Connecticut western news., 1881-03-30
A DARK DAY.

WuuOW-d U1S UdSh6b O1 uuudIu0u stockings by her side, new copy of the Ladies' Magazine on the table close by, while within reach bright butterfly hovered 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 morning such as this who could endure to stay 1n doors? Who could endure to sit quietly down and darn stockings?
 A girlish voice aroused Hetty. Look ing from the window, she saw Susie Lake leaning on the little front garden gate.
 "Oh, Hetty, do come and walk with me down to Aunt Ellen's. The morn ing is lovely, and I have something to tell you"
 "I am afraid I can't, Susie. It'is Saturday, you know, and am sewing and watching baby asleep, while mother is in the kitchen."' "'
 "Then I will have to tell you now, suppose.
 She came close under the window, and said, with a mischievous smile:
 "Whom do you think saw just now, Hetty?"
 "I don't know who. The new minister ?"
 "No, indeed somebody very differ ent from that fat, red-faced old codger, D returned Susie. irreverently.
 "Oh, Susie, but who was it ?"
 "Now, it was MT. Walter Hayes. Now, ain't you surprised ?"
 A vivid blush dyed Hetty's fair face She made no reply, and Susie con- tinued:
 "His employer, MT. 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 I met him just now He arrived only an hour ago, in the stage from Cox's Station, and that is how came to see him before you did, Hetty," 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 goodbye before going away to the great city to seek his fortune. She remembered the warm, clinging clasp of his hand, and how he had said to her, in @ voice that was low and trembling q
 "You must not forget me, Hetty. l shall always think of you, Hetty, and when come back"
 And just then her mother had come on the porch and called her in out of the damp air, and 50 he had left her re- luctantly. But now he had come back and she would s ee him to-day.
 "I do declare, Hetty," exclaimed her mother, bustling into the room, flushed from her pie baking, you are the laziest girl ever saw. Here you've been up. wards of an hour alarming one pair ol stockings What have you been about Dreaming away your time as usual, nc doubt, and with all the children's Sun day clothes to look over and lay out for tomorrow, beside the Saturday chores"
 Hetty petulantly resumed her work but she was very glad when, towards sunset, it was all done, and she hat leisure to run up to her own little room and never in her life had she taken sucl pains with her appearance as now.
 How anxiously she listened for th expected ring at the front door. Hov unanimously her heart beat when a length it came, and how heavy it sanl when old Deacon Brown stalked in t. discuss some church matters with he father. Then she began to look at th' clock, and her heart grew fainter ant fainter as she saw it travelling slowl, , around to eight o'clock. In Riversid, they kept early hours, and when, at 1 quarter of nine, Deacon Brown tool leave, Hetty also rose, and lighting he1 bedroom candle, went slowly and sadly up stairs. When, next morning, she came down her mother remarked, as she busie6 herself about the breakfast table Hetty, Walter Hayes was here last night" "Oh, Mother P