Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-07-17
HATTIE'S HATRED.

NOOa'
my best. There was-sleeves rolled
up TO my elbows, hair in anything but
graceful disorder, washing the parloI
windows, and singing rs loudly rs my
lungs would admit, when who should
walk in, sans ceremonie, but Frank
Wright. | haven't seen him in -four
years, not since was IA, and he was
just disagreeable enough to compli'
ment me on my improved looks, glance
maliciously at my rumpled locks and
wet gown, while | stood looking just
about rs large as your little finger.
Don't l hate himP'
Undoubtedly you do" i replied,
leisurely taking of my gloves. "Mr.
Wright called at our house a short
time ago-he mentioned being here.
Mentioned being herep' Hattie re-
peated. Ibid he give you a graphic
description Of my appearance? What
did he sayP"
Il have no idea of ministering to
your vanity. my dear" replied; "bui
really regret that you are ashamed OF
having been surprised in useful en-
ployment. Why, fancied you rather
proud of your housekeeping qualities. "
Housekeeping qualities, indeed!'
exclaimed Hattie in a veIed tone. "a
good housekeeper never neglects her
own person.
"But. Hattie" urged, zone cannot
expect 10 find ones friends en- grande
toilette while engaged in washing win.
dows."
But my hair was in such shameful
disorder"
"You are looking your very best now,
Hattie" remarked, whatever your
forenoon appearance may have been.
"Oh, yes!i' she replied. las Uncle
John savs-after the horse was stolen
l locked the barn!'
"Well," said !, play me something
by way of forgetting your unfortunate
rencontre.
Hattie played exquisitively. She
was just dashing off one of my favor
ties when Frank Wright came in. Hat
tie nodded, and demanded petulantly
whether he was rs charmed with her
PLAYING as he had been with her sing
ing.
"More so" Mr.. Wright had the can
dor to reply.
"Ah! then / dare say you do not
consider me the sweetest singer in the
world?" she questioned.
Mr.. Wright was positive, on rehec-
ton. that he had listened TO rs good
vocal efforts as he had heard that
morning. After lingering rs long as
propriety would admit of, Frank with
drew.
What q conceitcd puppy! Hattie
exclaimed rs soon as he had gone.
"How ungencrous you are, said /;
''you know you are thinking now,
away down in your heart, how much
tact and clevcrness lie displayed in
warding off the shafts of your ridicule
without turning the points against
yourself. Besides, he is considered by
wiser heads than ourS u young lawyer
of great promise. | heard father say
yesterday that he never listened to a
more able and touching appeal than
his plea in the Austin and Wilkins suit;
and he gained the cause, too. So the
widow and orphans are not shelter
less!'
THAT was nothing" Hattie main.
tanned. eff he had been employed on
the other side it would have been the
same thing"
"But he refused retaining fee on
the other side, and volunteered his ser.
vices to the poor widow"
But Hattie would not believe it.
Frank had been so unfortunate as to
surprise her in questionable dishabille,
and she could not forgive. "She never
did like him when she was little
girl" she said. He was infinitely more
disagreeable now"
Then why were you so particularly
anxious to appear your best before
him!'
''Oh! he mentioned me in his letters
to Ellen, and Ellen had written back all
sorts of nonsense about what she call
ed my beauty. Do you think wished
to be canvassed by a pair of malicious
eyes, and read in their ill-concealed
expression: This is not quite the
Hattie that l expected to see?' Not
IL
Time passed. Ellen Wright and
Hattie Hall were friends.
Franks equanimity was never dis
turbed by Hatties pretty sparring; in.
deed, he seemed rather to enjoy it.
This only incensed her the more. lit
was" she said, las If she were not
worth minding."
Hattie" said l, rs she sauntered
into my sitting-room one day, with her
apron full of flowers. and her hat
swinging by one ribbon over her shout
der, Frank Wright must be contem-
plating matrimony. Husband says the
new house in progress at the other end
of the street is his. wonder who the
bride-elect can beP Clara Perkins, do
you SUPPOSED"
II am sure 1 do not know, "she re-
piled. ''Of one thing I am positive,
however; / shall not envy his wife
neither her new house nor her hus-
band. You know that 1 can't bear
Frank Wright"
had been telegraphing ever since
she commenced, but she either could
not or would not understand my signs.
nor did she manifest any embarrass-
ment when on turning around she saw
the object of her spleen standing in
the open door, very perceptible smile
wreathing his features.