Connecticut western news., 1881-03-30
wood was too busy with the steaming

coffee pot to perceive it. ..>.J
 "He came in just as you had gone up stairs" she continued. He asked for you, but it was so late I thought it hardly worth while to call you back again. He had been seeing Miss Mitchell home to her aunt's-that Philadelphia: girl, y you know. and. I didn't know, until he mentioned it, that she was niece of his employer, MT. Mitchell. He is certainly improved. To my mind there is nothing like city life for giving people what they call style now. Make Eddie's milk toast whilst pour out the coffee. '' .,' .
 "I think" observed Mir. Lockwood, as he took his place at the table and ! cut into the cold corned beef s'I think I heard Harry Tunstall say yes terday that young Hayes was paying attention to Miss Mitchell. She's 8 handsome girl, and her fathers got money. If Walter marrles her he will do well-don't bolt your food like that, cut it properly, sir, before eating"
 Retty turned suddenly sick at heart. She said nothing, but she could not swallow her breakfast, and her mother presently remarked upon her pale looks.
 "Don't you feel we'll, child? I mo- ticed that you were idgety last night. You're feverish, I doubt, with the spring weather"
 Hetty was glad that her mother per mitted her to go to her room and lie down. There was never a fire in her room, but she drew the bed- clothes over her head and wished that she could thus shut herself out from the whole world. She felt forlorn and mis- erable. All her sweet foolish dreams of love seemed to have been rudely stricken at blow. Walter had ceased to care for her. He had been won from her by that handsome, stylish girl from Phila- delphia; and Hetty hid her face in her pillow and almost wished that she could die.
 Her mother sent for her to com down for dinner. There was, she said, no use in staying upstairs in the cold, and the child would be better by the fire, with some nice, warm soup. In there all the afternoon Hetty sat, while her father and the boys went to church and her mother read "Baxter's Rise and Progress, and sang dismal hymns to the baby.
 "Het," said Bill, upon his return from church, "I saw your old beau, MT. Walt Hayes, at church with Miss Mitchell, and he shook hands with me and asked me how the family was. She's real swell, tell you, and if you don't shine up some she'll cut you out.''
 civilian don't let me hear any more of such slang talk from you," said his mother, reprovingly.
 "And Hetty," said her little sister, as she carefully drew off and folded her gloves, "I heard Kate Hayes telling Mrs. Green that Walter and Miss Mitchell were going back tomorrow to Philadelphia, and Mrs. Green said she supposed that was one reason of his coming to Riverside, that he might travel home with her."
 Hetty lost all heart and hope at this. She longed for sympathy-to lay her head on her mothers knee and tell her all. But Mrs. Lockwood, though she really loved her children, was not one of these gentle and sympathetic mothers to whom their children thus turn; and Hetty went again to her lonely room, and wrapping herself in shawl, seated herself at the window and looked hstlessly out.
 A few people were passing. She hardly noticed them, until she suddenly met pair of brown eyes and she drew back with burning cheeks and beat ing heart as Walter Hayes passed. How handsome he looked and as her mother had observed, how improved in ap- pearance. And she-what could he think of her, sitting there pale and forlorn looking, with her hair all dis ordered about her face? He might come this evening, perhaps, and yet she hardly wished it now. It would only be painful to see him. Still, she dressed herself and went down stairs, though her head was throbbing and she felt really ill. And all the evening she waited and watched, and Walter never came, and she knew that he did not care to see her. And so ended the long, dreary day.
 Next morning Hetty arose feverish and ill. But she busted herself about the household work; and when her mother, observing only, that she was dull and languid, remarked that she needed walk, and desired her to carry jar of butter to old Mrs. Simpson, she made no objection. The day was pleasant, and tying pink lined hood about her face, Hetty set off alone on her walk.
 It was rather long distance that she had to go-out of the village and across a field, and then by a lonely pathway lying along the foot of hill. Mrs. Simpson kept her some time talking, and it was late when the girl set out on l her return.
 Slowly retracing the little pathway, Hetty paused at the stile which led into the open field. It was pleasant there. The sun shed a golden light over the beech boughs, and breath of spring time fragrance foated on the air. Somehow Hetty felt soothed as she stood resting on the stile and looked dreamily at the white clouds overhead.
 An approaching footstep startled her.