South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-09-21
HETTY's MISTAKE.

planning voice. AS full o. kinks and
freaks as an egg is of meat. But for
all that, | think that Mary would have
suited him if it hadn't been for Bella
Barlow
Girls is so queer said Miss Hetty
Boone, screwinS up one eye toward a
drapery of cobwebs that swung TO
and fro in the northeast corner OF the
room. 'Ah-h-h-so inconsiderate.
toor
But it's an i'll wind that blows no
good to nobody added Mrs. Jennings,
with Boreau sigh. 'Pr'aps you can
manage him, Mehitable, and in that
case 1t will be good home for you.'
lletty Boone bridled.
| AS for that, said she, don't DENY
that I'd like TO keep house for Cousin
Jacob, well enough. a penny save /
J Is a penny earned, you know.
but what is to become OF us?'
whlned Mrs. Jennings, shaking out the
folds OF n calico>bordered pocket
handkerchief.
That's your. own lookout said
lefty Boone, indiiferently, as she
took off her berege veil and folded it
automatically up inside of her bat.
MIR. Jacob Hopper lived in one Of
thoseold peakedroof farm houses which
still stand among he green Connecti-
cut meadows, like relics Of a past gen
Grafton. with Il wSll-scoop on one side
and huge buttcrnut tree shaded its
south exposure. Not vcstige Of
pant renamed on the siding. the
shingles were patched and repatchel,
the fence tied up with string ard wire.
the cow-shod proppel with posts of
every size and dlmeniion, and yet
there was Il rumor in the neighbour.
hood that old Jake Hopper WAS "a
| rich az Cimsus.
lie had only one extravaganza. that
was his flower garden. Roses ot the
rareSt variety bloomed ut tho back of
the house, where eally irosts could not
corrupt,nor stray boys break through
and steal. Expensive bulbs, import
ed direct from Holland, painted the
borders with gold and scarlet III the
early spring. Choice shrubs occupied
the position of cXtcrminated goose
berry and currant bushes. and every
body believed that Bella Barlow wodli
have gained tho old mans good will
IN that matter oil pretty Mary Jen-
nlng5' love il. he had not declared
that he would ,rath T. have Il bunch OF
good oldfashioned 'pinies and tiger
lilies than all cousin Jacobs Japa.
ncse hydrangeas and blo.ched co!cua
plants.
ooh, Bella, how could you tell him
that?' said Mary, in despair.
wal, It was the TRUTH said Bella,
b!untly.
And rs Miss uetty Boone Glanced
to be visiting there Just at that time,
Mr. Hopper invited her to take charge
OF his household in the place OF his
widowed cousin and her daughter.
But it never would have happened,
MOTHER said Mary, with spirit, If
lIetty Boone had not filed his mind
with doubts and jil.Ieeings toward u.s.
ooh, Mary, don't be so uncharitablc,
said the meek widow.
Il don't intend to be, mother said
Mary, but I'm quite sure heard her
telling cousin jacob that l used too
much sugar in the spice.coo!ljes, and
that your way of baking iiuncl.cakes
was foolishly eXtravagant She's a
sly, contriving OLD pussy-cat, mother,
and that's the long an short OF it,
And Mrs. jennings sighed, and
made no answer.
Don't worry, mother, dear said
Mary, caressingly. You'll see that
we shall get along splcndidly. Bella
has hired the biacksmith's shop, with
the little yellow house in the rear, aud
Ill raise poultry and spring lambs,
and You shall sit in the parlor, like a
lady, with your best cap on, evcry
day. Cousin Jacob shall see that we
can get along without him, a5 well as
! be can get along without as
Mary Jennings drew mp her trim.
little figure, and settled the blue ribs
bon in her braids, with q pretty con-.
sciOusness OF coming SUCCESS, which.
although it mig not be authorized,
was certainly very becoming. And
so Bella Barlow thought, for lie added,
conclusively:
That's 80 y
But love and youth can afford to be
generous. And so the two young
. people went into cousin Jacobs sicl;
room, to bid lin good.by.
so you're really going to he marri-
ed, he you?' said cousin Jacob. who
looked as yellow and withcred as some
elderly mummy, among his pillows.
IN the som.darkencd sick room.-
on, these rheumatics -rheumatics !
/ Oh, OBJ.
That's what we're a thinking Off,
SAID Mr.. Barlow. ITS we'll now
ever
Yes, yes, | dare say. said cousin
Jacob But don't shake hands with
me, please 1t hurts What was we
i fglLrft,f ~