Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-23

MEAN HET.
The Tanning of an ArkansaW Holden.


seemed torrent of hurry and worry, there
stands an old stone house. Here and there,
high up among the sudden coves and down
below the little valleys, luxuriant crops OF
grain and grasses grow. The place is own
ed by old Nathan Billingsly, a man whose
reputation for piety spreads far beyond the
boundary lines of the county. Mrs. Bill
ingsly 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 cir
cult and do herself justice. To this devot-
ed old couple only one child had been born,
girl that had grown up to be anything
but joy to her parents. They had been
married many years when the child was
born, and the old man in an ecstacy OF de-
light, declared that the little thing was
sunbeam that had fallen on to the shady side
of his life. Years failed to verify this hope
full assertion. The girl, known all over the
neighborhood as Mean Het, was, to her pa
rents, constant cause of vexation, and
sometimes she was the cause of humilla-
tion. She was small and of exceeding fleet
ness of foot. Her face was of that peculiar
paleness which no exercise tends to redden.
Her eyes were as dark as the interior OF
cave.
''Hettie," said Mrs. Billingsly one even
ing, "where have you been all day?"
She took 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 of yourself"
II am. Anybody that couldn't do better
than this" again pointing at the fish,
"ought to feel ashamed. Got anything to-.
eat, handy?" am hungry as wolf"
''Ah, child," sighed Mrs. Billingsly, as
she turned to the cupboard" to take down
the dishes containing the dinner which had
been kept for the girl, 81 don't know what
is to become of you. Hettie, do you know
that you are sixteen years old to-day?"
"This curly mustard makes splendid
greens, don't it?"
''Did you hear what I said to you"
3 "Yessum. I never would know how old
1 am unless you were to tell me. Sixteen
years old-sixteen. Why, 1 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 I were to say that am as old as
you are it would be foolish, and at the same
time it would be untrue"
"TIush, child, here comes your father.
He is mad.'
The old man entered the room.
"Het, where have you been?"
"Fishing."
"I'll fish YOU"
He walked out toward the apple tree.
The girl dropped the knife and fork. "He
is going to whip me, mother, don't let him.
l know Pm mean, but it hurts so when
Pm whipped. Please don't let him whip
me-"
The old man, stripping the leaves from
an apple tree sprout, walked in with de-
liberation which showed his strength of
purpose.
"I've fooled with you as long as I am
goin' to, you good-for-nothin' thing, pll-"
"Hello" some on 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, wentinto the sitting room,
where they were presented to young Mr..
Wilkins, the newly appointed circuit rider.
The young man, during course of theolog-
ical study, had grown pale, but his face COL
ored when Hettie, with mischievous frank
ness, extended her hand.
II am under many obligations to you,"
said Hettie, still holding the hand of the
blushing preacher.
The old man glared at the girl. The old
lady violently cleared her throat,
"Obligations to me? Why, Miss Billings
ly, I do not understand you."
eyes, am. Father was just about to
larrup me with an apple tree sprout when
you came"
"Leave this room," demanded the old
man. $50 on, tell you. That switch is
still handy, and you shall feel it yet"
The girl left the room. The astonished
what from his embarrassment, said:
"Brother Bllingsly, how is the condition
of the church in this neighborhood
."Pretty fair"
"At the last meetin'," remarked the old
lady, 'we had three as bright conversions
as ever saw. There has been little back
slidin' lately, caused by barn dances and the
like, but with the right sort of work the
church can be put in first rate condition.
This is your first charge, amt ?"
eyes, 1 have just come from college.
Although 1 have never been actively en-
gagged in the vineyard, yet / believe that l
can do good work. l have"
The minister uttered an exclamation and
ran out into the yard. His horse was gal
Looping away. A giggling girl drew back
behind corner Of the house. She had un-
hitched the horse. The preacher, by climb
ing fences and crossing rugged places, sue
ceeded in catching the horse, but at least
two hours were spent in the perplexing ex
ercise.
"How is this, Brother Billngsly?"
"What, Brother Wilkins?"
"Why, 1 tied my horse securely, but you
see he has the bride over his head. This is
certainly strange. Won't you ride to the
house, Brother Billingsly"
"Oh! no, am used to walking"