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

N
of water rejecting the cloudless blue Of
the summer sky, the smoke of steam
er in the distance, and one or two slant
ing sails nearer the shore.
There are two figures upon the beach,
one is that of girl Of eighteen, dis
tractingly pretty, with bronze-brown
hair waving and twisting into little will
full ringlets about the white brow.
There are q pair of wide pansy-col-
ored eyes under thick fringed lashes,
nose that is slightly '.tip-tilted," and
a mouth which one forgives being large
because the lips are so exquisitely
moulded and tinted.
The chin IL decided in spite of the
dimple in its centre, and the throat
round and white, and well poised upon
the sloping shoulders.
The girls broad hat Is pushed back
from her brow. and she is punching
holes In the white sand rather viciously
with her sun umbrella.
The man before her Is young and fine
looking, with square-cut face and
dark straight locks falling over his fore
head. He is pale with some intense
feeling. and his dark eyes are fixed
sternly upon the girls face.
mo, john" she says, twill not en-
gage myself to you. It's all nonsense
for you to remind me of what has been.
We were only children then, and, Of
course, I thought q good deal of you
just as do now, John dear; but as to
marriage, that's another thing. When
l marry, I must marry a wealthy man.
am tired to death of this stupid life,"
she goes'on. sweeping longing glance
out over the water.
1--WE are as poor as poverty, and am
sick of patching and mending, and do
ing over last years bonnets and year
before lasts dresses. Laura is content
to marry the village parson and settle
down here for lie; but as for me, /
shall go to Aunt Rachel's next fall, and
who knows what may happen. There
are the two boys, Ned and Oscar, grow
ing up, and they both want to be edu-
Gated. You see, John, it remains with
me to win the magic dollar"
She mods at him half defiantly and
turns little pale as she sees the pain
and scorn in his face. 'g 81
II thought you only careless, inno-
cent child, Hettie Graham"-his low
bitter tones seem to strike her like
blow-"but now know you for shall
low, tickle creature, whose love Is not
worth the winning! Oh, you need waste
no pity on me! Your sentiments, SO
freely expressed, are enough to kill all
sincere affection in the heart Of man
who has any self-respect!"
With these words he turns and leaves
her, walking swiftly along the beach
and never pausing to look back, al
hesitatingly. ,rg s.,.- 80 e.
He avoids her after this, There are
no more pleasant sails across the bay OF
a moonlight evening. no more jolly
fishing trips, no more long walks OF
talks upon the beach. ...4
Hettie hardly knows what to do with
herself, for John Brent has been her
comrade since they were children to-
gethor, and now 1t seems o. II half her
life were gone.
It was so stupid of John, she thinks,
to want to marry her, and then be-
cause she didn't want to marry him TO
turn the cold shoulder upon her in that
way. E M9 -8
The cold scorn in his eyes when they
unavoidably meet, stings her into hot
anger, as the summer drifts away; and
in order to show that she cares nothing
at all about 1t, she grows very gay, and
firts outrageously with half-a-score OF
young men in the village.
In September Sister Laura marries
"the parson," and takes her mother
and the btys home with her.
In October Hettie goes TO New York
to visit Aunt Rachel.
John, who keeps store and is tele-
graph operator at the depot, sees her
when she buys her ticket, and smiles
sardonically when she gives him a def,
ant glance. ~
That smile says as plainly rs words:
II wish you success in your search
for a rich husband, Miss Graham"
Hettie doesn't care anything about
John Brent. In order to impress this
fully upon his mind, she presently
saunters by the window of the telegraph
office where he Is at work, and says, Vi
vaciously, to one Of her admirers, who
has come to see her off:
"Oh yes-I shall enjoy myself i'm.
mensely. Ihave number Of friends
among my aunt's acquaintance"
Ten minutes later. when the train
leaves the depot, Hettie covers her face
with thick veil, and cries unrestrain-
edly for half an hour.
Aunt Rachel is Mrs. Graham's step
sister. She ia worldly-minded wo-
man, and leader in fashionable So
ciety. Hettie Is great pet of hers
she doesn't care much for the rest of
the family, because they are SO COM
monplace; but she intends to do great
things for Hettie.
The girl has grown charmingly lovely
within year or two. and now she will
dress her as becomes fresh young
beauty, Introduce her into New York
society, and make brilliant match for
her. !;
Accordingly. Hettie is plunged into
the vortex. She glides gracefully into
all the little mannerisms of the gay
world about her, and becomes q belle
strai0htwav. A certain childlike in