The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-23
MEAN HET.
CHAPTER l.

<AWoy uP oAAtOA6 tAAS DOS>NA~ 1'~NSt in Arkansaw,-near stream so rapid that it seemed a torrent of hurry and worry-there stands an old stone house. Here and there, high up among sudden coves and down below in little valleys, luxuriant crops of grain and grasses grow. The place is owned by old Nathan Billingsly, man whose reputa ton for piety spreads far beyond the boundary lines of the county. Mrs. Bill lingsly was pale and pious. She worked so hard in summer, cooking for the hired men, that she barely had the strength in winter to enter the revival work of the circuit and do herself justice. To this devoted old couple only one child had been born, a girl who had grown up to be anything but a joy to her parents. They had been married many years when the child was born, and the old man, in an ecstasy of delight, declared that the Ettle thing was sunbeam that had fallen onto the shady side of his life. Years failed to verify this hopeful assertion. The girl, known all over the neighborhood as Mean Het, was, to her parents, a con- stant cause of vexation, and sometimes she was the cause of humiliation. She was small and of exceeding feetness of foot. Her face was of that peculiar pale ness which no exercise tends to redden. Her eyes were as dark as the interior of a cave.
 Hettie," said Mrs. Billingsly one evening, "where have you been all day ?"
 She took a small fish from her pocket, threw it on the table, pointed to it and said:
 "Worked all day for that little perch. Lost all my bait, and had to catch this young sinner with cricket"
 "You ought to be ashamed ofyourself."
 am. Anybody that couldn't do bet ter than this," again pointing at the fish, fought to feel ashamed. Got anything to eat handy? l am as hungry as a volt"
 "Ah, Lord, child," sighed Mrs. Bill lingsly as she turned to the cubbard ]" to take down the dishes containing the dinner which had been kept for the girl, " l don't know what is to become of you"
 "I don't know what is to become of you either, mother. don't know what is to become of anybody"
 |" 1 wish you were boy"
 {" l don't. Boys are so despisable."
 Hettie, do you know that you are six. teen years old to-day3"
 "This curly mustard makes splendid greens, don't it? ?"
 "Did you hear what said to you9"
 "Yessum. never would know how old l am unless you were to tell me. Six teen years old-six.een. Why, don't feel old, mother, and after all am not as old as you are."
 Hettie, don't be so foolish"
 "Why, mother, is it foolish to tell the truth? If l were to say that am as old as you arc it would be foolish and at the same time it would be untrue"
 Hush, child. Here comes your father. He is mad"
 The old man entered the room.
 "Het, where have you been2"
 Fishing" V" I'll 6ss: you"
 He walked out toward an apple tree. The girl dropped her knife and fork, Mother, he's going to whip me. Don't let him. know I'm mean, but it hurts so when I'm whipped. Please don't let him whip me"
 The old man, stripping the leaves from an apple tree sprout, walked in with a deliberation which showed his strength of purpose.
 "I've fooled with you as long as am goin' to, you good-for-nothin' thing, Ill-"
 !" Hellop some one called at the gate.
 The old man dropped the switch and went out. Mrs. Billingsly and the girl, seeing that the old man was conducting some one toward the house, went into the sitting room, where they were pre- sented to young Mir. Wilkins, the newly appointed circuit rider The young man, during course of theological study, had grown pale, but his face colored when Hettie, with mischievous frankness, ex- tended her hand.
 "I am under many obligations to you," said Hettie, still holding the hand of the blushing preacher.