Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-04-16
Astncmorning heralds the full bright day,
A DARK DAY.

Hetty Lockwood sat at the open win
dow-a big basket of undarned stock
ings at her side, while within reach a
bright butterfly lowered about a newly
opened honeysuckle growing against
the window. The spring breeze breathed
balmily into the apartment, filing her
senses with Il delicious dreaminess, and
her eyes wandered wistfully out beyond
the shaded village street to the green
fields and budding willows bordering
the sparkling river. Ona morning such
as this who could endure to stay in
doorsP Who could endure to sit quietly
down aud darn stockingsP et1..r'
A girlish voice aroused Hetty. Look
ing, from the window, she saw Susie
Lake'learing 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 L have something to
tell you.pi < W. Gr VIE Ft
81 am afraid can't, Susie. 1t is
Saturday, you know, and l am sewing
and watching baby asleep, while mother
is in the kitchen" ..f e.
"Then l will have to tell you now, 1
suppose"
ssShe came close under the window and
said, with mischievous smile:
"Whom do you think saw just now,
Hetty?" ESFef ~ r.'ff
al don't know who The new minis
ter?n
"No, indeed; somebody very differ
ent from that fat, red-faced old codger,n
returned Susie, irreverently.
"Oh, Susie but who was it?"
snow, it was Mr.. Walter Hayes.
Now, amt you surprised"
A vivid blush dyed Eetty's fair face.
She made no reply, and Susie continued I:
ellis 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 | 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,
Hotty,n she added, laughingly.
She passed on, leaving Hetty with
flushed cheeks and frightened eye. Nc
wonder. For more thana year past the
thought'of Walter Hayes had been the
brightest spot of her life One year age
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 o.
hisJhand and how he had said to her
in voice that was low and trembling
"You must not forget me, Hetty.
shall always think of you, Hetty, anC
when come back"
And just then her mother had come
on the porch and called her in out of thu
damp air. aud so he had left her, reluc
tantlyo But now he had come back ant
she would see him to-day. ..
81 do declare, Hetty," exclaimed he
mother, busting 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
Hetty penitently resumed her work
but she was very glad when, TOWARD
sunset, it was all done, and she ha,
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 anXiousy she listened for the ex
pected ring at the front door! How tn
mulmously 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
fatherl Then she began to look at tn
clock, and her heart grew fainter an,
fainter as she saw it travelling slowl
around to eight o'clock. In Riversid
they kept early hours, and when, at
quarter to nine. Deacon Brown tool
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 her
self about the breakfast table:
"Hetty, Walter Hayes was here las
night"
sob, mother!"
There was something almost patheti
in the look and tone, but Mrs. Lockwood
was too busy with the steaming coffee
pot to perceive it.
He came in just as you had gone u
stairs" she continued. "He asked fo
you, but it was so late thoughtit hardl
worth while TO call you back again. II
had been seeing Miss Mitchell home t
her aunt's-that Philadelphia girl, 20
know, and didn't know, until he mer
toned it, that she was niece of his en-
ployer, Mr., Mitchell. He is certainl
improved. To my mind there is notl
ing like city life for giving people wins
they call style now. Make Eddie's mil
toast, while pour out the coffee,n
III think, y observed Mr.. Lockwood
as ne toolehis place at the table and CT
into the cold corned beef: 81 think
heard Harry Tunstall say yesterday thi
young Hayes was paying attention
Miss MITCHELL. She's a handsome cir
and her fathers got money. If Waite
marries her he will do well-don't DO
your food like that, cut it properly, si
before eating
Il Hetty turned suddenly sick at hear
She said nothing, but she could nC