The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-30
A DARK DAY.

A DARN DALI
Hetty Lockwood sat at the open win
dow-a big basket of undarned stock
ings at her side, while within reach q
bright butterfly lowered about a newly
opened honeysuckle growing against
the window. The spring breeze breathed
balmily into the apartment, filling her
senses with delicious dreaminess, and
her eyes wandered wistfully out beyond
the shaded village street to the green
fields and budding willows bordering
the sparkling river. On a morning such
as this who could endure to stay in
doorsp Who could endure to sit quietly
down and darn stockingsP 1
A girlish voice aroused Hetty. Look
ing from the window, she saw Susie
Lake leaning on the little front garden
gate.
T." Oh, Hetty, do come and walk with
me down to Aunt Ellen's. The. morn
ing is lovely, and have something to
tell you.''
81 am afraid I can't, Susie. 1t is
Saturday, you know, and am sewing
and watching baby asleep, while mother
is in the kitchen" ..'a .g..
"Then | will have to tell you now, l
suppose -
She came close under the window and
said, with a mischievous smile: I4a7r
"Whom do you think saw just now,
Hetty?''. ,...... .,...n 800. .-.i
"I don't know who. The new minis
terP'' i"
(" No, indeed; somebody very differ
ent from that fat, red-faced old codger,"
returned Susie, irreverently.
"Oh, Susie! but who was itp''
ssNow, it was Mr.. Walter Hayes.
Now, amt you surprisedp' ...jaft
"a A vivid blush dyed Hetty's fair face.
She made no reply, and Susie continued :
''His 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 1 met him just now.
He arrived only an hour ago, in the
stage from Cox's Station, and that is
how l came to see him before you did,
Hstty," she added, laughingly. ..
She passed on, leaving Hetty with
flushed cheeks and frightened eye. No
wonder. For more than year past the
thought of Walter Hayes had been the
brightest spot of her life. One year ago
he had stood at that same little green
garden gate, in the moonlight, bidding
her good by before going away to the
great city to seek his fortune. She re.
membered the warm, lingering clasp Of
his hand and how he had said to her,
in a voice that was low and trembling
SIT +sYou must not forget me, Hetty.
shall always think of you, Hetty, and
when i come back d 4.I,u- I'd
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, reluc
family. But now he had come back anC
she would see him to-day. On ~ -iN
Edi''I do declare, Hetty," exclaimed hel
mother, bustling into the room, flushed
from her pie-baking, ''you are the lazi
est girl ever saw. Here you've beer
upward of an hour darning one pair O
stockings! What have you been about
Dreaming away your time as usual, NJ
doubt, and with all the children's Sun
day clothes to look over and lay out fo
tomorrow, beside the Saturday
chores"
Hetty penitently resumed her work
but she was very glad when, toward
sunset, it was all done, and she hac
leisure to run up to her own little room
and never in her life had she taken suci
pains with her appearance as now.
How anxiously she listened for the ex
pected ring at the front door! How tn
multuously her heart beat when a
length it came, and how heavy it san
a when old Deacon Brown stalked in t
discuss some church matters with he
fatheri Then she began to look at tn
clock, and her heart grew fainter an
faintsraas she saw it travelling slowl
% around to eight, o clock. 2 In Riversid
they kept early hours, and when, at
quarter to nine, Deacon Brown too
leave, Hetty also rose, and lighting he
bedroom candle, went slowly and sadl
upstairs. '.''.
When, next morning, she came dow
her mother remarked, as she busted he
self about the breakfast table, Z ''a y
,,' :" Hetty, Walter Hayes was here la
night r'Fi IN = ~" ~ ,a
"Oh, motherl" ~ F'A filnj w
There was something almost pathet
in the look and tone, but Mrs. Lockwood
was too busy the steaming coffe
pot TO perceive it. eJ.G gr.I I'D,
..,.. 8" He came, in Just as you had gone U
stairs" she continued. "He asked fl
you, but it was so late thoughtit hard
worth while to call you back again. 1
had been seeing Miss Mitchell home
her aunt's-that Philadelphia girl, yC
know, and l didn't know, until he me