The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-10-26

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sosc,aNce. winch nothing dispels. NJ.
tracts scores of admirers.
She IL too young and unsophlsticated
not to enjoy her strange new life, yet at
times she 10 restless and dissatished.
At last-wonder OF wondetsl=-John
makes his appearance In New York.
Hettie meets him at . party; and, in
the first moment of surprise and de-
light, she extends her hand and smiles
a fiattering welcome. But John mere
ly lifts her fingers. dropping them al
most instantly, and bows in SO formal Q
manner that Hettie's heart goes down
like y lump of ice.
Hettie would give anything to have
him back on the old footing; but he
seems 10 take particular pains to show
her how little she really Is to him.
She wonders what brought him to
New York, but dares not ask questions.
As the weeks 60 by and she meets
him again and again, and he maintains
the same reserve towards her, she be-
gins to think that his scorn of her Is
not feigned-that his love Is indeed
dead.
She is too proud to make any further
advances, although she knows now
that she can never love any man rs she
loves John, who has been like her
shadow for the greater part of her ex-
istence. N #ie /
She is very unhappy--very desperate.
So when Mr.. Royalston, who Is worth
two or three millions, asks her to mar
ry him, she says yes, much to the de-
light of Aunt Rachel.
Mr.. Royalston Is fifty and grey
headed, and Hettie's engagement
causes little ripple of excitement in
Aunt Rachels set.
Hettie meets John one evening soon
after the engagement is announced,
and he contrives to say to her when no
one ID within hearing:
filed your destiny"
And Hettie goes home that night to
shed some bitter tears upon her pillow.
Mr.. Royalston Is kind-hearted man.
He sees after while that his little love
is not so bright as of yore, and one day
in calling. he mentions the facta asks
her. gently and kindly, to forget that he
is her lover, and to confide in him and
allow him, il possible, to assist her.
Then miserable little Hettie breaks
down and weeps passionately; and AZ
ter the first violence of her grief has
exhausted itself, she tells him every
thing-not sparing herself in the slight
est. She relates the story Of her dis
content, and pride, and fickleness, and,
last of all. Johns GOODNESS.
HE hates me. know" she cries;
''and who can blame himp But I-oh,
! love him dearly, and always have; l
know that now! 1t was very wicked Of
me to promise to marry you, Mr.. Roy
ASTON; / hardly dare to ask your for
giveness. But If you do feel hardly
towards me you will have your revenge
in the knowledge that never shall be
my dear child,'' the gentleman says,
in such a tone of commiseration that
Hettie somehow feels comforted, II
forgive you. freely. Take back your
liberty, little girl. Make it up with
your old lover. and when you are mar
ried, Hettie, you shall have hand
some dover.
Hettie shakes her head disconsolately.
"You are very good, sir, but John
will never love me again. He is hardly
civil to me when we meet. Auntie will
be very angry when she learns that our
engagement Is broken, and l shall be
sent back to my old life; but oh,
wouldn't mind being poor II l could
only have John again!" IA
And once more the pretty flushed
face is buried in her handkerchief.
Just then the door is opened by O ser.
want, and ayoung man pauses upon the
threshold, looking slightly disconnected
at the scene before him, and evidently
about to retreat
Mr.. Royalston is man quick to un.
derstand and make the most of favora-
BILE circumstances. He beckons 90 inn.
periously to John Brent that the latter
involuntarily advances. ~ -
"Look here. my young FRIEND" the
elder man says, 'this little girl abso.
lutely refuses to share my money with
me because she loves another man. I
have m engagement down town, and
in the meanwhile perhaps you had bet
ter find out who the other man Is:
Good-dayr'
"Oh, Mr.. Royalstonr' gasped Hette
In dismay. y .
But Mi. Royalston is gone, and John
is holding her close. and talking eager
ly. h Fe v AE EfI t.I
And when at last she begins to UNDER
stand his words, she bushes delight
fully. i
"Why, John, was sure that you
hated me-" she signs, with her head
nesting very contentedly against his
coat-collar. eA III.
His answer seems quite satisfactory,
for she turns her lips shyly to his NOUS
tache, which Is lowering very close.
"Why did you come to New York;"
she queries presently.
Because" he replied at once, II
wanted to see you, Hettie, though the
sight of you only gave me an awful
heartache. Do you feel quite happy at
the thought of marrying poor man,
dearp' he asks with laughing eyes.
"Oh, John! How foolish was! l
would rather share the meanest little