and the dog running away
with the soup-bone which was for
dinner
John Wynn burst out laughing.
and that in Mrs. Hettie's case proved
the one straw that broke the camel's
back. She began to cry. lie tried
TO soothe her.
4 don't care she sobbed, I'm sick
OF it all. I'm tired of patching old
clothes, hashing cold meats and
boarding pennies. I'm tired Of
Your husband aud your children
gravely interrupted Mr.. Wynn. is
that it, Hettie ?
Il 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-
Its a pity you didn't said John,
provokingly,
Yes, it is pity said Hettie. strung
beyond endurance, rs she hounccd
out of the room.
Not but what she loved John, but
this wearing, grinding succession OF
petty cares and tolls was sapping all
the life and elasticity out of her.
She looked disdainfully down at the
faded calico dress she wore, patch.
ed and darned in more than one
place.
IF | had married George Howard
she said to herself, L could have worn
silks and jewels every day, with ser
wants to wait on me and a carriage
to drive out in whenever I pleased
Oh, dear, what world Of trouble this
is
And as Mrs. Wynn laid her little
rosy-cheeked infant down to sleep
she felt as if her lot had indeed fallen
IL very thorhy places.
Just as she had taken her place
once again over the kettle there came
n knock at the door.
Come in said Hettie, and the
housekeeper from Hadley Hall came
mincing across the threshold.
Hettie busted off chair in consid-
cradle of hurry, for Mrs. Allison
was grand lady iii her way, who
wore black silks and laces and had
her bonnets directly 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
OH her calico dress.
'Thank you, my dear; am in O
great hurry said Mrs. Allison. q
have some fine laccs, muslins and
Valenciennes handkerchiefs here
from my lady at the Hall. The laund-
ress hasn't come down yet, and she
amt willing to trust the !udy's maid
with 'em, and they must be ready by
dark, and so | told her knew a per-
son who was master hand at laces.
and depend on you, my dear, to do
'em for me-
Hettie hesitated an instant.
She'll pay YOU SAID Mrs. Allison.
'She amt none of the stingy sort, my
lady. amt
Yes said She, 'I'll do it. Lay the
bundle on the table, please. SO the
new family has arrived at the Hall at
last?'
Mrs. Allison nodded assent. She
had been housckeepcr for the Had
leys, Of lIadley Hall, for twenty years,
and was sorry enough when the old
place went into other hands. But
situation was a situation, so she stay
ed on.
Yes said she. Mr.. and Mrs
George Howard
Ilettic gave such n start that the
Kettle had nearly tipped over into the
fire.
Howard cried she, with a little
hysterical laugh. what funny
name
Handsome, stylish people, with
more money to all appearance than
they know what TO 90 with went on
Mrs. Allison. 4 just wish you could
see her dresses and jewels. Stephanie,
tho French maid, showed them to me
when she was unpacking EN-
Hettie said nothing, but stirred
busily while the old housekeeper talk
ed on about the wealth and grandeur
of the new possessors OF IIadley Hall.
And all this might have been hers.
when shall | send after the lace?'
Mrs. Allison finally asked when she
rose to depart.
I'll take them home myself about
dusk said IIettie. inwardly resolving
to get glimpse into this Paradise
which had so nearly been her own.
And so at twilight, with the dainti-
" lrOned and fluted laces in her bas-
ket, she walked mp to IIadley Hall.
How stately it looked with its broad
collouaded facade all glittering with
lights; its grand conservatory mt tho
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