Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-11-25
A MERE INTERLUDE,
BY THOMAS HARDY.

i.
1t was o'ten sud and oftener surmisei
that Baptista Trewthen was a youn,
woman with scarcely emotions or eharsc
t,r. There was nothing in her to love snt
nothing TO bate-so nan the general opin
ion. That she showed few positive quail
ties was true. The colors and tones which
changing events paint on faces of active
womankind were looked for in vain uron
hare. But still waters may run deep; ar
no crisis had come in the years of her early
maldenhood to demonstrate what lev hid
den within her, Ike mstal in q nine.
She was thu daughter of q small farmer
IN st. Mary's one of the Sicily Is,e', who
had spent a large sum, as it was there I'M
derstood, on her education, by sending her
Il the mainland for two years. At 10 abe
wss entered at the Training College fol
Elementary Teachers, and at 81 nominal I'd
to school in tbs country near Exeter
whither she proceeded after the Christmas
examination and holidays.
The months passed by from winter tc
spring and summer, and Bap.ista applied
herself to her new duties as best che c uld,
till an uneventful year had elapsed. Taer
an air OF abstraction pervaied her bearius
as she walked to and fro, twice day, and
she slowed the traits of a person who had
something on her mind. 4 widow, By
name Mrs. Waco, in whose house Bapiista
Trewthen had been provided with sitting
room aud bed room TIL the school house
should be built, motto ID this change in her
youthful tenants manner, and at last ven.
tured to press her with few question:.
II has nothing 20 do with the place, nor
with you, said Miss Trewthen.
Then it is the salary?"
"Nc, ror he salary
Then it is something you have hea-d
from home, my dear" Blptisia was silent
iOr few moments. 1t is Mr.. Hedde-
gan," she murmurei. Him they usel
TO call David Haddsgan bsforsj he got his
money"
"And who is the Mr.. Heddegan they
used to call David?"
''Au old b,cAelor at Hugh Town s..
Mary's, with 70 relations, whatever,
who lives about stones throw from
fathers. When was a child he used
to take me on his knee and say
he'd marry some day. Now I am wo-
man the jest has turned earnest, and he il
anxious to do ii. And father and mother
says can't do letter than have him"
Hes we'll off,"
"Ye5-he's the richest man We know
as friend and neightor."
How much older did you say he was
than yourself?'
l didn't say. Twenty years at least. -
"And an unpleasant man in the bargain,
perhaps?"
"No: he's ro' unplsasl ant"
"Well, child, all l can say is that I'd
resist any such engagement if it's not pal
atable to We. You are 60 nfortable here,
in my little house, hope. All the parish
like ye, and I've never been so cheerful
since my husband left me to wear his
wings as I've been with ye as my lodger."
Tee school mistress assured he7 land
lady that the Co1ld return the sent m ant.
'But te-e cOmas my Te'p,exity," she
said. II doI't like Ike pirg sCGool. Ah,
you are surprised-ycu didn't suspect it..
That's because I've conc 'sled my feeling.
Well, simply hate school. l don't care
for childrel-they are unpleasant,
trouble one little things, wham moth
ing would delight so much as TO
hssI that you had fallen down dead. Yet
l would even put up with them if it was
not foe the inspec'O' For three months
before his visit 1 didn't sleep soundly
And the committee of council are always
changing the code, so that you don't kuow
what to teach and what to leaveuntaught. /
think father ard mother are right. They
say l shall never excel as school mistress
if dislike the work go, and that thereto re
l ought to get settled by marrying Me-
Heddeg n Bstwesu Us two, like him
better then school; but I don't like him
quite so much as to wish to mary bim."
These conversations, once begun, were
continue from day to day, till at length
the yo7ng girls ellerly friend and land
lady threw in her opinion on the SIDE of
NJ 81 Trewtheu's parents. All things coz
sdared, she declared, the uncertainty Of
the school, the labor, BApiista's nstursl
dislike for teSCGirg, it would be as well to
take wha. fste offered and make the best
Of matters by welding her fatte:'s cd
neighbor and prosper Gus friend.
The Easter holidays came round, and
Baptista went TO spetd them as usual IN
her native isle, going by train as far asste
cOlli AID crossing by packet from Pen
zlnce. When che returntd in the middle
Of April her face wore q more settled
aspect.
1'Well?" said the expectant of Mrs.
WAGE.
AZ have agreed t. have him as my hus'
b md" said Biptis}s, in Al off hsGd way.
Heaven knows if it vi be for thu BIS. or
not. But l have agreed to do il, and so
the matter is settled"
Mrs. WAGE co nm ended hsr; but Bap-
tista did not care to dwell on the suhiest;
80 that allusion TO il was very infrequent
between tie n. Nevertheless, nong other
things, she repeated to the widow from
time to time In mouosyllabic remarks that
the wedding was really impending; that
it wai arranged for the summer, aud that
che had given notice Of leaving the
schcol at tie Angus holidays. Later
on she announced more specifically
that her marriage was TO take
place immediately after her retarn
home at the b ginning of the month afore-
Ssid.
She now CORES p onded regularly with
Mr.. Hs5degan. Her letters from him were
SEN, a. lesst on the outside and in Part
within, by MIS-. Waco. II I'D shs read more
of their colttnts than the o.cisionsl SEN
t ,nces shown by Bip,ists she wo1!d have
perceived tat scrst!hy, rusty handwriting
Of Miss Trewthtn's be,rothed convey ell lit
tie more ma ster than details Of thsir future
housekeeping and lis preparation for the
same, with inrumerable "my dears''
spr,nkled in dis.onIec!6dly, to show the